Development Officer, Foundations

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. 

Soon to be located in San Francisco, California, Earthjustice has 9 regional offices, an international program, a legislative team and a communications team all working to preserve our nation's natural heritage, safeguard our health, and promote a sustainable energy future. We bring about far-reaching change by enforcing and strengthening environmental laws on behalf of hundreds of organizations and communities across the country and around the world.

Position Overview:

The Foundations Development Officer is 1 of a 4 person foundation relations team, which raises approximately one-quarter of Earthjustice's contributed revenue. The Foundations Development Officer raises grant support for particular regional offices and programs, as assigned, handling a portfolio of foundation donors and prospects. The person in this position works closely with the president, program managers, attorneys, communications staff, board members, and the entire development team to develop and implement effective strategies for meeting revenue goals.  

Responsibilities:

Foundation Solicitation and Relationship Development:

• Achieve foundation revenue goals as specified in the annual work plan.
• Ensure growth of donor base by identifying, researching, and cultivating potential sources of foundation support.
• Research foundation guidelines and giving histories and, when possible, talk to informed allies to determine best approach for Earthjustice solicitation. Monitor program developments at relevant foundations.
• Engage in personal contact with foundation staff to cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation donors; coordinate appropriate program staff involvement at each stage.
• Serve as a resource to foundation staff who seek information about Earthjustice, about the environmental community, or about environmental issues more broadly.
• Work with program staff to articulate goals, objectives, and strategies, and to develop and submit the highest quality letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and reports to foundations.
• Engage foundation staff and other informed allies in discussions about program direction and gap analysis.
• Write and submit timely gift acknowledgement letters.
• Develop budgets and financial reports in coordination with program and finance staff and occasionally with staff of organizations that perform program work in partnership with Earthjustice.
• Monitor and meet foundation proposal and reporting deadlines in coordination with attorneys' schedules.
• Identify and develop opportunities for personal communication between foundation contacts and Earthjustice staff and trustees, such as personal meetings, invitations to events, program update briefings, and letters.

Program Knowledge and Communication

• Follow issues related to Earthjustice litigation and remain conversant in the work of relevant Earthjustice regional offices or programs. Track daily environmental news reports.
• Develop a working knowledge of Earthjustice's past accomplishments and current programs and budget.
• Track the status of legal cases and programs through ongoing conversations with program staff.

General Responsibilities:

• Participate in the preparation of foundation revenue estimates for the annual budget.
• Develop and implement an individual work plan to meet revenue goals.
• Periodically provide revenue re-projections based on actual year-to-date performance.
• Collaborate with development staff on donor cultivation activities, site visits, solicitations, and special events; share writing and program information with development staff as needed.
• Maintain current and accurate hardcopy and computer database records to track foundation relations.
• Attend departmental and organizational retreats for shared planning, team building, and professional development.
• Represent Development Department in legal practice groups.
• Additional duties as assigned.
• This position requires occasional travel.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5 years' successful experience in foundation fund raising. Knowledge of foundations that emphasize environmental giving a plus.
• Excellent creative writing skills, including the ability to develop successful proposals and other materials. Ability to synthesize complex material, to translate it into readable and engaging prose, and to communicate it clearly and succinctly.
• Ability to build and interpret a program budget.
• Outstanding verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and to manage work independently; ability to perform effectively and with minimal supervision under pressure of multiple deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative in identifying and skillfully solving problems.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including the public, foundation staff, and in-house staff.
• Ability to work constructively as a member of a team.
• Interest in environmental protection and public health concerns.
• Legal and/or environmental background preferred.
• Ability to use relational database systems.

Compensation: We offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.   We also offer an extremely congenial work environment and a casual dress code.  We are currently located ½ block from the 19th Street BART station in downtown Oakland but will be moving our headquarters to San Francisco later this year.

To Apply: 

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, references and salary requirements.  Please reference "Development Officer, Foundations" in the subject line.

NO TELEPHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.