Co-Director, Institutional Relations

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.    

Position Overview. The Co-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 co-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 16.  

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. 

Note: The Brennan Center operates on a hybrid
schedule, with employees currently required to work in the office a
minimum of three days per week. The schedule and number of
in-office required days is subject to change. This position is
based in New York City. It will require occasional travel as well.
  

Key Responsibilities  

• 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  

 

Key Qualifications  

• 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 

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.  

 

Applications:    
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and decisions
will be made as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified. To
apply, please visit:
>>THIS LINK<<, apply online, and upload
your (1) cover letter, (2)
resume, and (3) contact information for three
supervisor references.  
 
If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your
application by email to: brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu
with “Co-Director, Institutional Relations” in the subject line,
after registering in the online system. 
 

Compensation and Benefits:     
The salary range assigned for this position is
$155,000-$175,000. We determine our salary ranges 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.      
 
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.