Legacy Gifts Officer

Position: Legacy Gifts Officer

Department: Development

Office Location: The ideal candidate is in New York, NY (Headquarters) or; Los Angeles, CA (Western Regional Office).    

Work Type Designation: Hybrid. This role requires working from the office approximately 2-3 days per week. In-office presence will be required for managing estate paperwork including in-person logistics, support for authorized signatures, etc.

Reports to: Senior Director of Legacy Giving

Union Status: D4. This is a union position. 
Annual Salary Range: $89,510 - $143,885 annually. The salary for this role is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement based on a candidate's years of relevant experience relative to the position and the geographic region  

Travel: This position will require travel up to 30%.

FLSA Status:  Exempt/Full-time

Supervisory Responsibilities: None 

Who We Are  

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.   
  
We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization. 
 

LEGACY GIFTS OFFICER

Lambda Legal seeks a Legacy Gifts Officer (LGO) who will work closely with the Senior Director of Legacy Giving and other Development staff to manage and support donors of Lambda Legal’s Legacy Giving program. The ideal candidate should have direct experience soliciting legacy or major gifts and a proven record of successful donor and volunteer engagement.  

The LGO will maintain a portfolio of current legacy donors (part of Lambda Legal’s Guardian Society program), as well as cultivate legacy giving prospects. They will also work alongside Lambda Legal’s Regional Directors, Major Gifts team, and Development Department to ensure the fulfillment of a holistic donor cultivation strategy.  

This position is designated for either Lambda Legal’s Western Regional Office (Los Angeles) or Headquarters (New York City).  
What you'll do:

The Legacy Giving Officer reports to the Senior Director of Legacy Giving. The LGO role requires a “roll up your sleeves” approach and has a keen attention to detail and donor moves management processes, reporting, and relationship-building. The following is a list of the core responsibilities of the LGO:  

• Manage a portfolio of legacy giving donors/prospects with key emphasis on direct solicitation and stewardship in specific markets. This position is also responsible for a limited major gift portfolio for a blended cultivation strategy. 

• Facilitate donor cultivation, stewardship, and appreciation programs, including recognition events in assigned markets.   

• Provide programmatic updates to donors on a regular basis.  

• Lead and collaborate with other team members to promote and execute legacy giving and other donor events across regions. 

• Craft customized proposals for Legacy Giving prospects, leveraging existing communications materials and programmatic information. 

• Research, prepare calculations, and present planned giving proposals to donors and prospects. 

• Identify local volunteers and aid in the recruitment of new members for the Legacy Giving Council. 

• Provide insight and supporting information for the development of marketing materials for planned giving. 

• Support the Associate Director and Senior Director of Legacy Giving in processing estate paperwork and communicating with estate attorneys as needed. 

• Pull reports on legacy prospects and donors to inform data-driven decisions and market-based outreach. 

• Accurately log donor interactions and update records in Raiser’s Edge including gift entry, donor maintenance, and tracking planned giving activity to ensure a complete and up-to-date database. 

• Assist in the completion of administrative work including scanning documents, organizing mail, filling out necessary paperwork, and supporting overall operational efficiency as needed. 

• Additional duties as assigned. 

Who you are: 

With the understanding that no one person will offer every desired skill and characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer much of the following:   

Minimum qualifications:  

• 3+ years of demonstrated success in direct fundraising with legacy gifts and/or major gifts experience with the ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward a diverse donor portfolio. 

• Experience managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, including cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts at various levels of giving. 

• General understanding of legacy vehicles (e.g., wills, trusts, CGAs, retirement plans) 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to respond promptly and thoughtfully to donors while keeping them informed about Lambda Legal’s work and impact. 

• Ability to decode legal language and communicate in clear, donor-friendly terms. 

• Skilled in conducting research to identify and evaluate potential legacy giving prospects, using databases, public records, and donor histories to inform personalized cultivation and engagement strategies.  

• Proven experience collaborating effectively with key stakeholders such as Board members and key volunteers to advance organizational goals and support fundraising initiatives.  

• Comfort engaging with a wide range of donors and ability to build trust for long-term, authentic relationships, particularly around sensitive topics like life planning. 

• Strong organizational and time management skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail. 

• Ability and willingness to travel in the interest of donor cultivation and stewardship. 

• Ability to use Excel for general reporting and data tracking. 

Preferred qualifications: 

• Experience working on a fundraising campaign is a plus. 

• Prior experience using Raiser’s Edge. 

• Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable. 

All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.    

Our Values & DEIB Philosophy 

Successful candidates will embrace and champion our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement, bringing a commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace. They will thrive in a diverse environment, actively contributing to a culture that respects and uplifts the full spectrum of communities Lambda Legal serves. 

Candidates can review our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement on our Careers Page. 
 

Why Work at Lambda Legal? 

You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include: 

• Medical benefits that begin on your start date 
• Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date) 
• Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date) 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment) 
• Paid Time Off: 
  • Paid Vacation (15 Days) 
  • Sick Leave (12 Days) 
  • Personal Leave (3 Days) 
  • Religious Observance Leave (3 Days) 
  • Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave 
  • Floating Holiday (1 Day) 
• 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits 
• Health Reimbursement Account 
• Annual professional development funds 
• $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement 
• Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day 
• Premium subscription to the Calm App 
• Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)