Senior Director of Digital Fundraising and Engagement

Dec 6

Earthjustice
San Francisco, New York, Washington DC or Remote

Anticipated Start Date: 1st Quarter of 2025

Description

Earthjustice seeks a highly skilled digital fundraising strategist and leader to serve as the Senior Director of Digital Fundraising and Engagement (DFE). The Senior Director serves as a key member of the Development Departmental leadership team to support a collaborative, holistic and cohesive fundraising environment, working directly with colleagues on strategies to fully integrate digital fundraising with direct mail, major gifts, and donor marketing. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced mission-driven professional with a strategic vision for modern digital fundraising, and who thrives on finding creative ways to generate long-term growth and revenue.

The Senior Director is responsible for designing, managing and evaluating all of Earthjustice’s online fundraising strategies in coordination with Earthjustice’s website and email advocacy and engagement programs, and devising and driving strategy to grow significantly by 2029.

The Senior Director leads a team of 6, reports to the Associate Vice President of Development Operations and Outreach and manages an integrated team of online fundraisers to support and grow Earthjustice’s extensive online donor community and systems across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities

Online Fundraising (35%)

Lead strategy, development and execution of the short and long-term fundraising plan for Earthjustice’s digital campaigns to engage, acquire, retain, and upgrade donors.
Oversee the creation of digital communications, cultivation and stewardship programs for donors to ensure interactions with Earthjustice are of the highest quality possible.
Integrate direct response fundraising strategy via digital and direct mail efforts.
Set integrated communications, conversion, upgrade, and retention strategies for monthly Sustainers with the Outreach and Membership Services team.
Manage team in developing email, SMS/MMS, and advertising campaigns for the purpose of donor acquisition and direct to donate, working in coordination with an agency partner. Co-lead the development of digital advertising strategy (with the Directors of Marketing and Digital Engagement on our Communications team), overseeing a $2.3M+ annual advertising budget to ensure strong brand awareness, supporter acquisition, and return on investment through online ads.
Strategize with each Development team responsible for securing public, mid-level, legacy, major and principal giving to coordinate the engagement, cultivation and solicitation of donors using scalable online solutions.
Develop annual revenue goals and expense budgets for DFE with channel and audience-level detail.
Manage annual expenses and hold accountability for the overall ROI of the digital fundraising program. Ensure a strong return on investment over time with the goal of increasing revenue year over year.
Create strategies and develop customized donor-centric approaches that achieve high conversion, retention, acquisition, and loyalty to move donors up the giving pyramid.
Oversee digital fundraising reporting, with the goal of adjusting strategies and tactics in response to trends. Review and disseminate these reports at least monthly.

Fundraising Tools and Projects (20%)

Work closely with Communications to develop compelling fundraising content on the website, increasing engagement and conversion for website visitors.
Support the website needs of other Development teams, such as producing landing pages for Donor Events, maintaining the Planned Giving microsite, and updating donor FAQs and financial information.
Work with staff in IT and Development Operations to ensure alignment of all constituent databases, both for the short term and long term, identifying new tools and process improvements as needed.
Oversee development and maintenance of online systems. Partner with all Development teams to ensure systems meet constituent needs and enhance workflows.
Hire online consultants and vendors, negotiate contracts, and manage all aspects of relationships. Ensure all state reporting requirements related to contracts with professional fundraising firms are met.

Interdepartmental Collaboration (25%)

Collaborate with Development, Communications & Marketing, and Program staff on developing messaging strategies and initiate online email messaging and fundraising efforts. Ensure alignment and communicate priorities and deadlines.
Identify reporting and analytical needs and coordinate with the various consultants and department heads to meet those needs.
Serve as a productive, collaborative and supportive member of the Development Leadership Team (DLT) to enhance coordination, planning, implementation and integration of online fundraising across all revenue streams and to successfully and creatively meet challenges facing the department.
Serve as a primary liaison for DLT and for the Development team with the Communications & Marketing team, ensuring coordination and messaging alignment across departments.

