Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director

at Indiana Abolition Coalition

🏢 About Indiana Abolition Coalition

Indiana Abolition Coalition (IAC) is a grassroots-driven organization dedicated to ending the death penalty in Indiana through education, collaboration, and activism. Founded in 2002, IAC uniquely bridges diverse political, faith, and community groups to build consensus for criminal legal reform. Working here means joining a passionate, lean team with a clear mission and tangible impact on human rights.

About This Role

As Executive Director, you will lead IAC's legislative advocacy, public communications, and coalition-building efforts to abolish the death penalty in Indiana. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape policy, grow a grassroots movement, and serve as the public face of a critical reform effort. You'll manage operations, fundraising, and staff while collaborating with a dedicated board.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with staff, followed by a call with a state legislator to discuss pending legislation. You might then draft a press release, meet with a coalition partner from a faith group, and review the monthly budget. Afternoon could involve a volunteer training webinar and prep for a board meeting, with evening hours spent at a community event or donor call.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Indiana Abolition Coalition Is Looking For

  • A seasoned advocate with proven experience in legislative advocacy or political campaigns, ideally with a track record of advancing criminal justice reform in a politically diverse state like Indiana.
  • A compelling communicator who can engage media, lawmakers, and faith communities, with strong public speaking and writing skills to serve as the primary spokesperson.
  • A coalition-builder skilled at uniting groups across political, racial, and religious lines, with experience growing grassroots supporter bases and managing volunteer engagement.
  • A nonprofit leader with experience in budgeting, fundraising, staff supervision, and board relations, comfortable with remote work and managing a small team.

📝 Tips for Applying to Indiana Abolition Coalition

1

Highlight any direct experience with death penalty abolition or criminal justice reform in Indiana or similar Midwestern states, as local context is critical.

2

Showcase your ability to build relationships across diverse groups (e.g., faith communities, law enforcement, legislators) by providing specific examples of coalition work.

3

Emphasize your fundraising and grant-writing experience, as IAC relies on donor support and foundation grants; mention any success in diversifying funding sources.

4

Demonstrate your media engagement skills by including links to op-eds, interviews, or press releases you've authored, and note any crisis communications experience.

5

Tailor your resume to reflect remote leadership experience, including how you've managed staff, volunteers, and operations virtually.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your personal commitment to ending the death penalty and why Indiana specifically matters to you.', 'Proven ability to lead advocacy campaigns and influence policy in a politically mixed state.', 'Experience building and sustaining coalitions with diverse stakeholders, including faith communities and grassroots organizations.', "Your strategic vision for growing IAC's supporter base, funding, and public profile while respecting its history and lean structure."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review IAC's website, recent newsletters, and press releases to understand their current campaigns and messaging.
  • → Study Indiana's legislative landscape on the death penalty, including recent bills, key legislators, and opposition arguments.
  • → Research the backgrounds of board members and current staff to understand the coalition's values and working style.
  • → Examine IAC's financials (if available) and past fundraising campaigns to identify funding challenges and opportunities.
Visit Indiana Abolition Coalition's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building relationships with legislators who are undecided or opposed to abolition?
2 Describe a time you managed a coalition with conflicting priorities; how did you find common ground?
3 What strategies would you use to increase IAC's visibility and grassroots support in rural Indiana?
4 How would you balance advocacy work with operational duties like fundraising and staff management?
5 IAC is a small organization; how would you prioritize competing demands with limited resources?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without specific references to Indiana's death penalty context or IAC's history.
  • Overemphasizing partisan politics; IAC works across the aisle, so highlight your ability to engage conservatives and liberals alike.
  • Downplaying the operational aspects of the role; the ED must handle day-to-day management, not just advocacy.

📅 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 Indiana Abolition Coalition!

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