Jobs With Justice

Foundation Relations Manager

Based in Washington, DC
(REMOTE)

 

About Jobs With Justice Education Fund
Jobs With Justice is a national network of local coalitions comprised of labor unions, worker centers, community, faith-based, and student organizations. We work locally and nationally to reduce inequality by expanding opportunities for workers to organize and to bargain collectively. The national staff provides strategic support to nearly 40 autonomous local coalitions, builds networks on common issues, shapes public discourse and leads strategic campaigns to build power for working people. Jobs With Justice is committed to winning real change for workers by leading campaigns that combine innovative communications strategies, solid research and policy advocacy, grassroots action, and coalition building.

Position overview:
Jobs With Justice Education Fund (JWJEF) is hiring a Foundations Relation Manager to join our dynamic fundraising and development team and make a difference in the lives of working people. The Foundation Relations Manager is part of the JWJEF team that leads efforts to strategically develop relationships with and strengthen financial support from foundations to advance the organization and our network’s goals and objectives. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate key relationships with foundations interested in underwriting the work of the organization. The primary responsibility for this role is overall foundation proposal management with primary writing responsibilities for narrative reports and proposals. The candidate should also be able to identify and research potential funders, track relationships with foundations, and oversee the process of developing introductory engagements, concept notes, letters of inquiry, all in collaboration with JWJEF’s management team and program staff. This position is remote with the option of being in our office in Washington DC. This position will be supervised by the Development Director.

Primary responsibilities:

• Secure financial support from foundations and other institutional sources.
• Support the development and maintenance of ongoing relationships with foundation funders.
• Develop and track grant proposal and report deadlines for all foundations.
• Coordinate the proposal writing and proposal submission process; ensures all proposals meet JWJEF standards and policies.
• In coordination with Development team, maintain strong communication with funders via newsletters or other publications to demonstrate financial need and show the fiscal responsibility of the organization.
• Support organization-wide collaboration on foundation relations, including working closely with programs, Communications, Finance, Executive, and the Development staff.
• Manages a portfolio of the organization’s supporting foundations, and assists in cultivation and stewardship activities for funders.
• Assists with efforts to engage JWJEF programs on a regular basis to keep Development team abreast of campaigns, projects, and events, as well as opportunities to engage funders and prospects.
• Research prospective foundations to build relationships with, supporting the Development Team’s overall cultivation goals.

Detailed areas of work currently include:

• Manages grant reporting process; ensuring compliance with all grant reporting and other grant obligations.
• Oversees the processing and acknowledgement of all grant agreements, as needed, and other recognition and stewardship activities.
• Oversees processing of letters of acknowledgement pertaining to foundation grants.
• Conducts prospect research and writing efforts; provides feedback and guidance as appropriate.
• Oversees the maintenance of grant records, including paper files, moves management tracking, and primary and secondary contacts and relationships in database; monitors and updates the proposal/project pipeline; keeps proposal and reporting deadline calendars.
• In coordination with the Development Associate ensures that all foundation related information in Salesforce are kept up to date with necessary documentation, report deadlines, payment schedule, and other data.
• Proactively identifies and researches prospective foundations in order to develop new funding relationships for the organization and our network; develops engagement strategies, drafts prospect profiles, and engages relevant programs to pursue follow-up.
• Ensures that supporting foundations are actively involved in the organization and our network’s programs and events, by maintaining ongoing contact and effective working relationships with grantor program officers.
• Attends appropriate conferences and meetings, and tracks wider philanthropic sector news and trends (including funding awarded to peer think tanks and research institutions) to proactively identify new engagement opportunities.
• Provides regular updates to the Development Director and executive leadership on the organization’s foundation engagement, including new solicitation opportunities, new proposals and grants, and upcoming deadlines General/Events.
• Assists in the recognition and prioritization of organizational funding needs, keeping abreast of institutional, network, and departmental priorities and programs.
• Collaborates with the Development Director to develop strategies for cultivation and stewardship events, as well as other events for foundation supporters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in grant writing and fundraising (or similar writing experience), preferably in a social economic justice related nonprofit, or similar work in the public or private sectors.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Writing, Political Science, Public Affairs, or any other relevant field. Equivalent work experience also accepted.
• Familiarity with major national, state and local foundations, as well as prospect research resources such as Foundation Directory Online, Chronicle of Philanthropy, GuideStar, Foundation Search, Grant Station, and IRS 990s.
• Salesforce or similar CRM database experience is preferable.
• Excellent writing and editing skills; very high attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong research skills, and knowledge of and experience in using research resources for foundation prospects and funding opportunities.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from co-workers, program staff, program officers and grants managers, and the general public; good judgment and discretion are emphasized, as is the ability to constructively give and receive feedback.
• Must be able to prioritize and coordinate multiple projects; also, must be flexible and able to be a cooperative team player.
• Event planning experience a plus.
• Successfully sell ideas within the organization and work cooperatively with people from other organizations and cultures.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Must possess appreciation and enthusiasm for social and economic justice movement work. Background in labor a plus.
• Ability to work with people from a diverse background of experiences.

Salary: This is a full-time position with starting salary between $76,805 and $80,405, depending on experience and in accordance with collective bargaining agreement.

Office Closures: Jobs with Justice Education Fund closes for Summer and Winter Break. Summer closures are for for one week. This year’s Winter closure will start December 23 and we will reopen January 3, 2025. Each August the office is closed on Fridays.

Benefits: Generous benefits package that includes paid vacation, fully-covered medical, dental and vision insurance, and retirement benefits.
This is a union-represented position, represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, CWA.

How to Apply:
Submit your résumé, cover letter, relevant writing/digital samples and references to info@jwj.org. For references, please include a former supervisor.

Jobs With Justice Education Fund is an affirmative action employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, l/g/b/t/q individuals, those with disabilities, and those with working class backgrounds to apply. Frequently cited statistics show that people of color, women, trans, and non-binary people, as well as other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. JWJ encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications.

If you need accommodation in any step of the process, please indicate on the application or contact our Human Resources team at hr@jwj.org with the Subject Line: Accommodation Request for Job Applicant.

Important notice for applicants:
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please follow the job application instructions specific to the position you are applying for. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls or direct solicitations please.