Senior Vice President of Fundraising Strategy

About the Organization

Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) stands as a prominent non-profit entity (501(c)3) in the United States, dedicated exclusively to championing and enhancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families. NILC's mission is rooted in the conviction that every individual residing in the U.S.

irrespective of race, gender/gender identity, immigration status, or economic background - deserves equitable access to justice, resources, and educational and economic opportunities that empower them to realize their full human potential.

In collaboration with the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), a 501(c)4 organization, NILC actively advocates for comprehensive federal immigration reform policies.

NILC is devoted to advancing its mission, which intersects with issues of race, immigration status, and class, through a lens of racial, economic, and gender justice and equity.

With headquarters in Los Angeles and an office in Washington, DC, NILC aims to achieve just laws and policies that tackle systemic inequities, foster narrative and cultural transformation for an inclusive and equitable society, and cultivate a healthier and more influential movement.

For further details, please visit our website.

NILC is currently at a pivotal juncture in its organizational development, supporting our strategic framework and expanding the organization and its initiatives through system influence, policy advocacy at both federal and state levels, engaging in movement and power building, and narrative and cultural strategies, alongside ongoing enhancements to our operational model.

We seek entrepreneurial, results-oriented relationship builders who are aligned with NILC's mission and values of racial justice & equity, diversity appreciation, partnership & collaboration, respect & personal well-being, and a commitment to transparency, integrity, and honesty.

About the Role

The Senior Vice President of Fundraising Strategy (SVP) is a vital member of the NILC Senior Leadership Team (SLT), providing strategic direction and oversight for NILC and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund's fundraising initiatives.

Reporting directly to the President, the SVP is tasked with

leading a high-performing development team, crafting and effectively executing a diversified fundraising strategy that meets and surpasses the annual and multi-year revenue objectives of both organizations, a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4), while enhancing the long-term viability of both entities.

Beyond strategic oversight and management, the SVP will cultivate and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects to secure significant contributions.

The SVP will also work closely with the EVP of Narrative Change & Marketing and the VP of Communications to align NILC and IJF's marketing and communication strategies with programmatic content.

NILC's annual budget approximates $20 million, with around 85% sourced from institutional funding and 15% from individual contributions (including both grassroots and major donors).

The NILC Immigrant Justice Fund operates with a budget of about $1 million, with aspirations for growth.

NILC also acts as a fiscal sponsor for various initiatives of differing sizes and complexities, ranging from a few thousand dollars to over $1 million.

A results-oriented and seasoned leader in development, the SVP will spearhead the formulation and execution of a robust fundraising strategy, bringing a strong strategic and organizational mindset drawn from experience in other progressive movement organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational & Strategic Leadership

• Design and oversee a comprehensive and diverse fundraising program to achieve and exceed both annual and long-term goals for NILC (501(c)(3)) and NILC IJF (501(c)(4)), including but not limited to: institutional giving, a major individual donor program, contributions from unions and the private sector, and a general donor program, with strategies to broaden the donor base and diversify revenue streams.
• Act as a subject matter expert and key advisor to the President, Executive and Senior Leadership Teams (ELT/SLT), and Boards of Directors in formulating fundraising strategies, annual fundraising targets, and long-term objectives for NILC and NILC IJF, guided by NILC's Strategic Framework.
• Foster a fundraising culture within NILC that aligns with our values of equity, inclusion, and impact, enhancing efforts across all NILC/NILC IJF teams in developing high-impact partnerships that enhance visibility, build credibility, and expand our list of potential funders & donors.
• Collaborate with Program leaders and team members to integrate the day-to-day programmatic work and priorities into ongoing and future development initiatives.
• As a member of the Senior Leadership team, provide the organizational leadership necessary to shape the direction of the organization, manage change, and ensure strategic integration across Development, Operations, Communications, and Programmatic teams to cultivate a collaborative & results-oriented culture.
• Identify innovative solutions and strategies to enhance visibility and opportunities for NILC and IJF.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including movement partners, allies, donors, and board members to advance NILC's priorities, seeking aligned external partnership & collaboration opportunities.

