Application Guide

How to Apply for Development and Communications Assistant

at Healing Justice

🏢 About Healing Justice

Healing Justice uniquely addresses wrongful convictions through a holistic approach that combines advocacy, education, and direct support, focusing on breaking systemic cycles of harm rather than just individual cases. Working here means contributing to meaningful change in the criminal legal system while supporting those directly impacted by its failures.

About This Role

This Development and Communications Assistant role involves supporting donor relations through research and communications while creating content for campaigns and events that amplify Healing Justice's mission. You'll directly contribute to sustaining the organization's work through fundraising support and public engagement, making this a hands-on role in advancing social justice.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching potential donors in the morning, drafting social media content about an upcoming webinar in the afternoon, and updating donor records in the database. You'll likely collaborate remotely with team members on event logistics while ensuring all communications align with Healing Justice's trauma-informed approach.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Healing Justice Is Looking For

  • Has demonstrated interest in criminal justice reform or wrongful conviction advocacy through coursework, volunteering, or previous work
  • Can provide writing samples showing ability to adapt tone for different audiences (donor communications vs. social media content)
  • Has experience with remote collaboration tools and can describe specific systems they've used to stay organized while working independently
  • Shows curiosity about donor databases/CRMs and can articulate willingness to learn specific platforms mentioned in job description

📝 Tips for Applying to Healing Justice

1

Mention specific Healing Justice initiatives or campaigns you've followed in your cover letter to show genuine engagement with their work

2

Include any experience with criminal justice reform, even if volunteer-based, as this demonstrates mission alignment beyond general nonprofit interest

3

If you lack donor database experience, research common nonprofit CRMs (like Salesforce, Bloomerang) and mention your willingness to learn these specifically

4

Submit a writing sample that shows range - perhaps one persuasive piece and one informational piece relevant to nonprofit communications

5

Highlight remote work experience by describing specific tools/methods you use to stay organized and communicate effectively in distributed teams

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your understanding of Healing Justice's specific approach to wrongful convictions (not just general criminal justice reform)", "Examples of how you've managed multiple communication tasks with attention to detail in previous roles", 'Your motivation for working in this specific niche of nonprofit work rather than general development/communications', 'Any relevant experience with event coordination or webinar logistics in remote settings']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Specific cases or campaigns Healing Justice has worked on (check their website/news section)
  • → Their current fundraising priorities or recent events mentioned in newsletters or social media
  • → Key staff members and their backgrounds in criminal justice reform
  • → How they differentiate their approach from other wrongful conviction organizations
Visit Healing Justice's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach drafting a thank-you letter to a donor who supported a specific wrongful conviction case?
2 What social media strategies would you suggest for raising awareness about systemic issues in the criminal legal system?
3 How do you prioritize tasks when managing donor research, content creation, and event logistics simultaneously?
4 What experience do you have with data entry/maintenance and what systems have you used?
5 How would you explain Healing Justice's mission to someone unfamiliar with wrongful conviction work?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic social justice language without connecting it to Healing Justice's specific mission around wrongful convictions
  • Focusing only on communications skills without addressing the development/donor relations aspects of the role
  • Not demonstrating understanding of remote work best practices for a part-time position

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Healing Justice!

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