Director of Development and Communications

Director of Development and Communications

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of Development & Communications to help shape the future of justice in our community. This executive leadership role offers a unique opportunity to advance Legal Aid's mission by leading innovative fundraising, communications, and government relations strategies that expand access to civil legal assistance for people facing poverty.

Building on a strong foundation of donor support, community partnerships, and public trust, the Director will drive growth in philanthropic revenue, elevate Legal Aid's visibility and influence, and strengthen relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government partners. The Director will also lead a talented Development and Communications team while partnering closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and community stakeholders to advance Legal Aid's impact and ensure long-term sustainability. Responsibilities will include:

Development & Fundraising:

• Serve as Legal Aid's chief fundraising strategist, leading the organization's comprehensive development efforts to ensure financial sustainability.
• Design and implement an innovative, diversified fundraising strategy that expands support from major donors, institutional funders, law firms, corporations, and foundations.
• Lead high-value donor stewardship, developing and maintaining relationships with top individual and institutional funders.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board to engage key stakeholders in fundraising efforts.
• Plan, develop, and implement solicitation strategies for all Major and Planned Gifts for Legal Aid.
• Oversee the development and execution of the annual development plan including foundations, law firms, corporations, individuals, and partners, and ensure fundraising targets are met.
• Evaluate performance and effectiveness of fundraising plans.
• Leverage insights from donor database and other research for donor cultivation.
• Oversee the Development & Communications Team's compliance with regulations and organizational policies. Ensure compliance with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethics and fundraising best practices.

Strategic Communications & Public Relations:

• Develop, implement, and execute Legal Aid's external communications strategy, ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment across all platforms and with the organization's goals and objectives.
• Oversee the development of a comprehensive communication vision for the organization through consultation with internal and external stakeholders that improves communication and engagement within Legal Aid and our various stakeholders.
• Identify communication opportunities in order to design and execute appropriate strategies to address them.
• Serve as the organization's key spokesperson, maintaining and strengthening relationships with media and key external stakeholders.
• Work in partnership with the Deputy Director for Advocacy and Managing Attorneys to identify opportunities for partnership with the media in Legal Aid's work with clients.
• Lead crisis communications and public relations efforts, ensuring Legal Aid's mission is well represented.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of high-quality content for newsletters, annual reports, websites, and social media channels.
• Analyze the effectiveness of communication strategies and campaigns. Provide regular insights to senior leadership on communication performance and impact that increases donor engagement, public awareness, and client advocacy efforts.
• Manage the planning and execution of Legal Aid's public events, including the Annual Meeting and donor engagement initiatives.

Government Relations & Institutional Advocacy:

• Work closely with the Executive Director to advance Legal Aid's funding priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Advocate for government funding opportunities and manage relationships with elected officials and public agencies.
• Lead development of proposals to new government sources and assist with the preparation and submission of renewal funding proposals and reports to government entities and non-philanthropic funders.
• Identify opportunities for and pursue partnerships with government, legal, and corporate institutions to strengthen Legal Aid's funding and influence.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Serve as a trusted adviser to the Executive Director and be an active member of Legal Aid's Executive Team by providing strategic guidance, assisting with enterprise-level strategic planning, driving continuous improvement in operations, mitigating internal and external risks, and aligning departmental efforts with Legal Aid's mission, vision, values, and long-term objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversee the Development and Communications operations and staff. Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Provide strategic direction and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Ensure effective cross-departmental collaboration with legal and administrative teams to support Legal Aid's mission.
• Set clear performance metrics and oversee reporting on fundraising, communications, and engagement efforts.
• Manage assigned budgets and resources effectively and efficiently; actively participate in development of organizational budget; stay apprised of and understand organization's financial position.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly manage the Development and Communications Team.

About Legal Aid: Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm whose mission is to secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change. Founded in 1905, Legal Aid is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the country. Legal Aid's 140+ total staff members (70+ attorneys), and 3,000 volunteer lawyers use the power of the law to improve safety and health, shelter, and economic stability for low-income clients. Legal Aid serves a diverse northeast Ohio population in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties.

The Successful Candidate will possess:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, or related field) strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in development, public relations, strategic communications, and nonprofit fundraising.
• Proven success in securing major gifts, institutional funding, and government partnerships. Strong leadership experience managing teams (5+ years), including coaching and professional development.
• Experience with fundraising database software (Raiser's Edge preferred) and CRM systems.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage media, donors, and policymakers.
• Knowledge of legal aid, nonprofits, and access to justice initiatives is a plus.
• Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management for fundraising and communications.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize, delegate, and execute in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and Legal Aid's mission of serving marginalized communities.