Application Guide

How to Apply for Grants Manager

at National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

🏢 About National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

NDLON is unique as a national network that empowers immigrant workers through a multi-pronged approach combining grassroots organizing, legal defense, cultural resistance, and mutual aid across 70+ member organizations. Someone might want to work here to directly support immigrant worker leadership and contribute to systemic change at the intersection of labor and immigrant rights.

About This Role

This Grants Manager role involves managing and expanding a portfolio of institutional funders specifically supporting NDLON's four core areas: immigrant worker organizing, legal defense, cultural strategy, and disaster recovery efforts. It's impactful because securing and stewarding these grants directly fuels the network's ability to defend rights, build power, and respond to crises affecting immigrant communities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve coordinating with legal defense teams on grant reports for deportation defense work, drafting a proposal for cultural strategy funding with the communications team, and preparing briefing materials for a foundation program officer interested in worker organizing. You'd likely balance multiple deadlines while ensuring all materials accurately represent the lived experiences of immigrant workers.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) Is Looking For

  • Has 2-4 years of grant writing/fundraising experience with a demonstrated ability to craft compelling narratives about immigrant and worker justice
  • Possesses strong project management skills to align grant strategies with NDLON's campaign timelines and organizational priorities
  • Shows genuine commitment to immigrant and workers' rights through previous work, volunteer experience, or personal background
  • Can develop accurate grant budgets and work collaboratively with program leaders across organizing, legal, and cultural teams

📝 Tips for Applying to National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

1

Highlight specific experience with institutional funders who support immigrant rights, labor organizing, or social justice movements

2

Include writing samples that demonstrate storytelling ability about marginalized communities (consider anonymized proposals or reports)

3

Research NDLON's current campaigns like the 'Not1More' deportation defense work or cultural resistance initiatives

4

Show how you've managed grant portfolios for multi-focus organizations (not just single-issue nonprofits)

5

Demonstrate understanding of how legal defense, organizing, and cultural strategy intersect in immigrant worker movements

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with foundation relations for immigrant rights or worker justice organizations', "Examples of developing grant strategies aligned with campaign timelines (mention NDLON's current campaigns if possible)", "How you've partnered with program staff to translate grassroots work into compelling funding proposals", 'Your approach to maintaining funder relationships through updates and communication that centers community impact']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → NDLON's member organizations and their specific campaigns (like the ICE Out of CA coalition work)
  • → Current funders listed on NDLON's website or annual reports
  • → The network's cultural resistance initiatives like the 'Migrant Trail' or art exhibitions
  • → Recent disaster recovery efforts NDLON has been involved in (hurricane responses, pandemic mutual aid)
Visit National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a grant strategy for NDLON's four focus areas (organizing, legal defense, cultural strategy, disaster recovery)?
2 Describe your experience working with program leaders to draft proposals that accurately represent grassroots work
3 How do you stay informed about foundation priorities in immigrant rights and labor movements?
4 What's your approach to managing multiple deadlines across different program areas?
5 How would you handle a funder site visit to a day laborer center or worker assembly?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic grant writing experience without connection to social justice or immigrant rights
  • Focusing only on one aspect of NDLON's work (e.g., only legal defense without mentioning organizing)
  • Using corporate or academic language instead of community-centered storytelling in writing samples
  • Not demonstrating understanding of how day laborer organizing differs from traditional union work

📅 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 National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)!

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