Civil Survival organizes system-impacted people, provides legal representation, and advocates for policy reform to restore opportunity to communities harmed by the criminal legal system. We envision a world without incarceration, where people are not limited by their past and are valued for their humanity. Civil Survival was founded by people harmed by the criminal legal system to advocate for each other. Most of our staff have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Our foundational commitment to build an organization made up of members of the communities remains at the core of our identity.
These values and commitments have allowed us to increase access to opportunity for those harmed by the criminal legal system. We have done this by:
- Organizing mass assistance days that provide legal financial obligation relief to hundreds of clients in a single day. During Civil Survival’s mass assistance day in Pierce County, the courts waived over $2.3 million in criminal legal debt.
- Representing clients in 1,095 cases across 92 courts, resulting in the waiver of approximately $3 million in criminal legal debt during 2023.
- Leading systemic advocacy to make reentry legal relief accessible and automatic. Civil Survival led the effort to pass HB 1412 and HB 1169, which allowed for restitution relief in over 100,000 cases and eliminated $600 in mandatory LFOs for every felony conviction; and
- Hosting weekly Game Changer groups that provide justice-involved individuals a place to learn how to advocate for systemic change, overcome their own reentry barriers, and provide peer support.
Summary
Civil Survival is looking for a highly motivated, positive, and experienced Development Manager to advance the mission of the organization through fundraising from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies, on behalf of Civil Survival.
This is a new position, key to the continued growth and success of Civil Survival. The role will be essential to the establishment of a fundraising infrastructure of the organization as it seeks to expand its legal, organizing, and policy reach in Washington. The Development Manager will collaborate with Civil Survival staff to manage grant writing and reporting, to cultivate individual donors, and to identify foundational and corporate grants that align with Civil Survival’s mission. The Development Manager will also create systems that effectively allow Civil Survival to monitor and grow development activities, as we seek to use data to expand our fundraising.
This role is an essential member of the team focused on advancing the ability of people impacted by the criminal legal system to thrive in their communities. The Development Manager will work alongside others at Civil Survival who are dedicated to advancing legal and policy protections for people with prior criminal legal system involvement by growing the resources available to achieve these goals.
Job Description
The Development Manager will be responsible for creating the foundation of a long lasting fundraising infrastructure at Civil Survival. The person in this position will lead and implement strategies to advance Civil Survival’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts, working closely with the Executive Directors and the organization’s staff to meet institutional financial goals. This individual will manage a portfolio of active and prospective donors, oversee grant-writing initiatives, and ensure effective stewardship and engagement across donors. The Development Manager will also track and utilize data to inform fundraising strategies, maintain donor records, and support the organization’s mission and visibility in the community.
Duties & Responsibilities include:
- Champion the organization’s development efforts: Create fundraising and stewardship plans under the direction of the Executive Directors; set and work towards strategic fundraising goals and benchmarks; utilize diverse fundraising strategies to meet institutional financial goals (such as campaigns, sponsorships, annual fund, events); maintain relationships with existing donors; create and implement strategies for donor engagement
- Manage, cultivate, and sustain a portfolio of active and prospective donors: Develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies that match Civil Survival’s financial needs with donor interests; involve staff, board members, and impacted community members as appropriate to maximize philanthropic outcomes; ensure appropriate levels of gift acknowledgment, donor recognition, and stewardship for gifts received; continually identify new individuals to add to the donor prospect list.
- Plan and track donor engagement, including stewardship opportunities or events, communications, and solicitations
- Manage the organization’s grant-writing initiatives: Research and identify potential grants that support Civil Survival’s projects and needs; collaborate with staff, partners, and consultants to plan, write, edit, and submit grant applications; track deadlines; manage relationships with program officers; and track, plan, write, and submit grant reports with support from colleagues
- Utilize and maintain systems and records (digital and physical) to track development activities and coordinate with colleagues, including a record management and report generation with a donor management database system (Civil Survival currently uses EveryAction)
- Strategize, draft, and edit written fundraising pieces, such as appeals and solicitations, donor acknowledgements, annual reports, newsletters and other fundraising collateral
- Track, interpret, and utilize relevant data to inform decisions, allocation of resources, and strategic adjustments
- Partner with the Communications Specialist to develop a lifecycle communications plan and develop and execute an awareness campaign as well as modify Civil Survival’s website to enhance the donor experience
- Participate actively in team meetings, staff trainings, and organization-wide projects
- Maintain current knowledge of professional best practices, trends, and ethics related to non-profit/ criminal legal system development work
- Represent Civil Survival and its mission in the community
- Cross-train to gain first-hand experience of our mission in action, as well as provide occasional support at events
Required Qualifications:
- Three to five years of experience in fundraising with at least one year of management experience
- Excellent writing/editing skills (development of content and/or adding spark to content provided) including the ability to generate original writing for proposals, grants, or solicitations
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Comfort and demonstrated experience working with a CRM or donor management software (ex: EveryAction), as well as standard workplace software, including Excel
- Demonstrated project management experience, including ability to lead and track project components, and to set and track progress toward goals
- Comfortable using data to inform and adjust strategy
- Ability to work both self-directed and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Commitment to community grounded work and cultivating an inclusive workspace
Desired Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in the non-profit sector
- 5+ years fundraising or development work in criminal legal, civil legal aid, or non-profit field
- Knowledge of the philanthropic community in Washington, and nationally, in the criminal legal system space
- Demonstrated experience soliciting and securing gifts
- Demonstrated experience with donor research, cultivation, and stewardship
- Demonstrated experience with member management and stewardship
- Demonstrated experience with grant research, writing, and reporting
- Experience working with board trustees and other community volunteers
Location
All Civil Survival staff work remotely. In-person work will be required to attend events, attend meetings, meet with clients, and attend organizational retreats. Travel within Washington will periodically be required. Applicants from all parts of Washington State are encouraged to apply.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary range is $78,000 to $101,772, depending on experience. Within the position salary range, salary increases up to 4% annually, depending on performance. An additional annual cost of living increase is provided at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Benefits include:
- 401k match of up to 4% of salary;
- Generous medical and dental benefits for employees and dependent family members;
- 17 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day;
- 15 days vacation, accrued annually, increasing to 21 days vacation, accrued annually;
- 12 personal days, accrued annually;
- Long-term disability insurance;
- Flexible Spending Account; and
- Monthly $50 employer cell phone contribution.
Benefits are provided consistent with current organizational policies and are subject to change. This is a Fair Labor Standards Act exempt, at-will position; continuation in the position depends on both performance and funding.
How to Apply
Please apply via the link below. Please upload a resume, cover letter and writing sample. Please upload your writing sample and cover letter as one attachment. Applications will be accepted through March 24, 2025.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Civil Survival is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. Civil Survival actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork and productivity. We are committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact Julie Wilson (she/her pronouns) at julie.wilson@civilsurvival.org or (206) 317-4546.