President

About Alliance for Justice

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) stands as the premier nonprofit organization committed to fortifying the progressive movement through its unwavering focus on federal and state courts, and building power by providing unique resources to maximize nonprofits’ advocacy capacity. Headquartered in Washington, DC, AFJ uses a distinct and unique combination of technical and content expertise, deep reach in movement advocacy and legal networks, and trusted decades-long experience to transform courts through judicial nominations and ensure everyone has the power to shape the policies that affect our lives. With a membership consisting of over 135 partner organizations, AFJ represents a diverse and powerful array of groups united in their dedication to progressive values and the transformative goal of reshaping the judiciary for the betterment of all. The recent election has only underscored the critical nature of AFJ's mission, highlighting the urgent need for a fair and impartial court system and progressive nonprofit sector that upholds the rights and freedoms of all Americans.

Mission: To build the strength of progressive movements by training and educating nonprofit organizations on advocacy and harnessing their collective power to transform our state and federal courts.

Vision: AFJ envisions a vibrant, ambitious, multiracial constitutional democracy where historically marginalized voices are amplified to upend exclusionary systems and center justice in our institutions of power.

History

AFJ emerged as a response to a pivotal moment in American political history. In 1971, the influential "Powell Memo" called for the business community to leverage the courts to protect corporate interests. Recognizing the far-reaching implications of this strategy, attorney and activist, Nan Aron, founded AFJ in 1979 to counter the growing threat to progressive advancements from conservative forces. By the mid-1980s, AFJ had launched its cornerstone Judicial Selection Project, bringing together 20 like-minded progressive organizations to focus on shaping the federal judiciary. This initiative marked AFJ's commitment to ensuring that the courts would remain a bastion of justice for all Americans, not just the powerful few.

Justice Program

AFJ is driving the conversation around courts’ critical importance to our democracy and their foundational role in helping us achieve equality and justice for all. AFJ’s state and federal courts teams partner with its diverse members, partners, and allies to champion the appointment of advocates of equal justice and movement lawyers to the bench nationwide.

In the decades following its inception, Alliance for Justice became a formidable force in shaping the federal judiciary. AFJ's meticulous research and unwavering advocacy became the cornerstone of progressive efforts to safeguard the courts. The organization spearheaded pivotal opposition campaigns against controversial nominees like Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh, effectively influencing the composition of the nation's highest courts. During the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, AFJ played a crucial role in elevating hundreds of exceptionally qualified jurists to the federal bench, ensuring a more demographically and professionally diverse and representative judiciary.

AFJ's commitment to judicial integrity has remained steadfast through both triumphs and setbacks. The historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stands as a testament to AFJ's tireless efforts to promote diversity and excellence in the judiciary. Conversely, the overturning of Roe v. Wade underscores the ongoing challenges in preserving hard-won rights. Through it all, AFJ continues its resolute advocacy for a Supreme Court that truly mirrors the nation's diversity and upholds the rights of all citizens, not just the privileged few. This unwavering dedication to justice remains the bedrock of AFJ's mission, driving its efforts to shape a more equitable legal landscape for generations to come.

Bolder Advocacy

The launch of AFJ’s Bolder Advocacy program in the mid-1990s served as an invaluable resource for advocates for justice and the rights of all. The program originated from a political climate in which a growing number of conservative federal judges were ruling against consumers’ rights, workers’ rights, civil rights, and the environment. It was created to help these nonprofit groups and the foundations that fund them fully understand and exercise their rights to advocate for their causes while staying within the laws governing their nonprofit status. Bolder Advocacy continues this important mission today. Since its inception, Bolder Advocacy has provided technical assistance and training to over 100,000 nonprofits and foundation staff, representing over 10,000 organizations. The resources provided have led to advocacy successes all over the country ranging from ballot measures to election engagement and successful legislation. In today’s political climate, this work has never been more important.

Membership and Outreach 

The strength of Alliance for Justice is rooted in its membership of nearly 135 organizations that share a commitment to an equitable, just, and free society. Throughout the decades of AFJ’s history, members have been at the forefront in defending our communities’ constitutional rights and building power across the progressive movement to fight for social justice – in the courts, halls of Congress, state houses, ballot boxes across the country, and in the communities they serve.

