Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 224 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., 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.

About the team:

The Development team at Vera is a dynamic group of humans with the critical task to secure funding to advance Vera's mission and initiatives. The work of this team directly contributes to Vera's ability to carry out our mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those impacted by mass incarceration.

As the Manager of Principal & Major Gifts, you will work with the Director of Principal & Major Gifts to execute the strategy to expand support from High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), to achieve annual fundraising goals, and to build a robust pipeline for future growth in the portfolio. In addition to serving as the primary thought partner to the Director of Principal & Major Gifts, you will collaborate with colleagues on adjacent teams to build resources to support frontline fundraising, partner with Vera program leads and principals on relationship management, and you will manage a focused personal portfolio of existing high-level donors and prospects. 

About the role:

Portfolio Management 

  • Take on and elevate a portfolio of donors with the ability to increase their philanthropic investments in the mission of Vera Institute 
  • Strategically design, facilitate, and coordinate all communication with an assigned portfolio, and among Vera principals engaged in donors' relationship to Vera in a fashion appropriate to programmatic priorities and donor interest 
  • Execute a robust discovery churn to upgrade contributions 
  • Partner with Vera principals to develop and expand funding relationships 
  • Execute donor meetings in partnership with Vera program staff 
  • Manage and staff donor cultivation and stewardship events as required by the engagement calendar of the Development Department 

Strategy Development 

  • Serve as a primary thought partner to the Director of Principal & Major Gifts in the creation of the national major gift plan and the development of the PMG pipeline 
  • Collaborate with development colleagues on the creation of major gifts departmental infrastructure, development event creation, and prospect research 
  • Help create and follow processes to maintain best fundraising and operational practices, utilizing clearly defined goals, objectives, and transparent method

 Cross-Team Collaboration 

  • Collaborate with colleagues to formulate strategies to promote prospect engagement, to identify prospective donors, and to build collateral materials to support frontline outreach work
  • Provide Vera’s program and leadership team members with effective strategies for approaching donors and prospects
  • Approach the shared work of the Development team with flexibility and fluidity and be prepared to jump in to support colleagues as needed
  • Generate talking points and outreach materials for program and leadership team members and guide them through donor contact and follow up
  • Work with program staff, Vera Trustees, Vera Leadership, and colleagues on the Development team to support donor engagement events 
  • Contribute to an organizational environment where teamwork, collaboration, passion for the mission, and dedication are expected and valued

Other duties as assigned

What qualifications are we looking for?

Preferred:

  • Bachelor’s degree, PLUS at least 6 years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable life or work experience may be considered.  
  • 3 years of portfolio management experience and / or direct donor relationship management experience 
  • Ability to travel < 15% of the time 
  • Driver’s license is preferable, as well

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

  • Experience developing and executing sound donor strategies to secure five and six figure gifts and experience securing gifts from prospects 
  • Competency creating donor strategies using best practices in donor moves management 
  • Experience planning and executing donor visit trips and events preferred. 
  • Outstanding oral, written, communication, and presentation skills – including ability to listen and target communication to specific interests of varied audiences 
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects, ensuring timely and successful completion of tasks
  • Comfort in online fundraising toolsets and databases 
  • Experience qualifying and disqualifying prospects using research and instincts 
  • Proven ability to build deep and lasting relationships with a variety of partners – both internal and external 
  • Gravitas paired with the professional integrity and ambition to effectively represent and promote Vera externally at the highest levels 
  • A motivated team player with exceptional communications skills along with interpersonal savvy 
  • Impeccable discretion 

Additional knowledge helpful for this role:

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY 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 $120,000 - $125,000. 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. In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325.

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Manager, Principal & Major Gifts
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.

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.

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