Institutional Giving Officer

ABOUT FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA

Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation to invest in the immediate recovery of Louisiana’s communities after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While FFL was established in the wake of these disasters, our founders recognized the need to address the longstanding inequities that have contributed to the life outcomes of the most marginalized of Louisianans for centuries. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on philanthropic leadership, racial justice, climate justice, criminal legal reform, economic opportunity, LGBTQ justice, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture via a three-pronged strategy:

• Invest: FFL makes grants and loans to support organizations and movements throughout Louisiana in our key program areas. We attract and invest resources to support on-the-ground projects, many of which can’t access traditional philanthropy. Through fiscal sponsorship, we support innovative ideas responding to unmet needs throughout Louisiana.
• Build: We build power to effect change in Louisiana communities. We convene community leaders and provide training in organizing, policy change, leadership, public speaking, and facilitation to tackle issues of climate change, police accountability, health disparities, housing access, and more.
• Transform: By fortifying movements, we shift systems and shape regional and national narratives. We re-imagine how our communities are governed and funded to redefine how residents can thrive in them.

Since inception, FFL has invested $60 million in more than 260 mission-critical nonprofit organizations working across the state towards building a more just Louisiana. As a social justice philanthropic intermediary, FFL’s work unapologetically advances racial justice while moving Louisiana forward. The foundation engages communities in both program co-design as well as its grant-making process to expand opportunities and move communities towards a more just future.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Foundation for Louisiana is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Institutional Giving Officer to manage a growing portfolio of five- to seven-figure grants and be responsible for all aspects of institutional funder engagement. This role carries direct responsibility for securing and renewing institutional funding, including confidently making funding requests, negotiating grant terms when appropriate, and closing awards to meet annual revenue goals. The Institutional Giving Officer will oversee prospect research, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship while building strong partnerships with foundation and corporate funders aligned with FFL’s mission. This position reports to the Vice President of Development and works closely with Program, Finance, Communications, and executive leadership to ensure alignment between funding strategy and organizational priorities.

The Institutional Giving Officer can be based anywhere in the state of Louisiana; however, the position might require occasional travel to Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

All Foundation for Louisiana employees are currently working remotely. Office space is available in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The following list of duties and responsibilities is representative and may evolve and change over time. FFL is committed to an inclusive workplace for all staff, including those with a disability, and is open to discussing disability-related accommodations to essential job functions for qualified applicants.

• Research and identify new foundation, corporate, and (as appropriate) government grant opportunities.
• Make direct funding requests to foundations and corporate partners and steward negotiations through to award confirmation and renewal.
• Lead proposal writing and submission processes, in collaboration with program and finance staff.
• Develop and manage timelines, data needs, and staff input for all proposals and reports.
• Maintain grant reporting calendar and ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with program officers and institutional donors.
• Coordinate site visits, funder briefings, and other engagement activities.
• Manage grants tracking and data entry in Salesforce; ensure accurate documentation of all funder relationships.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy and recommend approaches to deepen FFL’s institutional partnerships.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

The Institutional Giving Officer should possess the following qualifications, skills, and personal attributes:

• Grant Writing and Research: Exceptional written communication skills and ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Institutional Fundraising & Closing: Demonstrated success securing and renewing foundation and corporate grants, including making direct funding requests and stewarding proposals through award and renewal.
• Project Management: Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines.
• Funder Cultivation: Demonstrated success in managing institutional donor relationships.
• Equity and Justice Lens: Comfortable discussing systemic oppression and articulating FFL’s values to funders.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Data Management: Experience with donor CRMs (Salesforce preferred) and grants tracking tools.

WHO ARE YOU?

You are a persuasive storyteller and a systems thinker. You are comfortable asking for significant investments and guiding institutional partners toward funding decisions that advance shared goals. You love crafting proposals that align bold visions with tangible outcomes. You value transparency and follow-through. You’re detail-oriented and deadline-driven, and you know that relationships are as important as reports. Most importantly, you’re ready to help mobilize resources for a more just and liberated Louisiana.

You’ll fit right in if you love to:

• Work towards shared goals with multiple team members, stakeholders, and partners
• Use technology to communicate, perform tasks, and meet critical timelines while maintaining accuracy and quality
• Use FFL’s core values (community wisdom, courage, integrity, and commitment) to serve Louisiana’s communities of color and low-income communities with an intersectional analysis of racism, specifically anti-Black racism
• Give and receive feedback to improve our work together

You’re good at:

• Performing both independently and as part of a team
• Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of your work
• Time and project management
• Multi-tasking
• Problem-solving
• Being organized
• Communicating (verbally and in writing)
• Working with diverse groups

CATEGORY

This is a full-time, exempt position. Candidates should have flexibility and willingness to work evenings and weekends on occasion.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY

Foundation for Louisiana aspires towards freedom for all Louisianans and aims to create a fully inclusive and affirming workplace for all people. We welcome and encourage applications from people who have been involved with the criminal legal system.

Foundation for Louisiana follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, criminal justice background, or marital status.

This policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, outside vendors, members and customers, service clients, use of contractors and consultants, grant partners, board members, and dealings with the public.

FFL offers a generous benefits and PTO package which includes:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for employee and dependents
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Up to $50,000 employer-paid life insurance
• Professional development allowance
• 17 paid holidays and an extended end-of-year/ winter holiday break
• Home office stipend