Management (Essential Qualifications) (20%)

Recruit and hire qualified candidates who fit position requirements and the work environment.
Promote change in terms of the expected benefits, as well as removing or lowering the impact of potential obstacles.
Set clear team strategy that aligns with Earthjustice’s strategy, mission, and vision. Ensure this direction is fully integrated with the rest of Earthjustice’s teams and outreach programs.
Develop staff by identifying and encouraging training and professional development opportunities appropriate to the role and creating development plans for all staff.
Provide staff with consistent performance feedback—both positive and constructive—and acts as a coach and mentor.
Create a learning culture, by encouraging debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects.
Ensure that any direct reports who have supervisory responsibility are properly executing those functions.
Create a respectful and inclusive work environment for team and models respectful and inclusive behavior.
Promptly address micro-aggressions and other concerns brought to their attention.
Resolve interpersonal conflict among team members and bring in outside facilitators as needed.
Communicate regularly with existing employees and encourage staff to raise concerns to provide ongoing feedback.
Create or identify strategic opportunities for team building and individual and overall staff engagement with one another to strengthen teamwork, interaction and collaboration.
Value and use individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work.
Celebrate successes and help team members to understand and manage setbacks.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversees a team of six and supervises three staff members directly:

Associate Director of Digital Fundraising and Engagement (who manages Project Coordinator, Front-End Web Developer, and Digital Fundraising & Engagement Associate)
Sr Program Manager, Digital Fundraising Strategy
Program Manager, Sustainers

Requirements

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong understanding of current and emerging digital fundraising strategies, trends, campaign development and mechanics.
Expert eye for digital fundraising content across email, advertising, and SMS, with a clear vision for leading a team in executing this content.
Demonstrated experience with donor acquisition strategies and direct donate advertising, even if in an advisory or contributor role.
Acumen for reporting and analysis, with deep knowledge of key metrics used for digital fundraising and the ability to leverage findings to continuously improve fundraising outcomes.
Adept at developing high quality content to deepen user relationships and yield conversions.
Strong familiarity with environmental issues and a passion for protecting the environment.
Comfort with project management tools and Agile workflows.
Demonstrated experience running multivariate tests with statistical significance.
Passion for exploring new technologies and practices to communicate with an online audience.
Excellent written, oral, organizational and interpersonal skills with a strong eye for design.
The ability to collaborate and work effectively with others is critical.
Prior knowledge of database applications, web programming, Microsoft Office applications, and graphic design applications.
Strong understanding of eCRM tools and implementation. Experience with EveryAction, BBEC, Civis, Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics is a plus.
Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence and cultural humility.
Ability to give and receive regular formal and informal feedback in a timely, constructive, respectful, and consistent manner and to incorporate debriefing into the team’s operations.
Understands the individual and team strengths and is experienced in developing team skills and talents to meet the evolving needs of an organization.

Additional Requirements

Participate in internal committees and working groups. Ensure the incorporation of inclusive and equitable practices in all duties and responsibilities.
Stays informed of nonprofit trends and advancements.
Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree
7+ years of experience developing and analyzing online communications and giving strategies to attract and grow donor base. Experience specifically with online communications initiatives involving fundraising, social media, online ads, writing projects; web development; eCRM software; and marketing strongly preferred. Experience leading a team of similar size.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer an extremely congenial work environment and a casual dress code.

Salary is dependent on experience and location.

Salary range in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY: $199,300 - $221,400
Salary range in Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, Seattle, WA, Los Angeles, CA, and San Diego, CA: $189,400 – $210,400
Salary range in Denver, CO and Philadelphia, PA: $179,400 – $199,300
Salary range in Miami, FL, Bozeman, MT, and New Orleans, LA: $169,400 – $188,200
Other salary ranges will vary between $169,400 – $221,400 depending on location.

How to Apply for this Job

Earthjustice has retained the services of ThinkingAhead Executive Search. Please submit your resume and expression of interest to Chris Spagnola at cspagnola@thinkingahead.com and Jessica Martinez at jmartinez@thinkingahead.com.

About the Organization

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment.

Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, DC. In addition to a talented cadre of environmental lawyers, legislative advocates, and other staff, Earthjustice has a robust and savvy communications team that works in strategic partnership with every department at the organization to advance our public affairs and public relations objectives.

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