About the Texas Organizing Project (TOP): Founded in 2009, TOP has grown to one of the leading grassroots organizing operations in Texas, advancing racial and economic justice through community and electoral organizing. Our programs are anchored in the three largest metroregions of the state — Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. We are a membership-based organization with a base of over 300,000 community members and supporters who are reflective of Texas’ growing population – Black, Latino, millennial, low-moderate income families. Through on the ground organizing, grassroots leader development, direct action, policy advocacy and electoral engagement, we have made gains in policy solutions and public investments for neighborhood infrastructure, family sustaining jobs, affordable housing, public schools, health access, criminal justice reform, and immigrant rights. TOP also runs the largest independent electoral field operations in the state, activating over 200,000 voters of color each election cycle.
We are a family of organizations, consisting of a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and political action committee (PAC). Texas Organizing Project Education Fund (TOPEF) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to improve the lives of low and moderate income Texas families of color by building power through community organizing and civic engagement. Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is a sister C4 entity with a membership base comprised of low-to-moderate income largely Black and Latino Texans, that conducts issue advocacy, lobbying efforts, and electoral organizing as well as endorses candidates on behalf of its membership and low-moderate income Texans. Texas Organizing Project PAC (TOPPAC) engages in large scale voter engagement and mobilization efforts aligned with TOP-endorsed candidates and issue organizing campaigns with a focus on expanding the electorate with infrequent and new voters of color.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The central responsibilities of this position include management and coordination of a detailed work plan to keep multiple parties involved in grant and report management and supporting parallel streams of work areas, as described below, on task to meet annual fundraising goals and intermediary benchmarks.
Foundation Funding
Take leading role in the preparation and submission of organization grant proposals, reports, and letters of inquiry. Including: delegating narrative writing tasks and assuming general proposal writing duties directly; producing supplemental documents such as budgets and background materials; proofreading and quality checking all materials; maintaining schedule of grant proposals and reports for submission; prospecting for new funding opportunities; and coordinate funder cultivation such as events, briefings, mailings, etc.
Fundraising Events
Support the logistics and management of fundraising events throughout the state as necessary including donor briefings, fundraising events, and donor meetings.
Systems Coordination
Proactively develop, maintain, and revise internal systems for grant management work. Ensure that contact lists are regularly updated and accurate; ensure that all grant proposals and reports are properly archived. Participate as needed in budget & fundraising meetings to facilitate coordination. Manage and maintain fundraising database.
Miscellaneous Duties
Work on various assigned projects as needed, including but not limited to: preparation of donor meeting packets and materials for presentations; preparation for Board meetings; and donor list management.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Manage the drafting and timely submission of all grant proposals, concept papers and letters of interest, independently and in collaboration by establishing priorities and target dates for information gathering, writing, review, and approval with program leads and senior staff.
● Manage the renewal process for existing grants, including maintaining an accurate renewals calendar and liaising with foundation staff.
● Manage the general grants email account.
● Provide research on new prospects and develop appropriate strategies for cultivation and solicitation.
● Organize compelling funder briefings, and coordinate the participation of program staff in other funder events, such as conferences and affinity group meetings.
● Provide task and management support to the organization’s fundraisers.
● Maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the organization’s grants database on prospective and awarded grants.
● Provide support for other development team functions, such as event planning and individual giving programs
● Improves proposal-writing results by evaluating and re-designing processes, approach, and coordination as needed.
● Participation in electoral organizing during election season on an as needed basis, including canvassing/door-knocking, phone-banking
● Consistently track and input data into EveryAction database, training provided.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
● Bachelor’s degree required.
● Some fundraising experience – grant writing experience and foundation sector knowledge preferred.
● Experience working collaboratively on teams and coordinating multifaceted projects, an advantage.
● Strong oral and written communication skills, including superior writing, copy editing and proofreading ability.
● Strong research skills.
● High level of independent working ability and initiative, and ability to manage multiple tasks under deadline pressure.
● Meticulous organizational skills, ability to prioritize projects, follow through on detail with high-level accuracy.
● Excellent computer skills with all Microsoft Office applications.
● Familiarity with donor database software such as Every Action, Salesforce, etc.
● A demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice issues and understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and-moderate income families.
● Willingness to learn and grow within the TOP culture.
Women of color and directly impacted individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.
Salary & Benefits: Full time position with a starting salary of $50,350 or commensurate with experience. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid holidays including a weeklong period of rejuvenation at the end of each calendar year, vacation, parental leave, sick leave, and travel reimbursement.
*This position is within a bargaining unit that is represented by a union.
How to Apply: Submit resume, cover letter, 1 page grant-writing sample, and contact for three references in Word or PDF to: recruit@organizetexas.org.