Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.
Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.
Who you are:
Reporting into the Digital Engagement Director, the Associate Director of Digital Fundraising will help create and implement Vera’s fundraising plans across the organization’s website, email marketing, and social media channels, which include both quantitative and qualitative goals. The Associate Director of Digital Fundraising works closely within the Communications & External Affairs and Development Departments as well as across the Institute on plan implementation, helping to ensure the cohesion and smooth operation of a rapidly expanding team. The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial fundraiser and storyteller, with a collaborative spirit who enjoys designing and building out fundraising and cultivation efforts and thinks strategically and tactically to drive revenue growth. Reporting into the Digital Engagement Director, the Associate Director of Digital Fundraising must be a seasoned performance marketing expert, with an eye towards compelling storytelling that successfully engages prospects, reduces churn, and maximizes lifetime donor value.
What you'll do:
- Collaborate closely with Director of Digital Engagement, web and digital team members to create and implement annual fundraising strategies that foster awareness around the Vera brand and organizational efforts to advance criminal legal and immigration reform.
- Execute multi-channel marketing campaigns, which include social media channels, email, and website.
- Drive campaign strategy, creation, and execution of digital fundraising campaigns, across all channels, to achieve acquisition, donor growth and retention, and department revenue goals.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders across function and initiative to develop, implement, and monitor programs throughout the donor journey.
- Manage campaign expansion, testing, optimization, reporting, forecasting, and budgeting for digital campaigns.
- Conduct continuous testing, in-depth analysis and optimization of campaigns, including creative assets, messaging, donation landing page quality, donor journey, lead and traffic quality, and campaign structure, etc.
- Effectively collaborate with the entire Communications & External Affairs and Development Departments on the implementation of strategies related to fundraising via social and other online platforms.
- Establish clear metrics for success and, in partnership with Communications & External Affairs and Development stakeholders, create fiscal year and quarterly projections for digital revenue and audience development.
- Monitor campaign performance and optimize as necessary to sustain metrics at or above national non-profit benchmarks and best practices and meet agreed upon KPI objectives and goals by team.
- Produce and compile reports that track and analyze web statistics and online initiatives.
- Conceptualize email marketing, engagement, and cultivation strategies that amplify breaking news, media coverage and editorial in order to bring emerging audiences and prospective donors closer to Vera’s work and leadership.
- Stay current on platform updates and digital development trends to assist with maximizing opportunities for our development efforts.
What qualifications are we looking for?
- Bachelor’s degree, preferred (communications or marketing degree a plus)
- 8+ years of fundraising experience, including experience implementing fundraising appeals for a large audience online
- Management experience on a fundraising team
- Demonstrated success in fundraising and donor relations
- Experience devising and executing A/B tests and automated series on email, using CRM-driven advocacy and fundraising tools, including EveryAction
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:
- Proven commitment to racial equity and passion for criminal legal reform
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to break down complex issues and research findings for a range of unique audiences in a way that is accessible, engaging, and actionable
- Experience galvanizing communities online around critical issues through the use of engaging copy, design and calls-to-action
- Experience working with EveryAction
- Expertise utilizing SEO best practices and website experience design to bring in new digital audiences and convert them to contacts, donors, and endorsers
- Strong managerial and project management skills
- Ability to manage tasks and workflow and work with outside vendors to meet deadlines
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to manage projects involving multiple stakeholders through several rounds of review, from concept to execution
- Ability to onboard and manage third party vendors and manage resources effectively
- Demonstrated committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
Location
Please note this role is located in our Industry City, Brooklyn office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.
Compensation and Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $108,000 - $111,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.
Applications may also be faxed to:
ATTN: People Resources / Associate Director, Digital Fundraising
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.
Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.
For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org
