Senior Director, Foundation Relations

Alliance for Justice; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Alliance for Justice is seeking a Senior Director, Foundation Relations to lead AFJ and AFJ Action’s foundation fundraising. You will oversee a diverse grants portfolio, craft proposals, manage staff, and drive strategies to expand unrestricted and multi‑year funding.

You will collaborate with senior leadership to articulate policy goals to funders, translate complex legal work into compelling funder language, and ensure timely, high‑quality narratives and reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience. Advanced degree or training in law, public policy, or nonprofit advocacy is a plus.
• Demonstrated track record (10–15 years) in foundation and institutional fundraising and partnerships.
• Ability to discuss AFJ/AFJ Action’s advocacy goals and strategies with varied audiences.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills for funder audiences.
• Experience leading and mentoring high‑performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the foundation portfolio with unrestricted and multi‑year funding, maintaining partnerships.
• Develop systems to identify prospects and secure new funding for AFJ/AFJ Action.
• Guide program leaders and staff in foundation relations and proposals.
• Oversee Senior Manager, Foundation Relations and portfolio ownership.
• Write/edit strategy memos and donor updates for each foundation’s interests.
• Lead meetings with foundation leaders and donor advisors; prepare briefings.

Skills

Foundation fundraising

Donor relations

Grant writing

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Communication

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree in law/public policy

Tools

EveryAction

Salesforce

Job description

Job Title

Senior Director, Foundation Relations

Reports to

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

FLSA Status

Exempt Position

About Alliance for Justice

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a national association of over 140 organizations representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. AFJ’s programs comprise four core pillars.

Programs

• Our Bolder Advocacy program builds progressive power by providing nonprofit advocates with the training, technical assistance, and resources they need to comply with the federal and state laws associated with nonprofit advocacy. Bolder Advocacy is the nation’s leading resource for foundations and nonprofits who want to engage more actively and knowledgeably in the policymaking process.
• AFJ Law deepens our support of nonprofits’ advocacy, strengthens the progressive movement’s ability to advocate within the bounds of IRS restrictions on tax‑exempt organizations, and ensures compliance to keep their organizations safe. AFJ Law goes beyond providing technical assistance to providing legal advice on nonprofit clients’ activities.
• Our Justice Program works to ensure that our state and federal courts protect our democracy and our core rights and values, preserve human rights, and provide access to justice for all. We research federal judicial nominees, educate the public and elected leaders about them, and advocate for demographically and professionally diverse nominees, who will protect our rights.
• Our Outreach & Membership team deepens and expands the engagement of AFJ’s core constituencies, including supporting our member organizations with Bolder Advocacy, judicial nominations, and capacity building resources to advance their missions. We also educate and mobilize members, partners, and advocates with the tools and AFJ resources they need to advocate for courts that protect the rights of all us and defend nonprofits’ role in protecting our democracy.

Position Overview

The Senior Director, Foundation Relations is a vital role in advancing the Alliance for Justice’s and AFJ Action Campaign’s missions. They are part of a high‑performing Development team charged with raising $11+ million annually from a diverse base of supporters: major donors, family/personal foundations, national and regional foundations, direct response contributors, and via our annual events; the full foundations portfolio brings in approximately $6‑8 million annually and consists of more than 60 active grants.

In addition to leading the organization’s efforts to secure grants from foundations, philanthropies, and other institutional entities for the Alliance for Justice and affiliated organization Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, they will guide and collaborate with AFJ/AFJ Action’s leaders and staff, who are among the nation’s preeminent democracy and justice policy reformers. AFJ is looking for a seasoned foundations professional, with a track record for successful strategies, increased growth in revenue, and a go‑getter attitude that can grow and diversify our portfolio of funding to new heights.

This position requires fluency in discussing and describing AFJ/AFJ Action’s policy and legal goals, and the activities and strategies employed to reach them to a variety of audiences. A successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills that enable effective philanthropic relationships. Additionally, a successful Senior Director, Foundation Relations will create new and innovative ways to package our program work, and pitch expansion and new projects. Related, they will provide a strategic voice in matching mission to revenue.

