Foundation Partnership Manager

Description

Californians for Justice (CFJ) is a dynamic, youth-powered organization leading the charge for racial and educational justice in California. Committed to uplifting marginalized communities, CFJ empowers young people particularly from communities of color, immigrants, low-income families, and LGBTQIA2S /TGNC youth to drive change in their schools and communities. Through grassroots organizing, leadership development, and advocacy, CFJ equips youth with the tools and knowledge to challenge systemic inequities and shape education policy. This youth-led approach ensures that students, not just adults or policymakers, are at the forefront of efforts to transform their educational experiences and opportunities.

With regional offices in Fresno, Long Beach, San Jose, and Oakland, CFJ has scaled its impact across California, serving a diverse cross-section of the state’s youth. The organization’s team of 35 full-time staff, backed by a budget of $4.5 million, remains deeply connected to the communities it serves. CFJ’s work is rooted in the belief that the future of education in California hinges on the voices of young people. Through its campaigns, CFJ ensures those voices are amplified, empowering students to be key drivers of change in education policy and practice.

CFJ is known for its collaborative, purpose-driven culture, where staff are valued for their diverse perspectives and contributions. The organization fosters trust, inclusivity, and shared ownership of its mission, empowering team members to bring their skills and insights to the work of racial and educational justice. With a strong focus on professional development, mentorship, and leadership growth, CFJ ensures that its staff not only make a difference in their communities but also continue to evolve in their careers. Through this approach, CFJ is reshaping education and fostering a more just and equitable future for all students in California

Position Overview

The Foundation Partnership Manager plays a key role in advancing Californians For Justice’s (CFJ) foundation fundraising efforts. Working closely with the Senior Director of Development and the development team, this position is responsible for writing and submitting grant proposals, managing relationships with funders, and tracking deliverables to meet fundraising goals. By helping to grow CFJ’s foundation revenue, the Foundation Partnership Manager ensures smooth coordination of funder communications and reporting.

Additional Details
This full-time, exempt position involves discretion and independent judgment. It can be based in any of CFJ’s four offices—Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland, or San Jose—and requires some statewide travel. Staff work in a hybrid setting, attending in-person training, team, and
community events as needed.

Organizational Competencies
Managers at CFJ are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the following competencies:

• Impactful Collaboration - Inspires peers and teams to deeply connect with the work. Identifies and implements projects or programs to meet department goals, ensuring high-quality, impactful outcomes. Translates department objectives into actionable tasks, completing or delegating them to achieve success.
• Problem Solving - Collaborates with other teams to leverage their expertise in addressing long-term, foreseeable challenges impacting the department or function. Proposes innovative solutions beyond existing processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Sustainability - Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence; mentors peers to build presence and stay grounded. Educates and trains community leaders on fostering resilient leadership. Actively seeks and provides constructive feedback to peers andsupervisors.
• Communication - Leads communication with external partners, potentially managing relationships. Listens to peers and fosters connections. Identifies team challenges, proposes solutions, and gains buy-in. Enhances team performance through reviews, documentation, expertise, mentoring, or project leadership.
•  Relationship-Building - Leverages experience to lead cross-functional projects, resolve obstacles, and build relationships, while mentoring junior team members in collaboration and networking.
•  Fostering Growth -Offers initial support for employee tasks, mentors the team to address growth areas, and learns effective hiring management. Creates strategies to balance personal workload with guiding a team to achieve results.

Essential Responsibilities
 

Foundation Fundraising (75%)

• Write and submit approximately 50 foundation grant proposals and reports annually, tailored to each funder’s priorities and requirements. Ensure all grant reports meet deadlines and are comprehensive and well-written.
•  Manage a portfolio of current and prospective foundation funders, track grant deadlines, and maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the database.
• Work closely with CFJ’s program teams to track grant deliverables and outcomes, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to funders.
• Coordinate and facilitate communication between CFJ leadership (including the Strategic Partnerships Director and Executive Director) and foundation funders, including arranging visits and responding to funder inquiries.
• Conduct research to identify potential new funding sources. Prepare agendas for funder visits and develop strategies to approach new foundations for support.
• Work with CFJ’s administrative and finance teams to reconcile grant and donation records with financial records and ensure accuracy in funder and donor files.
• Participate in special projects as assigned by funders, representing CFJ’s mission and work

Communications (10%)

• Fundraising Communications: Collaborate with the Communications Manager to write and edit content related to CFJ’s fundraising efforts, including blog posts, emails, and donor correspondence.
• Copy/edit all fundraising-related materials created by the Communications Manager or grammar, formatting, and consistency.
• Write monthly fundraising stories that reflect CFJ’s perspective and values, highlighting the impact of foundation grants and the work they support.
• Team Collaboration: Participate in bi-weekly, quarterly, and annual communications team meetings to strategize on fundraising and donor engagement efforts
•  Special Projects: Support communications initiatives by interviewing youth leaders for fundraising stories, attending events for social media engagement, and supporting media outreach efforts.

Grassroots Fundraising (10%)

• Event Coordination: Work closely with the Development Associate to plan and coordinate annual fundraising events in CFJ’s four regional offices.
• Donor Relationship Support: Assist the Development Associate in managing relationships with foundation and organizational donors, including reviewing donor materials and responding to donor inquiries.

Organizational Responsibilities (5%)

• Leadership & Participation: Model leadership in grassroots fundraising campaigns, maintaining a portfolio of individual and organizational prospects for solicitation.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Participate in cross-department committees and teams to align CFJ’s development, communications, and program strategies.
• Campaign Support: Contribute to organization-wide and regional campaign events,ensuring coordination between fundraising, communications, and program staff.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• At least 2 years of direct grant writing and grant management experience, including a strong ability to write compelling, clear, and concise proposals and reports.
• Exemplary writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex programmatic information into accessible, engaging content tailored to different audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with internal teams, funders, and external partners.
• Comfortable working independently and taking initiative while also collaborating effectively with team members.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment in communications with funders and internal staff.
• Commitment to Social Justice: Deep commitment to CFJ’s mission of racial justice,  youth empowerment, and educational equity

Preferred Qualifications

• “Good Ear” for Fundraising: Ability to listen actively to program staff and youth leaders to integrate key insights and needs into fundraising strategies and proposals.

• Experience with Fundraising Events: Prior experience supporting the planning and execution of fundraising events, particularly in grassroots or foundation- focused campaigns.

Physical Demands

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk for extended periods of time.
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard.
• Able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids
• Able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in person and be understood by others.
• Able to hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $38.15 per hour, which is aligned with all CFJ Manager-level salaries. CFJ provides a generous benefits package, including fully paid health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees working at least half-time and their dependents. We also offer substantial vacation days, 19 holidays (including approximately 10 days at year end)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. This job posting will officially close on September 28, 2025 .

We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.

Salary : $38