Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Dec 4

Alliance for Justice
Washington, DC

Anticipated Start Date: TBD

Description

Following the 2024 election, AFJ is sharpening strategy and scaling impact as pressures on democracy, the integrity of U.S. courts, and nonprofit advocacy rights intensify. AFJ prioritizes data-driven judicial nominations work and capacity-building for advocates and members, supported by a modern, diversified advancement function. AFJ is led by a dynamic new President with a deep background in advocacy and progressive leadership, and who is ushering the organization into an exciting new phase of development and growth. AFJ seeks a Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VP) to lead and grow the development department and earned revenue during a critical time in our nation’s history.

As a member of the senior management team, the VP will join a skilled, mission-driven development staff that has built strong donor relationships and effective practices, and will partner closely with the President, Program Directors, and Board(s) to amplify what’s working, refine strategy, strengthen internal systems, and lead efforts to identify, cultivate, close, and steward donors to support sustained growth.

Working collaboratively across AFJ/AFJAC, the VP will help convert this momentum into a broader, more diverse revenue base for the next phase; the ideal candidate is a seasoned development leader with a record of securing significant foundation and individual support whose energetic, strategic, and entrepreneurial approach elevates high-performing teams and is deeply aligned with AFJ/AFJAC’s missions. This position reports to the President and has three direct reports, the Senior Director of Individual Giving, Senior Director of Foundation Relations, and Senior Manager of Development Operations. Compensation and Benefits Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

Requirements

AFJ is open to considering a variety of professional backgrounds and recognizes that no one individual will possess every qualification outlined. As a successful candidate for the VP role, you will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes to this role:

Strategic Fundraising and Revenue Growth

Work with President, Executive Team, Sr. Director, Individual Giving, Sr. Director, Foundation Relations and earned revenue program leads to lead organization-wide long-term institutional growth strategies, considering best practices for nonprofit advancement; the landscape across the field and external pressures; the organization’s unique strengths and tools; and staff and programmatic needs to ensure effective advancement of the organizational missions of AFJ and AFJAC.
Develop and lead plans to further grow an integrated and strategic development program across all existing and potentially new development strategies and revenue sources, including membership dues, major gifts and individual donors, foundations and institutional funders, contract and earned revenue, and special events.
Establish solid, yet ambitious, fundraising goals for AFJ and AFJAC and oversee implementation of strategies to achieve those goals.
Work with Sr. Director, Individual Giving to diversify AFJ/AFJAC’s individual donor program to attract and engage new audiences and work with the Sr. Director, Institutional Giving to develop strategies for prospecting and securing new institutional funders.
Establish performance measures to monitor and evaluate AFJ/AFJAC’s development program and adjust as needed to adapt to the changing face of philanthropy.
Engage leadership, Board members, and program staff in donor cultivation and fund solicitation.
Drive strategies to increase earned revenue in partnership with the VP for Strategy and, as appropriate, AFJ’s Director of Outreach & Membership and AFJ’s Senior Director of Bolder Advocacy Operations and Evaluation.
Develop and lead AFJAC’s annual fundraising strategy, including priorities, plans, and projections, with a strong understanding of 501(c)(4) fundraising and clear alignment with AFJ’s overall development priorities.
Work with the President, Vice President for Operations and General Counsel, where appropriate, to ensure legal compliance, as it relates to fundraising for both a 501(c)(4) and a 501(c)(3) organization.

External Relations and Communications

Collaborate with the VP for Communications on communications strategies to advance development goals.
Expand the prospect pipeline through coordinated work with program, communications, senior management, and Board.
Support Board fundraising development and work closely with both the 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) Boards to grow Board giving and support Board engagement with development strategies.
Align messaging with Communications to ensure consistent donor narratives and case assets.
Co-develop proposals for new initiatives with program directors and senior leadership.
Design donor journeys and stewardship plans.
Lead donor convenings and events to deepen engagement and focus on retention.
Coordinate rapid-response engagement for program wins and policy moments.

Leadership and Organizational Management

Lead and coach a high-performing team (Sr. Director, Individual Giving; Sr. Director, Foundation Relations; Sr. Manager, Development Operations; Sr. Foundation Relations Manager; Sr. Development Associate) with clear goals and accountability.
Own the development calendar and operating rhythm (campaigns, proposals, reports, events) to drive cross-functional alignment and timely delivery.
Ensure best-in-class advancement operations.
Manage fundraising consultants and key vendors to extend capacity and accelerate results.
Deliver crisp performance reporting (revenue, pipeline, KPIs) to senior leadership and the Board.
Serve as an active member of the senior team, contributing to organization-wide planning and decision-making.
Lead the hiring of staff and/or consultants, as needed.
Delegate appropriately and ensure strong internal communication and coordination.
Evaluate performance and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Lead by example, set high performance standards for self and staff, foster a positive team environment of achievement and ensure staff accountability through clearly defined and measurable goals.
Build a sense of teamwork and ownership, empowering staff through active communication and delegation.
Promote intradepartmental and interdepartmental collaboration.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

