Senior Manager of Foundation Relations/Grant Writer Job at National Women's Law

The Position

The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) seeks a strategic and versatile development professional to join its team as Senior Manager of Foundation Relations. This position plays a vital role in NWLC’s foundation fundraising efforts, managing a portfolio that supports cross-cutting issues, including democracy, LGBTQIA+ issues, harassment, and state work.

While the Senior Manager of Foundation Relations will contribute to the full scope of NWLC’s programmatic fundraising, the role will focus primarily on securing grants that support NWLC’s litigation work, policy advocacy, research, and campaigns programs. This includes conducting research and analysis to identify and assess prospective funders, translating program initiatives into compelling proposals and reports, and highlighting NWLC’s leadership in advocacy coalitions to demonstrate impact. The Senior Manager of Foundation Relations will also support cross-team initiatives and special projects that strengthen NWLC’s foundation partnerships.

The Senior Manager of Foundation Relations reports to the Senior Director of Foundation Engagement.

This is a full-time, exempt position of 37.5 hours per week.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.

We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.

For more than 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women. Find out more at NWLC.org.

Responsibilities

• Develop general operating, project/program, and campaign proposals, reports, and budgets across the Law Center’s established program areas, in collaboration with—and under the guidance of—the Senior Director of Foundation Engagement, additional foundation relations staff, and key program, campaigns and communications, and finance staff;
• Pitch NWLC’s intersectional frameworks and campaigns to connect with new funders and generate additional broad financial support;
• Manage and grow a portfolio of foundation funders, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to ensure strategic growth and renewals;
• Serve as a liaison to one or more program areas, aligning fundraising strategies with program goals and deepening internal knowledge of programmatic work;
• Serve as the foundation prospecting co-lead—identifying and qualifying prospects, developing research briefs and drafting communications, collaborating with senior leadership to identify existing relationships and outreach strategies, scheduling and staffing meetings, tracking actions and next steps, and highlighting emerging trends in philanthropy broadly;
• Monitor and track program activities, outcomes, and expenses to ensure accurate and timely reporting, in partnership with Program and Finance teams;
• Assist in developing and monitoring the Center’s annual and longer-term revenue plan and the development department’s annual budget as they relate to foundation support.
• Develop and manage periodic donor briefing calls, working collaboratively with program and development staff to devise content;
• Represent the organization at donor facing activities, conferences, and other public events;
• Support key administrative functions, including acknowledgements, updating the grants calendar, and tracking pertinent actions in Raiser’s Edge; and
• Engage in other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• At minimum 5 years of progressively responsible foundation fundraising experience, with significant expertise in grant writing (proposals, reports, and funder communications), ideally within a national advocacy, policy, or legal organization;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues and programmatic work in compelling, funder-aligned language;
• Experience in funder research and analysis, including prospecting and aligning donor interests with organizational priorities;
• Proven ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including internal staff and foundation representatives;
• Strong project management skills, with a proven track record of meeting deadlines and managing multiple priorities with precision. Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge and prospect research tools;
• Commitment to gender and racial justice, with experience centering equity in fundraising practices;
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive donor or organizational information;
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and travel for donor engagement and events;

Additional Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape supporting gender, racial, and LGBTQIA+ justice; and
• Experience supporting coalition-based or cross-issue campaigns.

Key Relations

The Senior Manager of Foundation Relations will report directly to the Senior Director of Foundation Engagement. The Senior Manager of Foundation Relations will collaborate with the Vice President for Development and colleagues across Development, Finance, Programs, Communications, and Executive teams, including the President & CEO, Chief of Staff, and Chief of External Affairs.

Compensation & Benefits

A salary within the range of $99,438-131,564 will be provided to the successful candidate with at least 5 years of experience, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework. The successful candidate’s salary within this range will be determined by the number years of relevant experience they bring to the role.

The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation.

NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. at our new office at 1350 Eye Street N.W. This role is based in D.C. and will be eligible for some telework while also being expected to work in person on a regular basis. The successful candidate will need to live in or relocate to the DMV (broadly defined as DC, Maryland, or Virginia).

The first 90 days of employment will be considered a probationary period.

Classification

NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume, writing sample, and a cover letter outlining how your professional background is a good fit for this position. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment, as well as the average number of hours worked per week in each job. Applications accepted until position is filled.

Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview. We kindly request that interested parties refrain from calling, emailing, or visiting NWLC’s offices to express interest or check on the status of their application.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; people of all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans.

At NWLC, our diversity is our strength, and the variety of lived experiences that connect our teammates to the mission of gender justice is our superpower. We know that members of marginalized groups tend to apply for positions only if they believe they are a 100% match for the role. If you are passionate about NWLC’s mission and think you can be successful in this role, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email NWLCHR@nwlc.org.