Application Guide

How to Apply for Principal Gifts Officer I

at Earthjustice

🏢 About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is unique as the nation's premier nonprofit environmental law organization, using litigation and legal advocacy as its primary tools to protect the environment and combat climate change. Working here means joining a team of passionate legal experts and advocates who are directly shaping environmental policy and defending vulnerable ecosystems through the court system, offering a mission-driven career with tangible impact.

About This Role

As Principal Gifts Officer I at Earthjustice, you'll manage a portfolio of 20-25 high-net-worth donors and 30-35 prospects, focusing on securing seven-figure gifts to support both annual revenue and multi-year capital campaign goals. This role is impactful because you'll be directly funding critical environmental litigation and advocacy work that protects communities and natural resources from pollution and climate threats.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual meetings with principal donors to discuss Earthjustice's latest legal victories, strategizing with program staff on how to connect specific environmental cases to donor interests, and developing personalized proposals for transformative gifts that fund multi-year litigation efforts. You'd also be qualifying new prospects through research and initial outreach while managing ongoing relationships through phone calls, written updates, and virtual engagement opportunities.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Earthjustice Is Looking For

  • Has 8+ years of major gifts fundraising experience with a proven track record of directly soliciting and closing seven-figure gifts from individuals
  • Demonstrates specific experience supporting multi-million-dollar capital campaigns and annual fundraising targets through strategic donor initiatives
  • Possesses expertise in prospect identification, relationship building, and personalized donor strategy development for high-net-worth individuals
  • Can create compelling funding collateral that connects donor interests to Earthjustice's specific legal victories and environmental impact

📝 Tips for Applying to Earthjustice

1

Quantify your seven-figure gift successes with specific dollar amounts and donor types in your resume (e.g., 'secured $2.5M gift from individual donor for capital campaign')

2

Highlight any experience with environmental, legal, or climate-focused nonprofits to show mission alignment with Earthjustice's specific focus

3

Demonstrate your remote fundraising capabilities by mentioning virtual donor cultivation strategies and remote portfolio management experience

4

Include examples of how you've collaborated with program staff or leadership to create donor engagement opportunities in previous roles

5

Show familiarity with Earthjustice's recent legal cases by referencing specific victories or campaigns in your application materials

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Share specific examples of seven-figure gifts you've secured and how you built those donor relationships over time", "Explain how your capital campaign experience aligns with Earthjustice's likely need for sustained funding of long-term legal battles", "Demonstrate understanding of Earthjustice's unique model of environmental protection through litigation and how you'd communicate that impact to donors", 'Describe your approach to managing remote donor relationships and engaging prospects without in-person events']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Earthjustice's recent major legal victories and current priority campaigns on their website to understand their specific impact
  • → Research Earthjustice's leadership team and board to identify potential donor connections or giving priorities
  • → Review their annual reports and financial documents to understand current funding sources and campaign goals
  • → Explore media coverage of Earthjustice's work to understand public perception and key environmental issues they address

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for moving a principal prospect from identification to a seven-figure gift commitment
2 How would you explain Earthjustice's specific legal victories (like recent Supreme Court cases) to potential donors unfamiliar with environmental law?
3 Describe a time you collaborated with program staff to create donor engagement opportunities around specific environmental issues
4 How do you balance cultivation of 20-25 active donors with qualification of 30-35 prospects in a remote working environment?
5 What strategies would you use to connect Earthjustice's climate change litigation to donor interests in specific geographic regions or environmental issues?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic fundraising language without specific examples of seven-figure gift experience
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of Earthjustice's unique legal advocacy model versus general environmental nonprofits
  • Not addressing how you'd manage a remote donor portfolio or showing lack of experience with virtual cultivation strategies

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Earthjustice!

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