REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Contract Grant Writer

Contract Grant Writer

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 both contributed to the disparate impacts of those storms and have shaped life outcomes for the most marginalized of Louisianans for centuries. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice reform, economic justice, gender justice, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture.  

FFL Request

FFL invites applications from experienced grant writers to support our work on two fronts: 1) researching grant opportunities, identifying prospects, and developing proposals; and 2) providing training and advice on prospect development, relationship cultivation, and fundraising strategy for FFL’s program team.  The selected consultant will work closely with the FFL programs and development teams under the direction of the Vice President of Programs.  We anticipate a weekly time commitment of 8 - 12 hours per week over an initial six-month contract.

Core Activities 

• Conduct prospect research to build out the organization’s supporter pipeline
• Utilize prospect research to develop a list of strong institutional prospects 
• Develop proposals and work with FFL’s programs and development teams to coordinate submission
• Train FFL program team members on effective prospecting and relationship cultivation, ideally including how to target new philanthropic and cross-sector funding partners motivated to fund racial healing, narrative change, gender justice, and arts and culture work within or alongside our current work in criminal justice reform and transformation, economic justice, and climate justice
• Provide advice on the development of program-specific fundraising plans 
• Coordinate with program and development staff via regularly scheduled meetings, email, and video-conferencing

Skills, Competencies, and Experience

• At least five years of work experience as a professional fundraiser in the non-profit sector, preferably for social justice organizations
• A commitment to FFL’s core values of community wisdom, commitment, integrity, and courage. 
• An intersectional analysis of power that includes race, gender, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic standing, immigration status, age, the impacts of the carceral system and other aspects of identity
• A nuanced understanding of the regional and national social justice funding landscape and funding trends and the ability to effectively link those trends/opportunities to FFL’s programmatic work 
• Exemplary writing, editing, and proofreading skills including the ability to craft a compelling narrative 
• The ability to conduct research and synthesize that research into writing to support an argument 
• The ability to meet all deadlines given multiple priorities to ensure timely submission of material 
• Experience collaborating effectively with small, passionate programs teams

How to Apply

Proposals should include the following: 

• Name of the organization or individual making the proposal
• Primary contact person and contact information 
• Detailed response to the core activities listed above including an anticipated number of prospects identified and proposals developed within the initial six-month contract
• Names and relevant background information for individuals (including primary contact) who would be assigned to work with FFL 
• Examples of past work, including at least one successful (i.e., funded) grant proposal
• Estimated costs or fees for services 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Familiarity with fundraising in social justice contexts/in support of progressive causes 
• General background/experience 
• Alignment to FFL’s mission and core values 
• Rate/Fees

Proposals should be submitted to Jamie Schmill, Vice President of Programs, via email at jobs@foundationforlouisiana.org.  We encourage applicants to submit their materials by the 5:00PM central time on Wednesday, January 5th, 2022. 

We encourage proposals from people with disabilities and are available to discuss reasonable accommodations for any applicant who may need them to facilitate submission.  To inquire about accommodations, please email cgaulden@foundationforlouisiana.org or call FFL at (225)383-1672.  

Please refrain from making phone calls for any reason other than to request application accommodations. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Foundation for Louisiana aspires towards freedom for all Louisianans and aims to create a fully inclusive and affirming workplace for all people.  We welcome and encourage proposals from people who have been involved with the criminal legal system. 

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, grant partners, board members and dealings with the public.