Development Director

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

(Full-Time)

The Children’s Law Center of Minnesota (CLC) serves over 700 children and youth in foster care aged 10-21 to improve their lives and futures. We do this by providing direct legal representation, advocating for systemic reform initiatives, and by developing and distributing educational resources for those who work with foster care and at-risk youth. CLC manages over 300 volunteer attorneys’ efforts to promote the rights and interests of young people in Minnesota’s child protection system (especially children of color and children with disabilities), to help them successfully navigate the judicial, child welfare, health care, and education systems that affect them. In this way, CLC helps foster care and at-risk youth plan for and secure positive adult lives ahead – as engaged, contributing members of their communities.

The Development Director executes all tasks concerning CLC’s development activities, to help build a diversified, sustainable contributed income stream that supports CLC’s programs and services. They assist the Executive Director and the Board Development Committee in managing and retaining an existing group of corporate, foundation, and individual contributors, as well as in building a more extensive portfolio of donors with the capacity to give substantially to CLC. The incumbent assists the Executive Director in drafting the agency’s revenue budget and meeting fundraising goals for the fiscal year in alignment with board-approved financial targets.

All duties are completed under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director and with the guidance of the board Development Committee. While not often, the position requires occasional participation in evening and weekend events scheduled within the Twin Cities area.

Primary Responsibilities:

Grant Research, Writing, and Development

• Preliminary research into new foundation funding opportunities. Work with the Executive Director, and legal team as needed, to generate, submit, and track applications for private foundations grants.
• Schedule site visits with foundations and CLC staff.
• Prepare and submit reports for existing grants and assist Executive Director in maintaining all required grant obligations
• Maintain grants calendar and due dates.
• Individual Giving Build annual strategies for all stages of the donor cycle – prospect and acquisition, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Guide and engage in scheduling the Executive Director in timely meetings with donors for cultivation and stewardship.
• Draft language for individual solicitations, including annual appeals and targeted campaigns.
• Prepare donation acknowledgment letters and other correspondence.
• Maintain donor files and lists.

Communications

• Assist in the preparation and design of e-newsletters, annual reports, brochures, print outreach materials, and all other external communications.
• Assist in the development and posting of CLC social media and website content.
• Fundraising Events Help solicit event sponsors and auction items.
• Prepare award descriptions and presentation scripts.
• Track guest registrations.
• Oversee all administrative logistics of the events.

Skills & Experience:

1. Three to five years of experience in a non-profit environment including grant writing, direct fundraising, and event planning, preferred.

2. Bachelor’s degree.

3. Superb written (including editing and proofreading) skills are essential to this position, including the ability to understand and translate CLC’s mission and interests for donors and prospects with clarity and effectiveness. The incumbent is required to draft complex written materials to summarize the critical need for CLC’s programs and the means to implement them.

4. Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access), fundraising software (LGL), and Canva.

5. Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines.

6. Ability to lift light to medium weights and feel comfortable with packing and moving items for events.

7. Must have your own vehicle.

Comprehensive Benefits:

· Medical, dental, and vision insurance eligible immediately upon hire (CLC pays 75% of the employee premium).

· Health Savings Account (HSA).

· 13 paid holidays, plus 2 personal days.

· Vacation and sick time accrue immediately upon hire.

· Closed Friday’s afternoon from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

· 403B plan with 3% matching contribution after one year.

· Company-sponsored life insurance.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Children’s Law Center of Minnesota provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

TO APPLY: Send cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and references to Susan Dioury, Executive Director, Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 340, St. Paul, MN 55104 or via e-mail to info@clcmn.org. Position open until filled.