LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA - Employment Opportunities & Internships

Employment Opportunities & Internships

Employment Opportunities

The Lupus Foundation of America is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA conducts programs of research, education and advocacy, and has a national network of chapters, branches, support groups, local representatives, and advocates.

DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Job Summary:
The Director of Individual Giving oversees and manages all aspects of giving by individuals received through Direct Response (mail, online, phone) Major Gift and Planned Giving solicitation vehicles. The position develops and executes annual plans, manages and grows the individual donor base, creates a pipeline for major giving and planned gift prospects, and manages all aspects of a comprehensive Individual Giving program, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors. The Director of Individual Giving will work closely with the VP Development and other staff and leadership volunteers in support of building a donor centric organizational culture and ensure strategic integration of giving programs to maximize revenue generation.

Job Responsibilities
Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Responsible for the financial and operating performance of Individual Giving including revenue projections, goal-setting, performance monitoring and budgeting; Develops and manages the execution of an annual Individual Giving program, inclusive of direct mail, online giving, memorial and honorary gifts, staff giving, planned gifts and major gifts.
Serve as strategist for Individual Giving, developing unique and integrated strategies for in-person cultivation and solicitation across all constituent and donor cohorts.
Ensure optimization of direct response solicitations for membership acquisition and renewals, delivering on growth goals within budget.
Manage vendor relationships in support of the above individual giving vehicles, in collaboration with staff in online services, marketing and special events.
Oversee the assignment, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and moves management of major individual prospects and donors and reinforces a culture of donor centric fundraising.
Employ best practices in moves management disciplines to grow the donor pipeline and fully engage Board and staff in support of gift solicitation and donor stewardship activities.
Ensure organizational compliance with ethical practices in fund solicitation as defined by the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.
Manage a portfolio of individual donors for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, as well as work with VP Development to assign individual donors to relevant staff portfolios.
Write, edit, and proofread proposals, presentations, reports, and other correspondence, as necessary.
Participate as a key member of the Development Team in advancing LFA strategic priorities through use of best practices. Attention to detail and ability to organize and manage diverse activities, set priorities, and remain flexible under pressure is essential.
Oversee production of all individual giving collateral materials, direct response and planned gift mailings, stewardship products and reports and individual solicitation proposals.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum ten years relevant experience
Proven performance in building individual, major and planned gift programs
Understanding of multi-channel integrated fundraising
Strategic Thinker
Ease in face to face solicitation
Results focused
Ability to strategically employ fundraising metrics to enhance program performance
Experience with development systems including donor database management, wealth screening and moves management protocols
Attention to detail, timelines and capacity for management of multi-projects simultaneously
Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills
Exhibits team-building behaviors
Proven effectiveness in engaging volunteer and staff leadership in the fundraising enterprise

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Job Summary:
The Senior Director of Public Policy & Government Relations conceptualizes, develops and implements the Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) comprehensive public policy goals and objectives. The Senior Director, working with the President and CEO, develops and advances the annual public policy agenda to secure increased appropriations for medical research on lupus, national campaigns to educate health professionals and individuals disproportionately affected by lupus. The Senior Director also builds and maintains strong partnerships with key governmental agencies, congressional staff and Members of Congress. In addition, the Senior Director will develop state advocacy programs and training for grassroots advocates and contribute to a regular e-newsletter for all chapter members and e-advocates.

Job Responsibilities:
The Senior Director works with other members of the senior staff, members of the LFA Board of Directors, Chapter leaders, volunteers and other lupus advocates to:

Establish and implement strategies that will achieve the LFA’s state and federal legislative and regulatory agenda.
Build and maintain relationships with federal, state and local officials on matters pertaining to regulatory and legislative actions that may affect the mission of the LFA.
Serve as a resident expert on key federal and state legislative programs and advise senior management on strategic options for the LFA’s involvement in such programs.
Research and prepare comprehensive reports/ briefs/white papers on legislative issues that may have a direct or indirect impact on the LFA or its various constituencies.
Draft policy statements, position papers, briefing books, fact sheets, reports, and testimony that present the LFA’s stand on legislative and regulatory issues.
Coordinate and support efforts to provide expert and relevant testimony before congressional and agency committees, government hearings and advisory panels.
Manage the LFA’s involvement in public meetings, press events, conferences and other forums regarding legislation or public policy.
Manage the LFA’s involvement in coalitions.
Oversee the coordination, scheduling and logistics of legislative briefings/hearings, Capitol Hill events, LFA’s national advocacy day and committee testimony.
Assist and advise the LFA chapter leaders, committee members, members of the LFA Board of Directors, and other National Office staff members on advocacy issues.
Create educational materials and programs dealing with political strategy for the grassroots network.
Develop, nurture, direct and manage the LFA’s nationwide grassroots network of lupus advocates.
Fulfill administrative and reporting requirements to support the effective operation of the department and National Office.
Maintain an accurate database of government officials that includes contact and other relevant information such as position on issues relevant to lupus.
Prepare and adequately train LFA officials and spokespersons for meetings with government officials.
Oversee the advocacy and legislative activities section of the LFA website.