12-15 years of non-profit fundraising experience with a preference for someone who has led earned revenue, demonstrated track record of expanding donor pipelines and has experience making a case for support for policy and advocacy.
Demonstrated skill in managing and mentoring development teams and improving systems.
People-savvy and meticulously organized, keeps complex moving parts in sync, communicates clearly, and follows through.
Proven entrepreneurial abilities, creativity, initiative, and energy to expand funding base.
Creative problem solver and strategic thinker while working in a fast-paced team environment.
Team-first collaborator who quickly plugs into AFJ’s team, partners, and donor community, builds trust, shares credit, and helps others win.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently as needed to meet with donors, prospects and work hand in hand with the team.
Deep commitment to AFJ’s mission and values, advancing fair, independent courts and strengthening nonprofits’ advocacy.
The judgment and credibility to represent that mission with donors, partners, and members.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The salary range for this role is $190,000 - $220,000 with a generous benefits package outlined below.

AFJ offers medical, prescription, dental, vision benefits, a 401K plan with employer matching as well as an employee assistance program for physical and mental well-being. Additionally, AFJ provides up to 16 weeks of parental leave and a range of paid and unpaid family leave programs that allows their employees to bond with and care for their children and other dependents.

Location and Travel

This role has a flexible remote location with a preference for DC, NY, and CA. AFJ is headquartered in DC. Candidates will be expected to participate in frequent travel and attend in person meetings as needed. Contact DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan and Turner Delano.

How to Apply for this Job

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About the Organization

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) stands as the premier nonprofit organization committed to fortifying the progressive movement through its unwavering focus on federal and state courts and building power by providing unique resources to maximize nonprofits’ advocacy capacity. Headquartered in Washington, DC, AFJ uses a distinct and unique combination of technical and content expertise, deep reach in movement advocacy and legal networks, and trusted decades-long experience to transform courts through judicial nominations and ensure everyone has the power to shape the policies that affect our lives.

With a membership consisting of over 135 partner organizations, AFJ represents a diverse and powerful array of groups united in their dedication to progressive values and the transformative goal of reshaping the judiciary for the betterment of all. The recent election has only underscored the critical nature of AFJ's mission, highlighting the urgent need for a fair and impartial court system and progressive nonprofit sector that upholds the rights and freedoms of all Americans.

Mission: To build the strength of progressive movements by training and educating nonprofit organizations on advocacy and harnessing their collective power to transform our state and federal courts.

Vision: AFJ envisions a vibrant, ambitious, multiracial constitutional democracy where historically marginalized voices are amplified to upend exclusionary systems and center justice in our institutions of power. History AFJ emerged as a response to a pivotal moment in American political history.

In 1971, the influential "Powell Memo" called for the business community to leverage the courts to protect corporate interests. Recognizing the far-reaching implications of this strategy, attorney and activist, Nan Aron, founded AFJ in 1979 to counter the growing threat to progressive advancements from conservative forces.

By the mid-1980s, AFJ had launched its cornerstone Judicial Selection Project, bringing together 20 like-minded progressive organizations to focus on shaping the federal judiciary. This initiative marked AFJ's commitment to ensuring that the courts would remain a bastion of justice for all Americans, not just the powerful few. Justice Program AFJ is driving the conversation around courts’ critical importance to our democracy and their foundational role in helping us achieve equality and justice for all. AFJ’s state and federal courts teams partner with its diverse members, partners, and allies to champion the appointment of advocates of equal justice and movement lawyers to the bench nationwide.

In the decades following its inception, Alliance for Justice became a formidable force in shaping the federal judiciary. AFJ's meticulous research and unwavering advocacy became the cornerstone of progressive efforts to safeguard the courts. The organization spearheaded pivotal opposition campaigns against controversial nominees like Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh, effectively influencing the composition of the nation's highest courts. During the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, AFJ played a crucial role in elevating hundreds of exceptionally qualified jurists to the federal bench, ensuring a more demographically and professionally diverse and representative judiciary. AFJ's commitment to judicial integrity has remained steadfast through both triumphs and setbacks.

The historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stands as a testament to AFJ's tireless efforts to promote diversity and excellence in the judiciary. Conversely, the overturning of Roe v. Wade underscores the ongoing challenges in preserving hard-won rights. Through it all, AFJ continues its resolute advocacy for a Supreme Court that truly mirrors the nation's diversity and upholds the rights of all citizens, not just the privileged few. This unwavering dedication to justice remains the bedrock of AFJ's mission, driving its efforts to shape a more equitable legal landscape for generations to come.

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