Director of Advancement

1. Our Organization

Pegasus Legal Services for Children is a state-wide nonprofit legal aid organization based in Albuquerque, NM. Our mission is to promote and defend the rights of children and youth to safe and stable homes, quality education and healthcare, and a voice in decisions that affect their lives. We serve people aged 25 or younger with their civil legal needs and caregivers taking care of other people’s children who are in need of kinship guardianship. We advocate for children’s rights and partner with other organizations for system reform. Pegasus strives to work within an anti-racism, anti-oppression, and anti-colonial framework, and recognizes that systemic privilege and oppression have strongly shaped staffing patterns in the nonprofit sector. We encourage applications from racialized people, Indigenous people, migrants, people with marginalized sexual or gender identities, and people living with disabilities.

2. Role & Responsibilities

Pegasus seeks a Director of Advancement to lead and direct the organization’s fundraising, grant writing development, communication, and brand management efforts. The Director of Advancement works as a member of the Leadership Team to set and achieve annual and long-range fundraising goals, incorporating meaningful metrics for success. The Director of Advancement reports to the Executive Director.

Objectives of this role include:

• Design and implement development strategy furthering Pegasus’s mission, in consultation with the leadership team, guided by the 10 principles of Community-Centric Fundraising or equivalent professional certifying body’s code of standards.
• Develop and oversee Pegasus’s communication practices to ensure consistent branding, clear and targeted messaging, and strengthened relationships with supporters and donors.
• Ensures Pegasus adheres to IRS regulations regarding gift substantiation, benefit, and disclosure and upholds the standards of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in order to maintain its 501(c)(3) status.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the development, writing, and submission of all grant and contract proposals.
• Research and vet fundraising opportunities and grant prospects, such as government, corporations, and foundations, including major gifts.
• Build and maintain a robust donor base by developing key long-term relationships with past, current, and prospective donors.
• Communicate and collaborate with program staff to ensure accurate, sustainable, and innovative funding applications.
• Communicate fundraising goals and progress to all staff, the Board of Directors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain donor-related materials including social media, website content, creating of annual reports, print and electronic appeals, stewardship communication, and meeting packets.
• Draft and submit written and verbal proposals, concept and informational materials, and other materials needed to secure grants and major gifts in collaboration with colleagues, as appropriate.
• Represent Pegasus at events such as conferences and stakeholder outreach.

3. Skills & Qualifications

Required skills and qualifications:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in fundraising, grant writing, and development
• Experience developing, tracking, and meeting fundraising and development goals
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships of trust and respect with Pegasus staff, colleagues, volunteers, and donors
• Skilled in Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Familiarity with and understanding of systemic oppression, including institutional racism, and demonstrated commitment to mitigating the harms of institutional racism and other forms of oppression
• Innovative problem solver and strategic thinker with a growth mindset
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as a part of the leadership team

Preferred skill and qualifications:

• Experience in planning, leading, and managing development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to the leadership team and Board
• Proven success in development for a similarly-situated nonprofit organization, including success in fundraising from multiple donor channels
• Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising, including an annual report
• Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers across different levels of the organization and externally
• Established relationships with and accountability to the impacted communities Pegasus serves

Pegasus prioritizes staff well-being through our policies and culture. To this effect, we offer:

• A 4 day, 32-hour work week year-round (the office is closed on Fridays).
• Unlimited leave with a two-week suggested minimum, with an additional week off during the December holidays when our offices close.
• Twelve weeks of 100% paid parental leave after three months of employment.
• 100% employer-paid employee health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Employer-paid professional development and continuing education opportunities annually.
• A retirement plan with a 3% match that immediately vests (no waiting period).
• Monthly phone stipend of $40/month for full-time employees and a $500 home office supply budget per year.
• Hybrid work options with technology provided (hybrid work available after 1-month training period).
• Optional externally-facilitated support groups every 6 weeks to discuss how to prevent and mitigate the impacts of trauma exposure in our work.