Senior Manager of Institutional Giving II

About Common Justice

Common Justice develops and advances solutions to violence that transform the lives of those harmed and foster racial equity without relying on incarceration. Locally, the project operates the first alternative to incarceration and victim service program in the United States to focus on violent felonies in the adult courts. Nationally, it leverages the lessons from its direct service to transform the justice system through partnerships, advocacy, and elevating the experience and power of those most impacted. Rigorous and hopeful, Common Justice builds practical strategies to hold people accountable for harm, break cycles of violence, and secure safety, healing, and justice for survivors and their communities.

About this role

The Senior Manager of Institutional Giving is a key position on the Development Team, reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer (CDO). This role is responsible for growing and sustaining our institutional giving program by developing strong relationships with foundation and government partners, designing values-aligned engagement strategies, and helping to strengthen the internal systems that support our fundraising goals.

Working closely with the CDO, the Senior Manager plays a lead role in implementing and managing departmental projects and initiatives. They ensure that core functions of the institutional giving portfolio, including prospecting, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship, are carried out effectively and in alignment with organizational priorities.

This role requires someone with fluency in the full body of work related to institutional fundraising, who can both execute established plans and develop creative, strategic solutions when new opportunities or challenges arise. The Senior Manager must be able to write compelling, high-quality grant proposals and reports with minimal oversight, and produce internal and external materials that communicate impact to a range of stakeholders.

The Senior Manager is also expected to collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure our institutional partnerships reflect the full breadth and depth of our work. Regular progress updates and proactive communication with the CDO are essential.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Foundations

• Lead the preparation and submission of grant proposals and reports, including drafting compelling narratives, collaborating with Finance to gather supporting materials, and ensuring timely completion and internal review of all submissions.
• Identify, evaluate, and cultivate prospective foundation funders, including conducting research, qualifying leads, and developing strategic approaches such as tailored Letters of Inquiry.
• Serve as a liaison across program teams, proactively sourcing program updates and impact stories to inform high-quality proposals and reports.
• Develop and oversee grant budgets and financial reporting in collaboration with the Finance team to ensure accuracy and alignment with funder guidelines.
• Maintain and manage centralized grants tracking systems, including task management, deadlines, and data entry within EveryAction or other CRM platforms to support strategic oversight of the institutional portfolio.
• Partner with the CDO to shape and execute funder engagement strategies, ensuring communication is relationship-centered and aligned with organizational values and priorities.

Government

• Lead the preparation and submission of narrative reports for government funders, collaborating closely with the Direct Service team to ensure compliance and clarity.
• Oversee the monthly completion and reconciliation of agency-specific timesheets, auditing against HR records to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Monitor and respond to relevant RFPs, assessing alignment with organizational priorities and coordinating the development of competitive renewal and new government funding proposals.

Corporations

• Support the CDO in growing the corporate giving program at Common Justice by exploring potential partnerships and identifying new opportunities with socially responsible corporate partners, in collaboration with the Major Gifts Officer

Strategy, Infrastructure, and Cross-functional Collaboration

• Play a key role in refining and advancing Common Justice’s institutional giving strategy, working in close collaboration with the CDO and Executive Director.
• Partner with Development team members to build and strengthen fundraising infrastructure, including internal systems, processes, and tools to increase efficiency and impact.
• Contribute to building a culture of philanthropy across the organization, supporting internal teams in understanding and articulating the value of their work to funders and external audiences.
• Represent Common Justice at funder meetings, events, and conferences, serving as a compelling ambassador for the organization’s mission and work.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 5 years of experience in fundraising from foundations, government agencies, and corporations. Experience with community-centric fundraising and resource mobilization approaches is a plus
• Experience using grants management systems and maintaining accurate records
• Track record of maintaining and growing institutional funder portfolios
• Strong commitment to social justice. Working knowledge about structural inequities and how they impact fundraising is a plus
• Comfort growing our institutional fundraising program within a small team. Resourcefulness and creativity in building right-sized approaches a plus
• Strong understanding of and respect for boundaries. The ideal candidate will partner with the Chief Development Officer in cultivating a balanced work environment within the team and with funders
• Strong written and oral communication skills. The ideal candidate will be able to write clear and compelling proposals and reports, represent Common Justice in a variety of settings, and articulate our nuanced framework about solutions to violence without relying on incarceration with funders
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail.
• Formerly incarcerated people strongly encouraged to apply

Note: This role requires some nights and weekends.

To Apply:

To apply for the Senior Manager of Institutional Giving role, please submit your application through our online portal at: https://commonjustice.bamboohr.com/careers/39. Please include your resume, cover letter, and at least one (and no more than three) writing samples that reflect your work.

The salary for this position is $92,506 per year and is non-negotiable. We offer a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous paid time off.

This is a hybrid role, requiring four in-office days per month. Candidates must be based in the New York Tri-State area.

Common Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status. Common Justice values diverse experiences, including educational background and justice system involvement. We depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous paid time off.