Assistant Director of Individual Philanthropy

About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Europe (Berlin). Our legal and advocacy teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from 75 leading law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created 29 IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights. IRAP has over 100 full-time staff members. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences of displacement or marginalization and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in their profession.

About the Development Department

IRAP’s Development Department cultivates a growing network of individual, corporate, and institutional donors to secure funding and support for IRAP’s programs. IRAP’s Development Department is currently comprised of six team members, with three members in the New York office, one member in the Washington, D.C. office, and two team members who work remotely. We are also currently hiring for a Development Coordinator.

Opportunity

IRAP is seeking a full-time Assistant Director of Individual Philanthropy, who will report to the Director of Individual Philanthropy. In recent years, IRAP has broadened its network of highly engaged donors and supporters; in particular, heightened visibility in connection with the ongoing Afghan human displacement crisis has led to an influx of first-time individual donors and prospects at all levels.

The ideal candidate for this role, a new position in the Development Department, will have the drive, creativity, and experience to elevate and expand our mid-level and grassroots individual philanthropy programs. This includes managing and implementing a year-round engagement plan and solicitation strategy for donors and prospects of up to $9,999. The Assistant Director of Individual Philanthropy will also help support our growing individual major gifts ($10,000+) program and contribute to Development Department-wide projects.

Responsibilities

Mid-Level Individuals ($1,000-9,999) and Grassroots (under $1,000) Fundraising:

• Manage all aspects of engagement with individuals at these giving levels to achieve revenue goals, build enduring relationships, and grow the individual donor base and funds raised year-over-year.
• Develop strategic vision for an increasingly robust and compelling mid-level donor program.
• Manage a portfolio of mid-level donors using moves management (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship) to maximize their engagement and generosity over time.
• Help develop and meet metrics for substantive contact with portfolio donors and prospects through visits (in person or virtual), calls, personal correspondence, etc.
• Maintain up-to-date records of donor interactions and preferences in the Raiser’s Edge database, and help manage the Development Department’s VIP list.
• Utilize Raiser’s Edge NXT/ResearchPoint/Noza research tools to identify donors appropriate for higher-level cultivation, and act on this information.
• Collaborate with the Pro Bono team and Development Manager (who handles our annual law firm giving campaign) to foster and manage the philanthropic engagement of alumni of IRAP student chapters and attorneys at pro bono partner firms.
• Grow the recurring monthly donor program.
• Help promote peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising, monitor P2P campaigns, and flag key relationships.
• Over time, take the lead in managing IRAP’s grassroots fundraising and engagement efforts, including Facebook ad campaigns and an email program. Recommend, review, and edit content and audiences.
• Utilize Luminate Online to design/format, send, and track the performance of grassroots emails and other occasional mass emails; and employ a Gmail merge extension for certain types of batch emails.
• Monitor a Daily Revenue Tracker and thank donors according to Development’s personalized donor relations strategy. Collaborate with the Development Coordinator to ensure timely and accurate tax receipt letters are provided as needed, and review/personalize letters for mid-level donors.
• Respond to inquiries from individuals to the Department’s general email address.
• Build and strengthen donor and prospect relationships across all levels through thoughtful, strategic communications and a donor-centric approach.
• Contribute to Development reporting on mid-level and grassroots individual fundraising.

Overall Individual Philanthropy Program:

• Support the Director of Individual Philanthropy, as requested, with regard to major gifts and individual philanthropy overall. This may include managing projects; drafting correspondence, materials, briefings, and profiles; preparing/reviewing lists; assisting with data maintenance; etc.
• Collaborate with the Director of Individual Philanthropy, other Development colleagues, and Communications on end-of-year appeals; the Annual Report; and other projects.
• Collaborate with Development and program colleagues to produce stewardship/cultivation/benefit events (currently virtual; in-person events will resume when conditions allow). Potentially manage or co-manage production of selected events.
• Communicate with program departments, as assigned, to gain information on program developments needed to pitch or update donors and prospects.
• Keep template acknowledgment and solicitation materials updated, and help maintain individual philanthropy digital files, in Dropbox.
• Additional duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Commitment to advancing IRAP’s mission and passion for the legal and human rights of displaced people.
• At least 3 years of frontline fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in growing a network of individual mid-level and grassroots donors.
• A total of 5 or more years of experience in development, including participating in strategy development, building donor relationships, development writing, coordinating events, other forms of cultivation and stewardship, managing projects, conducting donor and prospect research, and maintaining and utilizing data effectively. Alternative commensurate and relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Enthusiasm to work and engage with diverse individuals within the organization and community.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic and creative aptitude, ability to take initiative, openness to input, and respect for confidentiality.
• Highly organized, with strong project management skills and attention to detail.
• Strong time management skills, ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume workload, and flexibility and responsiveness in a fast-paced work environment.
• Knowledge of and commitment to fundraising best practices. Familiarity with moves management and various giving methods is preferred.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite and Google Apps is required.
• Experience with the following is preferred: Raiser’s Edge or a similar CRM database; Luminate Online or another mass email program and Gmail merge extensions; and ResearchPoint or a comparable prospect research tool.
• Bachelor’s degree is highly preferred and an advanced degree is a plus