About Brennan Center for Justice
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. Among our core priorities, we fight to protect voting rights, end mass incarceration, strengthen checks and balances, and preserve constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion.
Learn more about Brennan Center for Justice at [https://www.brennancenter.org/].
The Opportunity
The Director of Institutional Relations will serve in a leadership role for the Brennan Center and its Development team, which is charged with raising upwards of $38M annually from a diverse base of individual and institutional supporters, as well as additional gifts for special funds.
The Director will serve as a lead strategist, principal fundraiser, and co-leader for the Institutional Relations (“IR”) team of 5, while regularly collaborating with the full Development team of 17.
This new role will focus on significantly growing revenues from institutions, with primary responsibility for building corporate giving and executing prospecting strategies to secure new foundation supporters. Currently, the $9M portfolio consists of approximately 45 active donors, mostly foundations and a handful of corporations/law firms. This position will personally steward and manage a subset (approximately 20%) of existing institutional donors and will lead business and law firm fundraising for the spring dinner gala to help reach a $1M goal.
This position will directly report to the Vice President, Development. This position also regularly works with and advises organizational and program leadership, including the organization’s President/CEO. They also will have at least one direct report to manage and will regularly supervise the full team.
Co-direct an institutional giving program and serve as a principal fundraiser:
Foundations: Create a prospecting strategy and implement it to significantly grow our reliable annualized revenues and base of supporters
Corporate: Implement a viable corporate giving program and implement it to grow our funding stream from businesses
Personally steward and manage around 20% of the existing portfolio of donors
Annual gala dinner (Spring): With the VP of Development, oversee and implement fundraising from law firms and corporations to raise a total in the high 6-figures (individuals round out the gala sponsorships)
Oversee and edit writing products produced by staff, and as needed, write a targeted selection of proposals, reports, strategy memos, and other compelling fundraising materials
Oversee and edit financial reports and other institutional information included in grant writing packages, and prepare a targeted selection of these products as needed
Conduct impactful personalized outreach through email, meetings/calls, and events
Direct and advise organizational and program leaders to cultivate and steward relationships with both current and prospective funders, and to secure the Center’s position in the field with donor collaboratives and other networks
Prepare and ensure effective, strategic prep/briefing documents and supporting materials for presentations, meetings, and events
With the other co-director, establish and monitor performance towards projections, fundraising goals, annual and periodic benchmarks, and work plans
Directly supervise at least one team member, with strong supervision over the full team
Oversee maintenance and participate in a solid gift/grant intake process, clean and complete Salesforce records, and other tracking and filing systems
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Bachelor’s degree required, and at least 10 years of on-point experience
Successful track record in raising major gifts from institutions and/or building similar partnerships on behalf of public interest causes
Firsthand knowledge of and experience working on social justice/democracy issues and/or the relevant philanthropic community
Proven competence analyzing and understanding complex advocacy strategies, and translating them into persuasive information – both orally and in writing
Excellent writing and editing skills with outstanding ability to tailor products so they fit a particular donor’s interests
Entrepreneurial and strategic – a passion for building partnerships and support
Works productively with colleagues at all levels – including organizational leadership
Ability to thrive and produce in a fast-paced, high-energy environment with tight timelines and competing deadlines
Extensive experience managing the work of others
Generous team player able to productively give and receive direction and feedback
Proficiency in foundation/grant submission technology platforms and portals, as well as a CRM database and other essential office technology
Demonstrable commitment to the twin ideals of democracy and justice for all
Reliable discretion to strictly maintain privacy and confidentiality
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $155,000-$175,000. Salary ranges are based on market competitiveness and internal equity for each job. The salary offered a selected candidate will be contingent upon the candidate’s experience, qualifications and internal equity considerations. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.
Brennan Center employees adhere to a hybrid schedule that is subject to change, with employees currently required to work in the office a minimum of three days per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. While most employees follow this in-person schedule, there may be some positions that require additional in-office days. This position is based in New York City. It will require occasional travel as well.
Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including having a booster, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trisha Sutrisno and Shelby Woods. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true self and feel a strong sense of belonging. As such, we seek to hire employees who have a commitment to and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, we expect employees to participate/contribute with DEI initiatives or activities with recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.