Institutional Relations Officer

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in national security policies.

Part think‑tank, part advocacy group, part cutting edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them – in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

The Development team is responsible for raising revenues needed for the Brennan Center to operate and remain sustainable into the future. The Brennan Center entirely relies on donations; it receives no funding from NYU or the government.

The Development team is highly collaborative. It has grown to 18 staffers to keep pace with steep revenues growth and a diversifying donor base – we are supported by 40,000+ donors.

We seek a results‑driven, dynamic, and experienced fundraising professional to join our Development team. The Institutional Relations Officer is a crucial frontline fundraising role for the Brennan Center. You will join a high‑performing Development team that has raised $50‑60 million in the last several fiscal years. The team is organized around three principal revenue sources: institutional donors, major donors (individuals and family foundations), and small and midlevel donors.

The team also organizes an annual fundraising gala.

The Officer will be responsible for securing major grants from institutional foundations and philanthropies – both existing and new donors. We seek a well‑rounded fundraiser proficient at managing and executing all aspects of securing prospects and retaining donors. A key feature of the role is to guide and collaborate with the Center’s leaders and staff, who are among the nation’s preeminent democracy and justice policy reformers.

A successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills that enable effective philanthropic relationships and smooth internal collaborations. Another key qualification: an appetite for juggling multiple tasks in a fast‑paced environment that often operates in “campaign” mode.

This role reports to and closely collaborates with the Senior Director for Institutional Relations and will be part of a five‑person Institutional Relations team. The position also will collaborate regularly with the VP for Development and other members of the Development team, the Center’s President, and program leaders and staff.

This position is based at our headquarters in New York City.

• Manage a subset of the full portfolio, with a focus on deepening partnerships to secure renewed and expanded support.
• Identify prospects and secure new funding for the Center. Stay abreast of philanthropic trends and foundation giving.
• Project‑manage and guide the Center’s program leaders and staff who participate in donor relations and proposal pitches.
• Write and produce strategic and compelling proposal and report packages.
• Oversee and edit grant proposals and reports, including budgets and financial narratives and other specific institutional information – fostering accurate, high‑quality presentations.
• Write and edit strategy memos, regular programmatic updates, and other donor communications – all strategically framed for each supporter’s specific interests.
• Lead the planning and execution of meetings with foundations, corporate leaders/staff, and advisors. This includes overseeing or conducting donor research and preparing written and in‑person briefings for the Center’s program leaders.
• Advise and guide the Center’s leaders on all aspects of engagement with foundation staff and corporate and law firm contacts.
• Represent the Brennan Center at meetings, both alone and alongside the Center’s leaders.
• Help manage day‑to‑day operations of the Institutional Relations team,…