Donor Relations Specialist

DONOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Job Summary:
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc., a non-profit law firm that provides free legal assistance to people living with low income/low opportunity, seeks a full-time Donor Relations Specialist to work in its Development Department. 

The Donor Relations Specialist works as a member of the Development Team to achieve the agency goals for the annual fund as well as any special projects. The primary duty of the Donor Relations Specialist is the identification, cultivation and solicitation of current and prospective donors to meet financial goals and grow the organization’s contributions from individual donors and planned giving prospects and commitments. Performs all duties in a manner which reflects the mission, philosophy and policies of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain a portfolio of donors and prospects which yields meaningful personal visits/contacts to advance the relationship with LSEM. These calls will be focused on identifying win-win investment opportunities and moving the donor/potential donor toward making and/or increasing their giving as well as building strong relational ties to LSEM.

• Enter and track all aspects of the cultivation and solicitation process in donor database to ensure highest level of customer service from all team members.

• Identify new donors through inter-team, board and volunteer prospecting and through other sources of identification (various media, cultivation events, etc.).

• Serve as point person for planned giving efforts, support the development of and commitments to the Future of Justice Legacy Giving Program through donor cultivation and stewardship. 

• Implement strategies for long-term planned giving, increased donor investment, and retention in conjunction with Development team members.

• Work in coordination with communications staff to develop external communications as well as handle special donor requests related to all LSEM appeals.

• Assist with the planning and implementation of all LSEM special events executed by the Development department.

• Adhere to Standards of Professional Ethics.

• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or other related field or Human Services field. 

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in fundraising, business development or social services program.  

• The ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve shared goals, showing diplomacy and flexibility when there are conflicting opinions; supporting other people’s performance to achieve the best possible results.

• The ability to take control of a situation and to lead by empowering others into an effective team. Inspiring and energizing others to carry out tasks and achieve goals by displaying a clear sense of direction and values.

• The ability to relate to, and feel comfortable with, people at all levels and to be able to make and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, representatives of other agencies, and the public.

• The ability to verbally express ideas in a way that is easily understood by others who are unfamiliar with the topic, including delivering a presentation, giving accurate information or acting as a spokesperson.

• Exceptional ability to write concisely and convey meaning in a manner appropriate to different readers, presenting a persuasive argument.  

• The ability to respond to, anticipate, and positively manage change.

• Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent tasks.

• The ability to relate to your coworkers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with coworkers. 

• The ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe.

• Results driven achiever with effective planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation.

• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• The ability to follow policies, regulations, and laws pertaining to the delivery of human services.  

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Windows environment.

Who we are: 
LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunities for those in need. Since 1956, LSEM has provided high-quality civil legal assistance and equal access to justice for low-income people in 21 counties in Missouri. We accomplish our mission through systemic advocacy/impact litigation and individual case work in a wide range of substantive civil areas which are in our priorities, e.g., family law for victims of domestic violence, prevention of homelessness/housing, health, public benefits, consumer, education, disability, community economic development, and immigration. As part of our community education/outreach efforts, LSEM works with over 150 agencies and participates in over 35 task forces/coalitions. LSEM also has a vibrant Volunteer Lawyers Program.

How to Apply:
Upload your resume and cover letter through our online application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Salary & Benefits Information:
Salary range is $55,000-$82,500. Specific salary within the range will be determined by years of experience. Excellent benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, a generous time off policy (starting at 4 weeks per year), 11 paid holidays, 12 weeks paid parental leave, 403(b) and 401(a) retirement plans, long-term disability and life insurance, employee assistance plan, and flexible spending account.

Submission Deadline:  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

At Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, we value diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect. We encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people of all abilities, and those who have been historically disadvantaged to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that represents our community and to be an inclusive environment for all employees.

Equal access to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s office is available. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact Human Resources at the e-mail hr@lsem.org. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.