Now Hiring: Racial Justice Program Officer

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 established 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.

Since inception, FFL has invested more than $55 million in more than 250 mission-critical nonprofit organizations working across the state toward 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.

About Our Racial Justice Program

Foundation for Louisiana envisions a Louisiana in which all people are free, respected, and loved. We’re working towards a Louisiana in which all people live in thriving communities connected to opportunity and choice, in harmony with our land and waters, and in the full light of a reconciliation with our past. This dream is built on a foundation of freedom from social, economic, and ideological violence and it is one we are committed to building together. Racial justice is at the very core of this dream and of our work. It is the north star of our organization as well as a specific program. Our Racial Justice program advances racial justice by disrupting structural racism, forging pathways to healing, expanding opportunities for communities of the global majority, and building the capacity of leaders of the global majority to effect lasting change.

We define racial justice as the liberatory and transformational vision of what society could be and must become once we eliminate racial hierarchies, advance collective liberation, and make certain that people of the global majority have the resources, dignity, power, and self-determination to thrive. We define racial equity as the enactment and reinforcement of policies, practices, attitudes, and actions that produce power, access, and opportunities and for all in ways that reflect the impact of historical and contemporary disparities that exist because of race. The racial justice program scaffolds its work on a healing justice framework which we understand as an approach to ensuring physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental wholeness and well-being grounded in naming the way systems have been designed to marginalize and disenfranchise based on a false hierarchy of human value.

Who You Are

The role involves strategy development, facilitation, communication, relationship-building, and writing. The successful applicant should be adept at working with and across diverse audiences in a way that facilitates the full and equitable participation of all people.

You may have experience as an organizer working on the frontlines of racial justice, or you may have experience working in a non-profit on any number of issue areas. Ideally, you will be familiar with grant-funded work in social change settings, either as part of a grant-receiving organization or as part of a funding entity. Regardless of where you are coming from, you have a deep passion for and wealth of content knowledge regarding various issues and areas of practice within racial justice. You are comfortable working in complex, frequently shifting contexts and approach your work in a deeply values-centered way. You are able to take and give meaningful feedback, to challenge and be challenged in ways that are generative and productive, and you approach your work with a deep commitment to learning and reflective practice. You are okay with ambiguity but understand the value of clarity; can see, celebrate, and uplift small victories while engaged in generational fights; and are dogged in your belief that a better future is possible.

Responsibilities & Skills

Under the initial direction of the Vice President of Programs, the Racial Justice Program Officer will work closely with colleagues on the programs team, including four other program officers. Key responsibilities include the following.

Implement FFL’s racial justice program strategy, including developing grantmaking, capacity-bridging, and other aligned tactical approaches on an annual basis.
Co-lead the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) program in partnership with Baton Rouge-based Racial Justice Program Officer with specific responsibility for New Orleans-based grants strategy implementation.
Co-facilitate the TRHT advisory committee.
Partner with other program staff to support the expansion of FFL’s TOGETHER Initiative
Build partnerships with diverse and cross-sector individuals, movement spaces, and organizations across Louisiana.
Contribute to strategic learning, research, evaluation, and program adaptation for the racial justice program, the TRHT initiative, and FFL’s programmatic work as a whole.
Support the development and/or implementation of emerging work projects and initiatives in collaboration with other FFL program staff, including disaster response grantmaking.
Contribute to other FFL initiatives, such as Black Philanthropy Month, as opportunities and needs arise.
Stay up to date on current and emerging trends in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and governmental sectors, as well as political, social, and cultural contexts for racial justice work in Louisiana.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

We understand no one candidate is likely to possess all the following skills, abilities, and characteristics; the following list is meant to be illustrative of what we think will serve someone well in this role:

Deep knowledge of racial justice and racial equity, including key issues and current/historical policies that disproportionately impact People of the Global Majority
Able to effectively facilitate and participate in online and in-person meetings, convenings, and other gatherings of diverse stakeholders in such a way to ensure equity and inclusion for all participants and attendees.
Strong and demonstrated project management skills.
Familiarity with project management software such as Asana, customer relationship management software such as Salesforce, and effective use of Google Workspaces, Slack, and Zoom.
Knowledge of approaches to shifting philanthropic, nonprofit and governmental systems, ideally from both inside and outside of the progressive philanthropic sector.
Commitment to and willingness to learn more about racial healing justice, truth-telling, and narrative shifts as anchor concepts as well as active change tools in FFL’s programmatic work.
Understanding of current and past political, social, and cultural landscapes in Louisiana and with current racial justice work in Louisiana.
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.
Minimum of seven years of experience in racial justice work, ideally in nonprofit, movement, and/or organizing spaces.
Ability to describe and demonstrate how a deep commitment to racial, gender, economic, environmental, and other aspects of social justice guides work and an equally deep commitment to ongoing learning and exchange.
An intersectional lens on the experiences of Louisiana’s queer and trans, immigrant, disabled, incarcerated/formerly incarcerated, and/or low-income individuals and communities.
Ability to link that intersectional lens on various aspects of identity to programmatic crossover within and outside of the racial justice portfolio
Excellent relationship and network-building skills
Comfortable working in complex, iterative, and frequently shifting contexts
Ability to take and give meaningful feedback

Compensation, Benefits, and Location

100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for employee and dependents
Up to $50,000 employer-paid life insurance
403(b) retirement employer match up to 5%
15 vacation days, 12 sick days, as well as an annual winter office closure
Home office stipend

The annual salary range for this position is $76,000 - $84,000. FFL offers generous benefits and a PTO package, which includes:

The Racial Justice Program Officer is housed in the programs team at FFL, which is led by Vice President of Programs Jamie Schmill. The location for this position is flexible inside the state of Louisiana, however, travel across the state should be anticipated.

All Foundation for Louisiana employees work remotely with the option to access office space in New Orleans. In-person attendance is expected at semi-regular (quarterly) programs team and all staff meetings in New Orleans and possibly other areas of the state. External partner meetings may also require in-person availability. Most of these meetings will be in New Orleans or Baton Rouge.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Foundation for Louisiana follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, criminal justice background, and marital status.

This policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, outside vendors, members and customers, service clients, use of contractors and consultants, grantees, board members and dealings with the general public.

We invite applications from people of diverse backgrounds and can discuss reasonable accommodations to ensure our process is inclusive to all. To discuss reasonable accommodations, please call 225-326-7016. Otherwise, no phone calls, please.

How to Apply

Please send your resume along with a cover letter to Jamie Schmill, Vice President of Programs, Foundation for Louisiana, via email: jobs@foundationforlouisiana.org

We will begin reviewing applications on January 2, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received prior to this date.