Annual Giving Specialist

Every day, people across Illinois are denied the basic rights to which they are entitled under the law simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. It’s Prairie State Legal Services’ mission to change that.

PSLS is currently seeking an Annual Giving Specialist to join our Resource Development Team. For over 46 years, we have provided civil legal services to low-income, elderly, and vulnerable people. PSLS is a 501(c)(3) with an annual budget of over $20M, largely funded by federal and state grants. Individual and corporate donors support PSLS by providing approximately $500,000-$800,000 to provide access to justice in our communities. PSLS seeks to significantly increase this amount through active efforts to diversify and amplify private support.

Responsibilities
The Annual Giving Specialist reports to the Director of Resource Development and is primarily responsible for overseeing the annual giving from individuals and corporations. This includes coordinating and supporting the efforts of PSLS’ fundraising committee, “Together for Justice,” committee with volunteers from across our service area and coordinating the annual solicitation appeals of the entire organization. The Annual Giving Specialist will need to recruit and support strong and active volunteers, provide clear plans and tools for this committee, and develop fundraising skills and knowledge among committee members. Travel throughout PSLS’s 36-county service area and evening/weekend work may be necessary.

The Annual Giving Specialist’s duties will include:

• Recruiting, developing, and supporting PSLS’ fundraising committees
• Establishing and communicating annual giving fundraising goals
• Providing fundraising training for PSLS’ fundraising committee
• Coordinating special fundraising appeals and tailored proposals
• Assisting in creating the case for support, special giving opportunities, and related tools
• Drafting and coordinating annual mail and email solicitations
• Overseeing acquisition efforts for new donors
• Building relationships with local donors, including new donors
• Coordinating fundraising events
• Coordinating and promoting staff and board-giving efforts
• Community/local business/corporate fundraising: research, relationship-building, tailored solicitations
• Analyzing and evaluating local gift information and fundraising strategies

Salary and Benefits
The Annual Giving Specialist position is a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week and will be located in the office that best suits the chosen candidate. PSLS offers a salary that is competitive with similar organizations. The salary range of this position typically starts at $50,000 to $65,874 annually and increases with relevant experience. The starting salary for the successful candidate will be determined based on prior relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full-time employees that includes:

• Health insurance, including the opportunity to qualify for a wellness credit
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 403b retirement plan, including employer contributions
• Training and education program
• PTO that starts at 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Flex scheduling and partial remote work available
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 paid holidays

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 1-3 years of previous professional development experience preferred
• Understanding of and experience working within the legal community preferred
• Demonstrated experience in meeting fundraising goals
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communications skills, including strong writing skills
• Strong meeting management skills
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with board members, volunteers, donors, and staff
• Proficiencies in fundraising software and information management, preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT
• A solid understanding of and commitment to the mission and philosophy of Prairie State
• Ability to travel throughout the northern and central Illinois service area

Application Details – Resumes accepted until position is filled
Please indicate “Annual Giving Specialist” in the subject line and e-mail a cover letter explaining your interest and experience, resume, and three professional references to careers@pslegal.org. The Administrative Office is located in Rockford, Illinois, but this position may be based out of one of our other offices. A list of office locations and areas served is available at www.pslegal.org/offices. Please include your office preference.

Prairie State Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, expression or presentation, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

The Organization
PSLS is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that has served northern and central Illinois for 45 years, maintains 11 office locations, and has a staff of over 200 employees, including training and litigation staff with extensive experience. Our 36-county service area includes rural communities, suburban areas, and mid-size urban cities, which necessitates the development of diverse strategies, and we encourage our staff to cultivate and utilize creative approaches to reach and serve our client population. Employees of PSLS benefit from the expertise and community connections of their local office staff, along with robust program-wide resources. We strive to provide an array of services responsive to the needs of our clients. PSLS has excellent fiscal controls and upholds the highest rating from Charity Navigator and Guidestar. For more information regarding PSLS services and operations