Are you a creative problem solver who has a commitment to a just and equitable world for everyone? Then Disability Law United is the place for you! We are a small but mighty team who work collaboratively and passionately to upend harmful systems that disproprionately discriminate against disabled people. Please check our open positions and learn how DLU is the right place for your skills and expertise.
The following position is accepting applicants.
Director of Development and Communications
DLU is seeking to hire a Director of Development and Communications. This is a full-time, exempt position that is fully remote. The DODAC will report to the executive director and is a member of our senior management team.
Our Organization: Formerly the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC) Disability Law United (DLU) is a nonprofit legal organization that fights for liberation and equity through the lens of intersectional disability justice. Our work is informed by grassroots movements for systemic change and centers on the concerns and goals of people with disabilities who are confronting barriers to access to programs and services. We are widely recognized for systemic change litigation and for education and support for impacted community members, lawyers, and advocates.
Our Mission: DLU’s goal is to ensure that everyone can fully and independently participate in our nation’s civic life without discrimination based on disability, race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We challenge discrimination through litigation and education, seeking systemic change and improvement in individual lives in areas including immigration, the criminal legal system, and environmental justice.
Director of Development and Communications
We seek an enthusiastic Director of Development and Communications (DODAC) to secure financial support for our organization and communicate DLU’s impact. The organization is funded predominately by attorney’s fees, and we have laid the groundwork for our next DODAC to grow our foundation, corporate, and individual funding. The DODAC will set and achieve fundraising goals, maintain knowledge of funders’ interests, cultivate relationships with stakeholders and prospective donors and partners, build brand awareness, and manage the communications needs and digital engagement for DLU. You will
- Grow/diversify funding sources (e.g., expand foundation and corporate support; prospect/build individual donor base; launch targeted outreach to the legal community; support board fundraising engagement) (60%).
- Coordinate, implement, and update external communications (e.g., website, social media, newsletter, reports), including growing base among potential supporters and constituents (30%).
- Ensure consistent/expanded brand awareness, digital marketing, and targeted outreach resulting in an understanding of DLU 2.0 and wider reach (10%).
DODAC Responsibilities:
Development
- Collaborate with the Executive Director to create a fundraising plan and implement all facets.
- Build relationships with board members, overseeing the board development committee and helping members engage their networks, identify prospects, and act as an ambassador for DLU.
- Develop a robust fundraising strategy, encompassing targeted goals for growing foundation, individual, and corporate revenue.
- Direct digital fundraising efforts and communications, including campaigns, Facebook fundraisers, and EOY fundraising.
- Oversee annual appeal (from list segmentation to project management to working with vendors for appeal production).
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate funders and law firms for sponsorships, donations, and Cy Pres awards.
- Manage fundraising campaigns such as Giving Tuesday, monthly sustainer drive, and EOY fundraising.
- Build a culture of philanthropy at DLU to increase staff and board involvement in building a pipeline of supporters and stewarding existing donors.
- Execute successful events, in person and online, including CLE training, online fundraisers, and major donor cultivation events.
- Craft impactful and community-centric language to produce compelling grants and cases for support for our program areas.
- Grant Management: Work with ED and Operations Manager to increase corporate and private grant support and oversee grant submission, reporting, and administration.
- Compile and analyze donor data for analysis, to improve strategy, and to present metrics to the Board of Directors.
- Ensure timely and accurate donor acknowledgment using Donor Perfect CRM.
- Update Charity Navigator and GuideStar profiles annually.
- Provide annual budget needs for the department for review by ED.
Communications
- Produce quarterly e-newsletter using Constant Contact, working with staff to share client stories, victories, and updates.
- Build and oversee communications strategy, including an engaging communications plan (including social media, emails, and direct mail).
- Develop special events, membership, and campaign promotional materials.
- Oversee social media and web-based communications and campaigns.
- Produce and disseminate annual impact reports.
Branding/Marketing
- Represent the organization to the news media.
- Ensure brand standards and consistency across all communications.
- Update website and marketing materials to reflect the new DLU brand, including inclusive language and accessible design.
- Ensure all materials incorporate best practices in accessibility (i.e. Alt text, ASL interpretation, closed captioning, etc.) whenever possible.
- Work with staff and board to identify opportunities to respond to current events, provide statements, and provide commentary to news articles, to increase understanding of DLU’s intersectional theory of change.
Director of Development Desired Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in business, non-profit management, or related field.
- 8+ years of development experience, in a mission-driven nonprofit environment. Experience in a legal- or disability-focused organization is highly desired.
- Self-starter and highly motivated to create a strategy for multi-channel approach for funding (major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundations, etc.) and willingness and ability to implement all the nuts and bolts.
- Experience with major donor moves management and grant acquisition. Experience securing multi-year grants from national funders is highly desired.
- Proficient with sponsorship solicitation and event logistics.
- Experience managing and updating donor software – Donor Perfect or Salesforce preferred.
- Experience with communications tools such as Canva, Buffer, HootSuite, Google Analytics, etc.
- Strong marketing expertise with an emphasis on developing and establishing a brand.
- Ease working with multiple constituencies, including donors and supporters, staff and volunteers, and members of our Board of Trustees
- Familiarity with national, and institutional foundations, writing applications and reports, launching a program to engage law firms, finding major donors, etc.
- Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Commitment to tenets of disability justice and understanding of how legal tools can create systemic change.
Salary & Benefits:
To promote equity, DLU implements a researched salary scale that governs employee pay, considering the candidate’s geographic location, years of experience, and other factors. This is an exempt position. Overall, the salary range is $120,000-$130,000 and has a very generous benefits package.
Benefits include a healthcare plan that covers the full cost of employee premiums, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan to which DLU contributes, a generous paid time off package, a 37.5-hour work week with flexible hours, stipends to purchase supplies for a home office, monthly mental health days, payment of dues for relevant organizations, and more.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume and cover letter to office@disabilitylawunited.org explaining your skills and experience. Please put “DODAC Application” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through August 2, 2024.
DLU is an equal-opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and promotes an inclusive culture. DLU does not discriminate based on disability, race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, or veteran status.