Senior Foundations Officer I

May 20

Anticipated Start Date: 7/1/25

Description

The Senior Foundations Officer I position is an integral part of a 11-person foundation relations team, which raises approximately one-quarter of Earthjustice’s contributed revenue. The team has grown and evolved significantly in the last 5 years and is now in a new phase of growth. The fundraisers on the team are supported by a dedicated writing team as well as a systems and operations team who sit in other Development teams.

Reporting to the Sr. Director, the Senior Foundations Officer I position can be based in San Francisco, CA, New York, New York, or Washington, D.C. This position is most suitable for someone who resides near one of these Earthjustice office locations, such that they can commute on successive days to the office if needed.

Responsibilities

Foundation Solicitation and Prospect Development: 70% (40-50% new prospects, 20-30% current donors)

Ensure growth of donor base by employing an entrepreneurial approach, seek out new prospects and connectors with a focus on high-capacity, influential funders: develop excellent relationships with program officers at foundations to cultivate, solicit, and meet new donors; and coordinate with appropriate program staff at each stage.
The Senior Foundations Officer I manages and stewards a portfolio of high value and complexity, with a goal of raising $3-$5M in years 1-2 and progressively increasing goals annually.
Staying abreast of ongoing shifts in Earthjustice’s program areas, engage new and current funders in emerging growth areas, applying short- and long-term solicitation strategies to expand partnerships and secure 6-to 8-figure gifts.
Serve as an Earthjustice brand enthusiast who is able to package and repackage Earthjustice’s value proposition to an array of funders with different interests, partnering with Earthjustice’s program staff in defining and articulating broad program vision, goals, objectives, and specific strategies to attain milestones
While focusing 40-50% of time on new business, maintain excellent stewardship of current donors, implementing annual strategies to cultivate growth in each funding relationship through various methods: including, program updates/briefings, invitations to events, and facilitation of thought-partnership between funders and our senior program staff.
Serve as a resource to funders seeking information about Earthjustice, about the environmental community, or about environmental issues more broadly.
Maintain a solid understanding of program budget needs to engage funders and other informed allies in strategy discussions about program direction and gap analysis.
Stay on top of foundation shifts to capitalize on new opportunities and create new alignment strategies.
Develop budgets and financial reports in close coordination with program and finance staff.
Stay current on foundation trends through philanthropic journals and engagement in philanthropic networks.
In partnership with the program and writing teams, meet all foundation grant requirement deliverables (including proposal and reporting deadlines and ensuring that our program teams meet milestones) and provide timely gift acknowledgement (while our writing team writes the bulk of the team’s proposals and reports, officers write up to 35% of their own outreach materials, proposals, and reports).
Travel up to 35% of time for donor meetings and events, philanthropy conferences, and department and team meetings.

Strategic Direction and Leadership: 15%

Partner with the Senior Director and Director of Foundation Relations in setting goals, objectives, and strategies for cultivating foundation supporters.
Collaborate with the President, VPs of litigation, program staff, major and principal gifts officers, members of the Board and Council, and foundation staff to deepen and expand relationships with key foundations.
Develop and implement an individual and teamwork plan to meet revenue goals.
Participate in the preparation of foundation revenue estimates for the annual budget and provide revenue re-projections based on actual year-to-date performance.
Participate in strategy working groups and planning sessions and represent the Development Department in legal practice groups.
Assist the Senior Director and Director of Foundation Relations to recruit and hire qualified candidates and support the training of new staff.
Promote an inclusive work environment and provide foundation relations staff with feedback.
Serve as mentor and coach to junior officers within the team and in the Development department.
Attend departmental and organizational retreats for shared planning, team building, and professional development.
Contribute to building efficiencies on the team including participation on foundation and organization-wide working groups.
Promotes team, departmental, and organizational changes in terms of their expected benefits and ability to reduce potential obstacles.
Assist the Director of Foundation Relations and Senior Director of Foundation Relations with high-level administrative functions.

Program Development: 15%

Follow issues related to Earthjustice litigation and remain conversant in programmatic work.
Track the status of legal cases and programs through ongoing conversations with program staff, internal and external communications, and the legal database.
Develop a working knowledge of Earthjustice’s Strategic Plan and program areas.
Actively participate in relevant program team meetings.
Participate in organization-wide working groups and planning sessions that support program development, including emerging areas of work.

Advancing Earthjustice’s goals: (Earthjustice considers Community, Justice, and Impact core to every aspect of every role and staff are expected to incorporate CJI and environmental justice principles into all work)

Ensure the incorporation of inclusive practices in all duties and responsibilities, on a consistent and ongoing basis, including but not limited to verbal and written interactions with constituents and Earthjustice staff.
Elevate and build capacity of partner organizations by supporting them in their organizational journeys, elevating their work with Foundations as appropriate and assisting them in securing access to philanthropic resources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Seven+ years’ successful experience in foundation fundraising (with significant experience raising 6- to 7-figure gifts).
Knowledge of environmental issues and foundations that emphasize environmental giving a plus.
Outstanding communication, listening, and interpersonal relationship-building skills for external partnership development and internal cross-team and cross-department collaborative projects.
Extraordinary entrepreneurial skills and approach to philanthropic outreach; and innovative marketing and brand building abilities to connect and align Earthjustice’s programs to institutional giving opportunities.
Strong business savvy and experience and capabilities in negotiation and strategic partnership development.
Ability to be nimble, achieve goals and thrive in a fast-paced work setting.
High level of intellectual curiosity and attention to detail.
Outstanding commitment to producing high quality work products.
Keen ability to troubleshoot complicated projects to their completion.
Ability to prioritize and to manage work independently; ability to perform effectively and with minimal supervision under pressure of multiple deadlines.
Ability to build and interpret a program budget and financial reports.
Excellent 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 take initiative in identifying and skillfully solving problems.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including foundation staff and Trustees, Earthjustice’s internal team and senior leadership, as well as the public.
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.
Valid driver's license required.
Contributes towards an equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages partnership, active listening, and integrating diverse perspectives.
Supports Earthjustice’s core values of partnership, inclusion, justice and excellence. We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive.

Salary and Employee Benefits

The salary is dependent on location and experience.

Salary range in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY: $142,900 - $158,800
Salary range in Washington, D.C.: $135,800 - $150,900

How to Apply for this Job

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About the Organization

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, Miami, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, DC. In addition to a talented cadre of environmental lawyers, legislative advocates, and other staff, Earthjustice has a robust and savvy communications team that works in strategic partnership with every department at the organization to advance our public affairs and public relations objectives.

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