Foundation Relations Officer

About the organization

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, we have taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

Too often, the law supports systems of power that violate our most fundamental rights and prevent people from living with dignity. We use creative and aggressive advocacy, communications, and legal strategies to combat the most virulent forms of oppression and to push law and policy to meet the demands of justice. Our teams partner and work with systems-impacted communities and social movements to build power and co-design legal, policy, and cultural interventions that advance the vision of the world our partners and clients want to see. And through strategic communications, we increase public support for our efforts in order to challenge dominant narratives that normalize injustice.

Our approach is holistic, fearless, and relentless. You have a role to play in this fight. Join forces with our activists, lawyers, and storytellers to fight oppression and build power.

Position Summary

Working under the direction of the Director of Development, responsible for the management of the Center for Constitutional Rights’ foundation program, including researching foundations, proposal and report writing, managing foundation relationships, cultivating and stewarding foundations, and working with other departments and Center for Constitutional Rights management to determine funding priorities. This position reports to the Director of Development.

Location:

In-office presence 1-2 days per week is preferred; eligible for fully remote on a case-by-case basis

Responsibilities

• In close collaboration with the grant writer, write and submit timely grant proposals, reports, updates, and stewardship actions
• Work with program staff to maintain up-to-date language on cases, programs, and projects for use in proposals, reports, updates, and stewardship actions, and provide copies of foundation proposals and reports when requested to department, management team, and program staff
• Manage administration of grants, including: tracking deadlines in database and Google document; reviewing grant award letters and agreements for special reporting requirements and compliance issues and following through as needed and ensuring that finance receives grant award letters and grant agreements; and sending thank you letters to the donors after grants are received
• Maintain all necessary electronic and paper foundation documentation in adherence with the Center for Constitutional Rights’ internal policies and IRS’s regulations
• Work closely with the finance team and give timely notice to finance of need for budget information related to grant proposals and reports
• Track requests for foundation meetings and facilitate the logistics, including providing background information on the funder to meeting attendees
• Develop and implement a written plan to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit new foundations prospects and steward existing foundation funders and include in annual work plan
• Provide a list of target foundations for the Director of Development, Development Committee, and/or Board to identify contacts or strategies for outreach or cultivation
• Work with the Director of Development to project foundation income for budgets and Board reports
• For grants of over $100,000 or new funders, work with Director of Development on content and strategy for proposals/reports
• Stay up to date on current trends in foundation giving and engage in trainings and professional development opportunities as appropriate
• Assist with other departmental projects such as drafting publications, appeals, and stewardship pieces, and staffing events as necessary
• Support organizational events as necessary and participate in departmental and organizational planning and organization-wide committees
• Other related work as assigned by the Director of Development

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of development experience required, including 5 years of institutional fundraising experience
• Experience working in Raiser’s Edge preferred
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills, including proven ability to efficiently manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including ability to anticipate problems and use judgement appropriately to plan solutions
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy
• Excellent written and interpersonal communications
• Strong digital skills, with proficiency in MS Office applications, Adobe, and Google applications
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• Professionalism, initiative, and personal responsibility
• Integrity, grace under pressure, and a sense of humor
• Multi-cultural competence and comfort – ability to work with a diverse team and to work across differences at all levels
• Comfort working in a progressive legal and advocacy environment
• A belief in the mission of the Center for Constitutional Rights

THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO BUILDING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE. THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS, GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE, AND CANDIDATES FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

Benefits include employer contribution to 401(k) plan and flexible spending account, vacation, sick leave, and holidays, and 100-percent organization-paid health benefits, including medical, dental, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance.