Associate Director of Stewardship (Earthjustice)

Company Name

Earthjustice

Company City

San Francisco

Company State

CA

Job Location

Remote (US), San Francisco, CA, or New York, NY

Company Information

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Miami, Chicago, Houston, and Washington, DC.

Job Description

The Associate Director of Stewardship leads a team of stewardship professionals who provide expertise, thought partnership, and project management on stewardship strategies that recognize and retain Earthjustice’s donors. The team is responsible for producing general and highly customized stewardship materials and plans for individuals giving at the major and principal gift levels, and provides partnership and support to the teams developing stewardship strategies for mid-level, planned giving, foundations, digital and public support donors.

The Associate Director of Stewardship sets the overall direction and expectations for the team and ensures the team is structured and deployed in a manner that best supports the organization’s donor stewardship needs. They work closely with Development leadership and gift officers to create and implement creative multi-year plans for stewarding gifts at the principal level ($1 million annually) in support of Development Department fundraising goals, and they routinely partner with the Principal Gifts, Major Gifts, and Foundations teams to create strategic stewardship plans for donors with principal gift capacity who are not yet giving at a principal gifts level. The Associate Director of Stewardship will engage Earthjustice executives, program leadership, finance and general counsel in stewardship strategy planning and implementation.

The Associate Director is responsible for developing and managing the stewardship team budget and for developing an annual stewardship team plan that supports the Donor Marketing and Engagement team strategic plan.

The Associate Director reports to the Director of Donor Marketing & Engagement and supervises the Stewardship Manager.

This role can be based in San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, or remote from the U.S.

Responsibilities

Principal Gifts Stewardship and Portfolio Management (50%)

• Lead efforts with principal gifts, planned gifts, major gifts, and foundations to develop stewardship plans and manage stewardship projects for individuals and institutions giving, or capable of giving, annual commitments of $1 million or more.
• Serve as a thought partner with philanthropy officers to customize stewardship plans for principal level donors and prospects that align the donors’ interests and stewardship preferences with Earthjustice’s value proposition. Plans may include custom reports, videos, gifts, naming opportunities, leadership communications, and more.
• Develop cross-team solutions (processes, tools, and other team infrastructure) to streamline the production of customized touchpoints, recognition opportunities, and stewardship efforts across the organization.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders including writers, designers, and philanthropy officers to personalize assets and compelling materials for individual and institutional donors.
• Organize and facilitate engagement with program staff and leadership throughout the organization to fulfill objectives of stewardship projects.
• Develop and maintain basic knowledge of all principal level donors to Earthjustice.
• Work closely with the Stewardship Manager on the creation and delivery of acknowledgment letters to Principal Gifts donors.

Program Management and Strategic Direction: (40%)

• Lead efforts to define and grow Earthjustice’s centralized stewardship program.
• Craft a long-term vision for the program and set benchmarks for measuring success and identifying growth opportunities.
• Create and manage a stewardship team workplan that supports the Donor Marketing and Engagement team and the Development Department strategic plans.
• Join strategic fundraising conversations with principal gifts, planned gifts, major gifts, foundations and Development department to understand opportunities and challenges influencing donor stewardship and ideate stewardship strategies.
• Provide strategy, coaching, and guidance to Stewardship team members as they craft stewardship plans in partnership with the planned gifts, mid-level, major donor, foundations, digital, and public support teams.
• Review incoming requests to assess and prioritize projects. Implement, monitor, and revise as necessary policies and procedures for managing stewardship requests.
• Facilitate effective feedback conversations for continual improvement and improved partnerships.
• Build and manage an annual budget for the stewardship program,
• Leverage the capabilities of the organization’s database to create the systems, protocols, and reports necessary to design and manage a tiered stewardship program and report on performance metrics
• Liaise with the General Counsel and Finance teams to ensure Earthjustice donor recognition and stewardship efforts maintain compliance and uphold best practices in regard to risk management and liability.
• Work with Donor Marketing and Engagement team leads to collaborate across sub-teams and participate in team work planning and annual metrics reviews.
• Lead efforts to investigate and implement tools for the creation and delivery of customized digital stewardship touchpoints, including videos, digital reports, and digital recognition opportunities.