Qualifications:

Ability to interact at the highest level of professionalism with all grassroots advocates, consultants, corporate and board contacts, White House, state, federal and local officials and the general public.
Demonstrated supervisory, budgetary and organizational skills.
Independent judgment, professionalism, accuracy, sensitivity, discretion, and diplomacy.
Knowledge of current and evolving political, legislative or regulatory trends and issues on a federal level.
Strong writing, communications, and organizational skills. Experience in planning, design development and production of public policy materials.
Excellent working knowledge of federal legislative procedures as they relate to appropriations and government oversight.
A Master’s degree in political science, public administration, or related field.
Seven to ten years of relevant experience in government relations at a senior level, including work with legislative or public policy issues.
Extensive Capitol Hill, legislative, healthcare and public policy knowledge
Experience in women's health issues and lupus a plus.

Other Requirements:
Knowledge of health and nonprofit issues is helpful. Candidate must be a self-starter, able to manage multiple responsibilities, work independently and as a member of a team with little supervision or direction. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Windows XP Operating System and Microsoft XP.

For more information about these positions or to apply, please send a cover letter, resume and salary history to: HR@lupus.org. No telephone calls please!

Internship Opportunities

An internship at the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is a pre-arranged, structured learning experience scheduled within a specific time frame. The experience must be relevant to the intern's academic and professional goals, and to the programs and activities of the Foundation. An internship is performed under the direct supervision of a LFA staff member.

Positions are available during throughout the year, based on the projected workload of the host department. Information regarding various internship opportunities may be obtained by contacting the Foundation at HR@lupus.org. Please reference "Internship Opportunity" in your email.

General Information

Applicants may be undergraduate or graduate students.
Most positions are unpaid, but a small stipend may be offered for some positions.
Full-time and part-time positions may be offered.
All LFA interns must be at least 16 years old.

Opportunities

Marketing, Communications, and Advocacy Department

Communications Intern
The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., the nation’s foremost voluntary health organization for people with lupus, is seeking a Communications Intern with an interest in the nonprofit field to assist with all aspects of communications and marketing. Scheduling is flexible, with the potential to work remotely. A minimum of 10-15 hours is preferred. Stipend of $500. Position is open until filled. Seeking fall and spring interns. Start date can be flexible.

Responsibilities:
• Support staff with the development and implementation of public awareness campaigns
• Based on experience level, assist with communications strategy development, and program management
• Draft fact sheets, press releases, and other materials
• Create weekly media clip report
• Assist with the development of media lists and distribution of media releases
• Assist with social media planning and website support depending on applicants skill and background
• Other projects assigned by staff

Qualifications
• Junior, senior, or graduate student in communications, marketing, or public relations preferred
• Familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Self starter and self-motivated
• Equipped with strong organizational/multi-tasking skills and have an
ability to meet deadlines
• Previous intern or communications experience is preferred

Application Instructions:
Send a current resume, letter of interest and two writing samples to:
Maggie Maloney
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street, NW Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
Maloney@lupus.org
Deadline: Open until filled

Online/Social Media Intern
The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., the nation’s foremost voluntary health organization for people with lupus, is seeking an Online/Social Media Intern with an interest in the nonprofit field to assist with the management of the LFA website (www.lupus.org) and social media. Scheduling is flexible, with the potential to work remotely. A minimum of 10-15 hours is preferred. Stipend of $500. Seeking fall and spring interns. Start date can be flexible.

Responsibilities
• Make regular content updates to LFA website and blog
• Assist with the management of LFA online/social media-including MySpace, Facebook, and LFA message boards
• Assist with monitoring and reporting on performance of LFA website and online advertising campaign
• Support Direct of Online Services with converting chapter websites to LFA national template
• Other projects assigned by staff

Qualifications
• Junior, senior, or graduate student in graphic/web design preferred
• Familiar with HTML, Flash, Dreamweaver and web-based content management software
• Previous web page design experience
• Self starter and self-motivated
• Equipped with strong organizational/multi-tasking skills and have an
ability to meet deadlines
• Previous intern or web design experience is preferred
• Access to high-speed internet connection and computer capable of running Windows software

Application Instructions:
Send a current resume and letter of interest to:
Maggie Maloney Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street, NW Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
Maloney@lupus.org
Deadline: Open Until Filled

Chapter Development and Training Department
Education and Research Department
Operations and Human Resources Department
Financial Services Department

For additional information about internships, please contact HR@lupus.org or call 202-349-1155. Resumes may be faxed to 202-349-1156.

Updated August 20, 2010 -- -- -- --