Assistant Director/Senior Writer

ACLU; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Healthcare benefits

401k with employer match

Professional development funds

Job summary

The ACLU’s National office in New York, NY is hiring for the full-time role of Assistant Director/Senior Writer in the Development Department, a hybrid position requiring two days in the office each week. January 2027 start date.

The Assistant Director will lead foundation funders and individual donors, drafting proposals, reports, and stewardship materials while supporting donor relationships for a high-volume institutional fundraising program.

Qualifications

• Significant experience applying exceptional writing skills in foundation fundraising or a related field, including ability to synthesize and communicate complex issues clearly and concisely.
• Maintain high level of accuracy and detail, adapting writing styles for varied audiences, and persuading positively.
• Experience creating persuasive organizational-level messaging and cases for support in changing political environments.
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously and independently, and manage deadlines effectively.
• Edit the work of others and develop/maintain productive relationships across teams.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize complex information into clear and compelling grant proposals and reports for foundation and individual donors.
• Draft proposals, reports, and stewardship materials on civil liberties issues.
• Meet all writing deadlines for the assigned portfolio.
• Fact check materials produced by other Development teams.
• Assist program staff with stewardship of current funders, including substantive updates on the ACLU’s work.
• Conduct research for new potential funders and develop cultivation strategies.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Skills

Exceptional writing skills

Foundation fundraising experience

Synthesize complex issues

Persuasive messaging

Project management

Edit others' work

Relationship building

Fundraising databases

Experience in national organizations

Tools

Fundraising databases

Job description

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Assistant Director/Senior Writer in the Development Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This position is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

Our passionate community of donors and activists is stronger than ever. The mission of the ACLU’s Development Department is to unlock the full potential of donors and the ACLU as partners in the creation of a more perfect union. We pursue our mission by building long-term donor relationships and organizational partnerships, by demonstrating impact in response to threats, by engaging donors how they wish to engage, by taking interest in our donors and facilitating personal action, by being accountable stewards of their funds, and by asking donors to consider giving the ACLU their full support.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Director of Foundation Relations and Donor Communications, the Assistant Director/Senior Writer will be responsible for leading foundation funders and individual donors. The Assistant Director will draft proposals, reports, and stewardship materials on an array of civil liberties issues, and help to support donor relationships for a high-volume institutional fundraising program.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Synthesize complex information into clear and compelling grant proposals and reports, letters of inquiry, and stewardship materials for both foundation and individual donors in assigned subject areas.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of ACLU past, current, and future work in assigned subject areas.
• Meet all writing deadlines for assigned portfolio.
• Fact check materials produced by other Development teams related to assigned subject areas.
• Assist ACLU program staff with stewardship of current funders in portfolio, including by proactively drafting substantive updates on the ACLU’s work.
• Conduct research for new potential funders and develop cultivation strategies.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Significant experience applying exceptional writing skills in foundation fundraising or a related field, including ability to synthesize and communicate complex issues clearly and concisely. Maintain high level of accuracy and detail, adapting writing styles for varied audiences, and persuading positively.
• Skilled in creating persuasive and compelling organizational-level messaging and cases for support in changing political environments
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously and independently, and manage deadlines effectively
• Edit the work of others
• Develop and maintain productive relationships within the team, department, and across the nationwide organization
• Familiarity with fundraising databases is preferred
• Experience working at complex national or international organizations is preferred

COMPENSATION

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $142,694 (Level F), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.