Team Management and Staff Development: (10%)

• Supervise the Stewardship Manager, establish clear direction and create annual work plans with goals and objectives. Support team portfolio management.
• Provide staff with performance feedback and promote growth and learning through career development opportunities with appropriate training, mentorship, encouragement, and supervision.
• Assist stewardship team members with managing competing priorities and adjust the team’s workload under constantly changing conditions.
• Develop and manage a cadre of contractors to support stewardship initiatives, ensuring that deliverables meet Earthjustice standards and are consistent with the organization’s brand.

Management (Essential Functions):

• The percentage of time assumes dedication of approximately 10% of time for each direct report.
• Recruits and hires qualified candidates who fit position requirements and the work environment.
• Promotes change in terms of the expected benefits, as well as removing or lowering the impact of potential obstacles.
• Sets clear team direction that aligns with Earthjustice strategy, mission, and vision.
• Develops staff by identifying and encouraging training and professional development opportunities appropriate to role and creating development plans for all staff.
• Provides staff with consistent performance feedback – both positive and constructive — and acts as a coach and mentor.
• Creates a learning culture, by encouraging debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects.
• Ensures that any direct reports who have supervisory responsibility are properly executing those functions.
• Creates a respectful and inclusive work environment for team and models respectful and inclusive behavior.
• Promptly addresses micro-aggressions and other concerns brought to their attention.
• Resolves interpersonal conflict among team members and brings in outside facilitators as needed.
• Communicates regularly with existing employees and encourages staff to raise concerns and to provide ongoing feedback.
• Creates or identifies strategic opportunities for team building and individual and overall staff engagement with one another in order to strengthen teamwork, interaction and collaboration.
• Values and uses individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work.
• Celebrates successes and helps team members to understand and manage setbacks.

*Supervisory Responsibilities: One Direct Report

Continued Learning: (10%)

• Participate in organization-wide initiatives and trainings that contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Utilize internal and external resources to support a personal and professional development journey that increases awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Attend departmental and organizational retreats for shared planning, team building, and professional development.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Seven years experience in donor stewardship/donor relations.
• Demonstrated experience stewarding donors with capacity for 7-figure+ gifts.
  Experience supervising staff.
• Experience with project management systems, including a variety of tools to facilitate project scheduling and collaboration.
• Demonstrated familiarity with gift and grant administration, relevant tax laws, and contract negotiations.
• Experience creating and managing budgets.
• Experience with a fundraising database application, preferably the Raiser’s Edge or Blackbaud CRM.
• Experience with fundraising campaigns preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Office.
• Advanced knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint are required.
  Self-starter, able to successfully coordinate multifaceted projects, timelines, competing priorities, and duties both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, organizational management and change management. Ability to prioritize work and to perform effectively under the pressure of multiple deadlines. Experience managing multiple projects at once.
• Experience leveraging technology in a strategic manner to optimize the donor journey and enhance efficiencies for a development department.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional people skills with the ability to motivate and manage staff and successfully engage a wide range of personality and leadership styles.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to generate successful, creative, and highly customized donor stewardship touchpoints.
• Demonstrated understanding of current best practices in fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including the public and in-house staff.
• Interest in environmental and public health concerns.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Contributes to recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Management (Essential Skills):

• Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence (self-awareness and understating of the impact of their behavior) and cultural humility (an understanding of the need for additional learning about different cultures, backgrounds and orientation and implementation of that learning daily management practices).
• Ability to give and receive regular formal and informal feedback in a timely, constructive, respectful, and consistent manner and to incorporate debriefing into the team’s operations.
• Strong team mentorship and communication skills.
• Understands the individual and team strengths and areas for development and develops plans accordingly.
• Commitment to and experience in developing team skills and talents to meet the evolving needs of an organization.

Salary is dependent on experience and location.

Salary range in San Francisco, CA or New York, NY: $134,600 – $149,600
Salary range in Washington, D.C., or Chicago, IL, or Seattle, WA, or Los Angeles, CA: $128,00 – $142,200

Salary range in Denver, CO or Philadelphia, PA: $121,200 – $134,700
Salary range in Miami, FL, or Houston, Texas: $114,500 – $127,200

Remote salary range for other locations in the U.S. varies: $114,500 – $149,600

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal-opportunity employer and highly values diversity.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite by February 26th, 2024, to be considered:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Click here to apply

Please reach out to  if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only accepts resumes submitted for positions that are currently open. Unsolicited resumes, or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via the online application process (where available), will not be reviewed or retained.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.