This role reports to and closely collaborates with the VP of Institutional Advancement and has a direct report in the Senior Foundation Relations Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage the foundation portfolio, with a focus on seeking and moving toward unrestricted and multi‑year funding and on maintaining partnerships to secure renewed and expanded support.
• Develop and oversee systems to regularly identify prospects and approaches to secure new funding for AFJ/AFJ Action. Stay abreast of philanthropic trends and foundation giving.
• Project manage and guide AFJ/AFJ Action’s program leaders and staff who participate in foundation relations and proposal pitches.
• Manage the Senior Manager, Foundation Relations and assign and oversee a portfolio owned by this team member.
• Write and edit strategy memos, regular programmatic updates, and other donor communications – all strategically framed for each foundation’s specific interests.
• Oversee and edit full packages of grant proposals and reports, including budgets and financial narratives and other specific institutional information – fostering accurate, high‑quality presentations.
• Serve as primary writer and producer for select proposal and report packages, and as needed.
• Lead the planning and execution of meetings with foundation leaders/staff, and donor advisors. This includes overseeing or conducting donor research and preparing written and in‑person briefings for AFJ/AFJ Action’s program leaders.
• Advise and guide AFJ/AFJ Action’s leadership on all aspects of engagement with foundation staff.
• Represent AFJ/AFJ Action at meetings, both alone and alongside AFJ/AFJ Action’s leadership.
• Make funding asks – both in person and written.
• Monitor performance toward meeting revenue projections, meeting fundraising goals, and developing and implementing work plans.
• Draft and prepare materials, including talking points, strategy, and relevant background to support AFJ leadership and the President in meetings, convenings and engagements with foundation partners and prospects.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience. Advanced degree or training in law, public policy, or nonprofit advocacy is a plus.
• Demonstrable track record (at least 10‑15 years of experience) in foundation and institutional fundraising, other nonprofit development, and/or building similar partnerships or sponsorships; experience related to nonprofit advocacy or judicial nominations is a plus.
• Demonstrated political savvy and big‑picture thinking, comfort in advancing new strategies and approaches to increase organizational revenue during a moment of growth and building for the organization’s exciting next chapter.
• Ability to understand and discuss AFJ/AFJ Action’s advocacy and nominations goals, the activities and strategies employed to reach them, and the political and societal landscape in which we work.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, with talent at translating complex, detailed legal and policy work into clear and compelling language suitable for funder audiences.
• Appetite to work in a fast‑paced, high‑energy environment, with corresponding abilities, i.e. strong skills juggling tight timelines and competing deadlines with longer‑term tasks.
• A team player with highly mature interpersonal skills – including ability to respond productively to direction and feedback, and facility working with staff and leadership at all levels.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high‑performing supervisees while driving results.
• Generosity, flexibility, and kindness to nurture a highly collaborative environment.
• Outstanding attention to detail and accuracy – commitment to work product that is thorough, complete, and polished.
• Comfort with using foundation/grant submission technology platforms and portals, as well as EveryAction, Salesforce, and other essential office technology.
• Demonstrable commitment to AFJ/AFJ Action’s mission and goals.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $145,000‑$150,000 based on experience. AFJ provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, prescription, optional vision, dental, flexible spending account, life, and disability insurance, as well as commuter benefits and retirement programs.

We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits program, including:

• Insurance – We offer medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as an employee assistance program for physical and mental well‑being.
• Retirement – Save for retirement with our 401K plan with a 5% employer contribution. Other insurances include life and disability.
• Time Off
  • Year 1 (0‑12 months): Eleven (11) days of vacation each year (3.66 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 17 days.
  • Year 2‑4: Sixteen (16) days of vacation each year (5.33 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 24 days.
  • Year 4+: Twenty‑One (21) days of vacation each year (7.0 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 32 days.
• Parental Leave – Eligible employees may take up to sixteen (16) total weeks of leave in connection with the birth of the employee’s child, placement of a child with the employee for adoption, or gaining of a foster child. AFJ will provide eligible employees with twelve (12) weeks of fully paid parental leave for purposes of bonding with a new baby following a birth or placement of a child for adoption or gaining of a foster child.

Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to travel domestically and work long hours when needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment

Geographic Location

• Contiguous U.S. Washington, DC area highly preferred but not required.

Work Arrangement

• Remote

Typical setting

• Office

Physical demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer and communicate with others while doing so.
• On occasion, travel by car, train, and/or airplane may be required.

Travel requirements

• Travel to events, such as staff retreats and other work meetings, will be required approximately one to four times per year.

Schedule

• Full‑time
• Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Some occasional evening and weekend hours may be required.

Direct Reports

This position supervises the currently vacant Sr Manager, Foundation Relations.

DEIA and Equal Employment

At Alliance for Justice, we celebrate the richness that our differences bring. We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are not just principles, but the foundation of our strength. Every individual brings a distinct and invaluable perspective, and we thrive when all voices are encouraged to speak openly, authentically, and with confidence. By embracing who we are and where we come from, we create a culture where everyone is welcomed, heard, and empowered to contribute to our collective mission.

Alliance for Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on actual or perceived race; color; creed; sex; age (18 and over); sexual orientation; national origin; religion; political affiliation; marital or partnership status; familial status; gender, including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions; gender identity; gender expression; military or veteran status; medical condition or history, including cancer and AIDS/HIV; genetic information including predisposition or carrier status and that of family members; disability (mental or physical); physical characteristics or personal appearance, including height, weight, and hair (including hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture are commonly associated with a particular race or national origin); ethnicity; ancestry; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or on any basis prohibited by federal or state statute. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

AFJ/AFJAC shall not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or prospective employee due to actual or perceived arrest or criminal record. AFJ/AFJAC will not ask applicants about any arrests that did not lead to convictions. AFJ/AFJAC will not ask job applicants about their conviction record at the application or interview stage. After the employer has extended a conditional offer to the applicant, the employer may choose to run a background check and ask questions about the applicant’s criminal conviction history.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

AFJ/AFJAC is an equal opportunity employer. AFJ/AFJAC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, creed, sex, age (18 and over), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, political affiliation, marital or partnership status, familial status, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, medical condition or history, disability (mental or physical), and other protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email [e-mail].

Disclaimer

This description is intended to provide an overview of this position and is not all‑inclusive. The incumbent in this position will be expected to perform other duties as required. Responsibilities may change over time. This description is provided for informational purposes only and does not form the basis of a contract.