Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Foundation Relations Manager
at Alliance for Justice
🏢 About Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a national association of over 140 progressive organizations, uniquely combining legal expertise, advocacy training, and judicial nominations work to strengthen the progressive movement. Its Bolder Advocacy program is the go-to resource for nonprofits navigating advocacy laws, while AFJ Law provides direct legal counsel and the Justice Program fights for a fair judiciary. Working here means directly supporting the infrastructure that helps progressive causes advocate effectively and safely.
About This Role
As Senior Foundation Relations Manager, you will be the driving force behind AFJ's foundation fundraising strategy, managing relationships with institutional funders and securing grants that fuel Bolder Advocacy, AFJ Law, and the Justice Program. You'll work closely with the Senior Director of Foundation Relations to develop proposals, reports, and stewardship plans, ensuring that AFJ's four core pillars have the resources to operate at full capacity. This role is remote, so you'll need to be a self-starter who can collaborate effectively across time zones.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve drafting a grant proposal for a foundation supporting Bolder Advocacy, coordinating with program staff to gather impact data, and scheduling a check-in call with a program officer. You'll also update the fundraising database, research new prospects, and collaborate with the Senior Director on strategy. Because AFJ is remote, you'll rely on email, Slack, and video calls to stay connected with colleagues across the country.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Alliance for Justice Is Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in foundation relations, grant writing, or fundraising for progressive nonprofits, with a proven track record of securing five- and six-figure grants.
- Deep understanding of the progressive legal and advocacy landscape, including familiarity with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulations and the role of foundations in supporting advocacy.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and programmatic work into compelling proposals and reports for foundation audiences.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, track progress, and work independently in a remote environment.
- Experience with fundraising databases (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge) and comfort using data to inform strategy and reporting.
📝 Tips for Applying to Alliance for Justice
Highlight any experience you have with advocacy-related fundraising or legal nonprofits—AFJ's work is niche, and showing you understand the intersection of law, advocacy, and philanthropy will set you apart.
Tailor your cover letter to AFJ's four pillars (Bolder Advocacy, AFJ Law, Justice Program, Outreach & Engagement) and explain how your fundraising skills can support each.
Use your resume to quantify your grant success: include dollar amounts raised, number of foundation relationships managed, and renewal rates.
Demonstrate familiarity with remote work tools (e.g., Zoom, Slack, Asana) and describe how you stay organized and proactive without in-person supervision.
If you have experience with progressive funders or foundations that support civil rights, social justice, or democracy reform, name them explicitly in your application.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your specific experience securing and stewarding foundation grants, with examples of successful proposals you've written; (2) your understanding of AFJ's unique role in the progressive ecosystem and why its mission resonates with you; (3) your ability to work independently and manage relationships remotely; and (4) how you would approach building a pipeline of foundation funders for AFJ's programs, including any ideas for prospecting new donors.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read AFJ's latest annual report and IRS Form 990 to understand its funding sources, budget size, and major foundation supporters.
- → Explore the Bolder Advocacy website and AFJ Law's services to familiarize yourself with the specific programs you'd be fundraising for.
- → Research recent news about judicial nominations and progressive legal advocacy to understand the current context of AFJ's Justice Program.
- → Identify foundations that fund progressive legal and advocacy work (e.g., Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, MacArthur Foundation) and note any connections to AFJ.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention AFJ's specific programs or the progressive legal context—this role requires a nuanced understanding of the mission.
- Don't neglect to quantify your fundraising achievements; vague statements like 'helped with grants' won't stand out.
- Avoid showing a lack of familiarity with remote work; emphasize your ability to self-manage and communicate effectively across distances.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Alliance for Justice!