Departmental Management & Execution

• Accountable for the successful implementation of development strategies in coordination with the Development team, including direct involvement in fundraising, identifying prospective new funders and major donors, and addressing funding priorities essential for advancing programmatic goals.
• Build and manage an active portfolio of 50+ major donors and/or prospects, nurturing and stewarding meaningful relationships with current and future donors.
• Prepare & support the President, members of ELT/SLT, and Board Members (in partnership with the Executive Office team) to effectively engage in fundraising activities, including funder and donor stewardship and cultivation efforts, serving as a liaison for development activities.
• Guide team members to integrate narrative change, movement building, and programmatic strategies with development strategies in executing Development plans.
• Facilitate support from Programs teams for development initiatives as needed, including collaboration with Programs leaders, overseeing development requests from Programs staff, and providing training and support.
• Represent NILC and NILC IJF in external networks and alliances and participate in events and meetings.
• Collaborate with the Communications Staff to oversee the development of unified messaging for funder-facing materials and other marketing collateral with programmatic content, including appeals, annual reports, website and social media content, and donor cultivation events, ensuring donors are informed, appreciated, and engaged in ways that are accurate and aligned across the organization.
• Lead short-, medium-, and long-term strategic & operational planning, including individual/team expectations for the Development department in alignment with overall organizational priorities.
• Enhance data-driven approaches to the development team's work to strengthen decision-making, create greater strategic foresight, and oversee the timely reporting of development information for various audiences.
• Collaborate with the ELT, SLT, and Finance team to monitor and evaluate development budgets and financial reports to ensure they are fiscally and administratively sound.
• May lead or participate in cross-functional/departmental projects using the MOCHA framework/methodology.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, hire, and train staff.
• Oversee the daily workflow and productivity of the Development team.
• Act as a coach and mentor, providing constructive and timely feedback to foster a collaborative environment that develops strengths, improves weaknesses, and encourages creative problem-solving.
• Manage direct and indirect reports using applicable performance management software, documenting regular check-ins, goal progress, and any other relevant information for performance and coaching purposes.
• Directly & indirectly manage staff in a unionized environment, with the possibility of additional staff.
• Address discipline and performance issues in accordance with organizational policy.
• Manage outside consultants, third-party administrators, and vendors.

Shared Organizational Responsibilities

• Champion NILC & IJF's mission of advancing the rights of low-income immigrants by demonstrating a commitment to human rights, and racial, economic, and social justice.
• Participate actively in NILC meetings at organizational, departmental, project, and individual levels.
• Develop relationships and support NILC and IJF colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background & perspective to the work and assuming good intent from each other.
• Follow through on commitments, acting with a clear sense of ownership individually and collectively by taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures, establishing clear responsibilities & processes for monitoring work, measuring results, and designing feedback loops.
• Learn quickly when facing new situations by experimenting to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and extracting lessons learned from failures and mistakes.
• Act with integrity by following through on commitments, being direct and truthful, keeping confidences, and showing consistency between words and actions.
• Commit to centering NILC's values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty in all decisions and actions.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and work experience in nonprofit organizations.
• 12+ years of relevant work experience in development and fundraising in the nonprofit sector, with at least 6 years of management/leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute a development strategy & work collaboratively in a mission-driven, culturally diverse organization committed to advancing diversity, equity, & inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience organizing and executing complex or multiple time-sensitive fundraising projects and events involving many participants and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to raise funds from major donors and institutional funders.
• Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, data analytics, internet research, databases, and virtual collaboration tools.
• Previous experience with donor databases and/or CRMs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree, MBA, or other advanced degree in a relevant area is a plus.
• 8+ years of relevant work experience and 8+ years of management/leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in a nonprofit organization with budgets of $20 million+ is strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint is a plus.

At NILC, we recognize that talented individuals may come from diverse backgrounds or experiences, and if your education and experience don't precisely align with the above, that's acceptable. NILC believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization fosters innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants.

NILC's goal is for our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and to ensure representation of people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities within our organization.

We encourage you to apply and share in your cover letter why you are qualified and the right fit for this role and NILC.

Work Environment

Location & Travel:

NILC's offices are situated in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California.

For this role, up to a certain percentage of overnight interstate travel may be required; role-specific travel as well as quarterly visits to the NILC Washington, DC office or another location within the U.S. for several nights.

The salary range for this position is $154,900 - $193,600.

Compensation:

NILC's compensation and benefits philosophy aims to provide a competitive offering in the nonprofit sector while ensuring equity across the organization.

Physical Demands

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for extended periods.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Repeating motions, such as typing or answering a phone, that may involve the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

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