About Alliance for Justice
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.
Bolder Advocacy
The launch of AFJ’s Bolder Advocacy program in the mid-1990s served as an invaluable resource for advocates for justice and the rights of all. The program originated from a political climate in which a growing number of conservative federal judges were ruling against consumers’ rights, workers’ rights, civil rights, and the environment. It was created to help these nonprofit groups and the foundations that fund them fully understand and exercise their rights to advocate for their causes while staying within the laws governing their nonprofit status. Bolder Advocacy continues this important mission today. Since its inception, Bolder Advocacy has provided technical assistance and training to over 100,000 nonprofits and foundation staff, representing over 10,000 organizations. The resources provided have led to advocacy successes all over the country ranging from ballot measures to election engagement and successful legislation. In today’s political climate, this work has never been more important.
Membership and Outreach
The strength of Alliance for Justice is rooted in its membership of over 135 organizations that share a commitment to an equitable, just, and free society. Throughout the decades of AFJ’s history, members have been at the forefront in defending our communities’ constitutional rights and building power across the progressive movement to fight for social justice – in the courts, halls of Congress, state houses, ballot boxes across the country, and in the communities they serve.
AFJ Law
AFJ Law is a new program that will deepen support of nonprofits’ advocacy, strengthen the progressive movement’s ability to advocate within the bounds of IRS restrictions on tax-exempt organizations, and ensure compliance to keep their organizations safe. Building on the success of Bolder Advocacy, AFJ Law will go beyond providing technical assistance to providing legal advice on clients’ activities.
Alliance for Justice Action Campaign
The Alliance for Justice Action Campaign (AFJ Action), an affiliated 501(c)(4), promotes a national conversation about the importance of the courts with a goal of advancing core constitutional values, preserving human rights, securing unfettered access to the judicial system, and guaranteeing the even-handed administration of justice for all. AFJ Action also serves as the nation’s leading resource on the legal framework for 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy efforts.
Learn more about Alliance for Justice by visiting AFJ’s website.
The Opportunity
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.
Candidate Profile
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.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. 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. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya 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 [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Alliance for Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Our employees share our commitment to increasing racial diversity in our movement and organization, integrating justice and equity into our work, and ensuring an inclusive organizational culture.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | 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. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global 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 DSG | Koya via the firm's website.