NOW HIRING: Criminal Legal System Reform Fellow

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ABOUT FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA            

Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation to invest in the immediate recovery of Louisiana’s communities after Hurricane Katrina. While FFL was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, our founders recognized the need to address the longstanding inequities that have shaped life outcomes for the most marginalized of Louisianans. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, LGBTQ organizing, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture via:

  • Investment: We redistribute resources to on the ground projects, many of whom cannot access traditional philanthropy. Each year, FFL makes grants to support organizations and projects throughout Louisiana in our key program areas.
  • Power building: We build the capacity of our partners and grantees to effect change in their communities. Our signature programs, LEAD and Together, convene emerging and experienced community leaders to provide them with training related to organizing, advocacy, policy change, leadership, public speaking, and group facilitation to tackle issues of climate change, police accountability, health disparities, housing access, and more.
  • Collaboration: We develop collaborative initiatives through leveraging public and private partners to impact change, support public policy initiatives, and provide critical fiscal sponsorship and management to external projects and special initiatives.

Since inception, FFL has invested $55 million in more than 250 mission-critical nonprofit organizations working across the state towards building a more just Louisiana. As a social justice philanthropic intermediary, FFL’s work unapologetically advances racial justice while moving Louisiana forward. The foundation engages communities in both program co-design as well as its grant-making process, in order to expand opportunities and move communities towards a more just future.

Position Overview

The Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) invites qualified applicants to apply for a one year fellowship advancing the Foundation’s work in criminal legal system reform.  FFL’s criminal legal reform work aims to shift resources away from dehumanizing and discriminatory practices within the criminal legal system towards a justice system that reinforces and sustains strong individuals, families, and communities.  We aim to build on previous work and successful partnerships to develop our forward-looking criminal legal reform strategy with an emphasis on the interplay between the criminal legal system and indicators of identity, such as race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and immigration status as well as with other systems (and their reform movements) such as education and economic development.  The right candidate will be able to lead on the development of a criminal legal system reform strategy that balances this robust intersectional perspective with the prioritization of achievable and concrete short- and medium-term actions.

CANDIDATE CHARACTERISTICS

We invite applications from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of the criminal legal system. We anticipate the successful applicant will demonstrate a significant number of the following competencies and skills:

  • Demonstrated content knowledge and expertise in criminal legal system reform, including but not limited to bail, fines, and fees reform; police accountability; community re-entry; judicial reform; juvenile justice; and the impact of the criminal legal system on BIPOC, queer and trans people, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, and children and youth
  • Capacity to perform independent and innovative program/grants strategy design and implementation work while participating actively and effectively as part of a team working behind a comprehensive vision for justice and freedom
  • Familiarity with social justice philanthropy and its opportunities and challenges as a grant recipient, grant maker, and/or community member
  • Able to effectively facilitate and participate in online and, once pandemic conditions allow, in-person meetings, convenings, and other gatherings of diverse stakeholders in such a way to ensure equity and inclusion for all participants and attendees
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a proven ability to write precisely and concisely for the general public and the internal FFL audience, as well as the ability to address varied audiences

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantmaking and Partner Support

  • Design and develop the criminal justice reform grants portfolio including:
  • Prioritizing sub-areas of work in the broader field of criminal justice reform against opportunities, time, and resources
  • Executing grant making processes in accordance with FFL practice while informing and improving the approach
  • Identifying and working with prospective grantees to develop grant proposals and promote equity in access to funding opportunities
  • Conducting site visits and supporting partners in robust learning and evaluation
  • Executing evaluation activities in keeping with FFL’s practice while informing and improving the approach
  • Execute administrative grants management responsibilities including:
  • Preparation of grant materials for team, program committee, and board review
  • Accurate and timely documentation of grant contracts, materials, and other records, including those relevant to due diligence and legal compliance issues

Program Design and Management

  • Utilize FFL’s L.E.A.D. and Together frameworks to complement grantmaking and maximize FFL’s role as a trusted convener and community partner
  • Manage external vendors/contractors to support the criminal justice program including the following:
  • Developing scopes of work
  • Managing contracts and invoicing
  • Monitoring and supporting the completion and submission of contract deliverables

Thought Leadership

  • Represent FFL’s programmatic work when convening partners, advocates, and other stakeholders across the United States
  • Serve as FFL’s in-house expert on criminal justice reform
  • Continually scan the field and keep abreast of the changing political climate related to the criminal justice reform nationally and specifically in Louisiana
  • Share key findings, updates and learnings both internally and externally, in alignment with FFL’s fund development and communications strategies

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is set at $65,000 - $75,000.00 plus a generous benefits and PTO package which includes:

  • 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums
  • Up to $50,000 employer-paid life insurance
  • 403(b) retirement employer match

The criminal legal reform fellow will report to the vice president of programs.  This position may be based in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge although other locations within the state of Louisiana may be considered.

All Foundation for Louisiana employees are currently working remotely although travel may be required to/between New Orleans and Baton Rouge once our offices are able to re-open in a way that ensures the safety of all FFL staff and partners.  FFL is not currently conducting in-person meetings or convenings.

Click here to apply