The Opportunity

The MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) is a leader in advancing law enforcement reform through litigation and advocacy. Founded in 1985, the Justice Center fights to vindicate the rights of individuals harmed by the criminal legal system, hold people with power accountable, and transform the system.

Over four decades, the Justice Center has expanded its footprint, caseload, and staff to address critical needs. With 56 staff members, an $11 million annual budget, and offices in five cities (Chicago, Washington DC, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Oxford, MS), MJC is both deeply rooted in its communities and a national force for justice.

A new commitment to development: The Justice Center has never had a development function. For years, MJC’s work was fully funded by income generated by its $90 million endowment. In recent years, endowment income has been augmented by an average of $1.3 million in grants and other contributed revenue. To further enhance its capabilities, staff, and impact, MJC is standing up its first-ever development function. The three-year goal is to grow annual contributed revenues to $5 million or more.

The Director of Development will report directly to newly elected Executive Director (ED) David Shapiro, whose tenure began in August. Together with a Development Manager (to be hired), the Director will launch and build MJC’s development capability in partnership with the Executive Director, board members, and the Leadership Team.

Building from the ground up: The new Director of Development has a unique opportunity to build, almost from scratch, a comprehensive development capability and team. MJC’s Director of Communications is simultaneously developing MJC’s messaging and communications strategies, so there is an opportunity to partner and create integrated, best-practice functions.

The Director of Development will design and create infrastructure, processes, and policies while enhancing and expanding meaningful donor-facing engagement. As the development function matures, the Director will play an increasingly front-facing role with donors.

This is a time of promise for MJC. David Shapiro brings seasoned nonprofit leadership, vision, and enthusiastic fundraising skills. During David’s prior tenure at MJC, he founded the organization’s successful Supreme Court & Appellate Program and initiated a strong, ongoing relationship with MJC’s closest philanthropic partner.

In an era of emboldened authoritarian abuse of criminal law, MJC’s work is more critical than ever. The organization attracts top-tier lawyers who are innovative and audacious in challenging individual and systemic injustices through litigation and related public policy advocacy. Many are former clerks to the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The organization is an uncommonly strong advocate for vulnerable individuals abused by our criminal legal system.

By building development infrastructure, capacity, and results, the Director of Development will make an instrumental difference, helping to advance MJC’s impact on individual lives and the legal system.

The Mandate

The Director of Development will build and lead a new development function. Together with the Manager of Development and in partnership with the Executive Director and Leadership Team, the Director will increase contributed resources from $1.3 million to $5 million or more over the next three years.

In preparation for this historic expansion, MJC partnered with Focus Fundraising to develop strategies and create a comprehensive framework. The resulting MJC Fundraising Assessment and 2024-25 Development Plan provides extensive insight for the Development Director to consider in devising MJC’s fundraising strategy going forward.

Ideal candidate profile: The new Director of Development will be passionate about MJC’s work and knowledgeable about the criminal legal system and current issues. The Director will have relevant legal, civil rights, and/or criminal justice fundraising experience, with proven operational and growth experience, ideally including start-ups or contexts similar to MJC. The Director will be an energizing, relationship-focused team player who will inspire the board, donors, and funders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct a strategic listening tour
  • Visit all five offices to learn about MJC’s work, priorities, community footprint, and aspirations
  • Build relationships, trust, understanding, and collaboration across the organization
  • Partner initially with MJC colleagues who are ready for and interested in development support
• Develop a comprehensive three-year fundraising plan
  • Plan objectives will include:
    • Building a solid development infrastructure and systems
    • Establishing collaboration frameworks with Communications, Finance, the Leadership Team, and all offices
    • Setting goals and metrics for years one, two, and three
    • Identifying national and community-level funding opportunities in each geography
    • Creating cultivation activities, including opportunities for donors to witness MJC’s work
    • Assessing current and potential institutional, individual, foundation, and law firm support
• Build development infrastructure
  • Activate and enhance the new fundraising database, developing best practices and standard operating procedures related to fundraising, stewardship, moves management, and related activities
  • Establish data and grant tracking, prospect research, and analytical capabilities
  • Ensure registration, fundraising policies, and best practices
  • Develop donor pipeline development, moves management, acknowledgment, stewardship, and reporting systems
  • Build effective development interfaces with Finance, Communications, Operations, and all offices

• Enhance existing donor relationships
  • Create proactive donor communications, reporting, and tracking systems that are timely and responsive
  • Partner with the Executive Director, board members, and Leadership Team to deepen existing relationships and identify new opportunities
  • Cultivate new opportunities with current supporters through regular contact and relevant event invitations
• Develop new donor relationships
  • Work with office directors, the ED, and senior leaders to identify and communicate with targeted prospective donors
  • Activate effective moves management approaches
  • Develop donor communications plans, cadence, and vehicles consistent with MJC values Director of Development MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) Chicago or Washington, DC MJC was founded in 1985 by the children of J. Roderick MacArthur to honor his lifelong passion for social justice and human rights.
  • Create cultivation opportunities, speaking events, and hosted gatherings
  • Develop national and regionally-relevant storytelling and case for support
• Inspire a culture of philanthropy
  • Engage board members in giving and outreach to their networks
  • Provide compelling narratives that demystify fundraising and communicate the value of increasing MJC resources
  • Deliver user-friendly learning and engagement activities
  • Facilitate successful donor interactions for board and staff members
  • Provide regular reporting on progress and fundraising successes
  • Introduce experiences that build appreciation for philanthropic engagement

The Candidate

The ideal Director of Development will possess:

Professional Experience

• Proven development operations and fundraising skills
• Knowledge of and interest in litigation and criminal justice issues
• Leadership experience in complex organizational environments
• Business and budgeting acumen
• Public speaking and organizational representation abilities

Personal Assets

• Inspiring relationship and trust-building skills
• Positive, collaborative, and inclusive nature
• Passion for results and making progress with tenacity and excellence
• Self-awareness, confidence, humility, and low ego
• High emotional intelligence, active listening, and analytical skills
• Intellectual depth, agility, nimbleness, and openness to learning
• Ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build consensus

The Location

The Director of Development will be based in either the Chicago or Washington, D.C. office. The Executive Director is based in Chicago.

MJC maintains a hybrid work policy with three days per week in the office and optional remote work for the remainder. The Director will be expected to travel regularly and spend time in each office location (Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; New Orleans, LA; Oxford, MS; and Washington, DC).

The Compensation

A competitive compensation package of salary and full benefits will be offered to attract an outstanding candidate. The anticipated salary range is $150,000 to $165,000.

For potential consideration or to suggest a prospect, please email MJCDev@BoardWalkConsulting.com or call Kathy Bremer or Terri Kohan, 404-262-7392