Alliance for Justice Action Campaign

The Alliance for Justice Action Campaign (AFJ Action), an affiliated 501(c)(4), promotes a national conversation about the importance of the courts with a goal of advancing core constitutional values, preserving human rights, securing unfettered access to the judicial system, and guaranteeing the even-handed administration of justice for all. AFJ Action also serves as the nation’s leading resource on the legal framework for 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy efforts.

Learn more about Alliance for Justice by visiting AFJ’s website.  

The Opportunity

Alliance for Justice finds itself at a critical crossroads in the wake of the 2024 election. With the future of democracy, the integrity of US courts, and nonprofit advocacy rights under unprecedented threats, there has never been a more urgent need for bold, visionary leadership. AFJ is searching for a dynamic, resilient, and forward-thinking President to guide the organization through this pivotal moment, harnessing the growing momentum of support to drive meaningful change.

Reporting to AFJ’s Board of Directors, the President will work closely with a strong and dedicated staff, board, and Alliance partners to advance AFJ’s mission. This leader will play a key role in effectively positioning the organization to navigate a challenging and uncertain terrain, expanding strategic partnerships with nonprofits to support collective advocacy efforts, while also focusing on growing the organization’s fundraising capacity and national influence. A focus on supporting a culture of empowerment, collaboration, shared leadership, and trust within the organization will be essential to its continued success.

The President will be responsible for maintaining the excellent momentum AFJ has built, implementing the organization’s vision and strategic plan, and ensuring AFJ remains responsive to the evolving political and social landscape while keeping a focus on future impact. The President will be a leader in building coalitions and partnerships within the broader movement, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, organizations, and policymakers at the state and federal levels, ready to adapt to ensure AFJ’s work remains innovative and aligned with immediate and long-term priorities.

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the primary public face of AFJ, raising its profile within the progressive movement and media, particularly as it relates to growing and diversifying opportunities for partnerships and philanthropic support.
• Collaborate with the Board and staff on the execution and updating of AFJ’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and evolving political landscape.
• Leverage a deep understanding of the judiciary and legal systems to maintain AFJ’s credibility within the progressive legal community and with key stakeholders in government and civil society.
• Foster strong relationships with external partners, ensuring AFJ’s role as a key leader in the fight for fair courts, judicial reform, and nonprofit advocacy.
• Support AFJ’s short and long-term financial goals, ensuring it operates as a sustainable and financially sound organization; work closely with the team to build long-term, sustainable funding streams.
• Manage and empower the staff, ensuring a cohesive, collaborative, diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture, with a focus on staff well-being and professional growth.
• Ensure productive and efficient internal processes and operations, evaluating the continuous improvement of and investment in systems and resources to support organizational growth.
• Cultivate a vibrant board culture where passionate leaders drive ethical excellence and fuel fundraising success; work with an engaged Board of Directors and support Directors in meeting their governance responsibilities in a productive, efficient, and collaborative manner.

Candidate Profile

The President will be a confident, credible, and motivational leader, capable of energizing AFJ during a time of great change and opportunity. They must be wholly aligned with AFJ’s mission and relentless in their advocacy for the important role that the courts and nonprofit advocacy play in our everyday lives.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced and respected leader in the nonprofit, legal, or public sectors. They will bring a track record of accomplishment, having served in complex leadership and management roles, and possess exceptional strategic, advocacy, political, fundraising, organizational, and interpersonal skills. They are ideally fluent and conversant in the law, courts, and judicial nomination processes, with experience and credibility within a progressive advocacy organization. A Juris Doctorate is not a requirement but is preferred.

While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will have a combination of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic and Resilient Mindset

• A forward-thinking leader with the ability to pivot and act decisively in the face of emerging situations and circumstances, while still maintaining focus on long-term vision and strategy. Comfort with strategic and calculated risks.
• Ability to implement and grow cultural and operational strategies that enable organizational growth and continued impact.
• A resilient and diplomatic leader with exceptional consensus-building, stakeholder engagement and management skills. Masterful at leveraging influence across a wide range of stakeholders with little direct authority.
• Individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values. Needed characteristics of trustworthiness, high emotional and social intelligence, and humility – skilled at bringing others along in an elegant way.

Inspiring and Collaborative Leadership

• A powerful storyteller with an inspirational presence, effectively conveying AFJ’s mission and impact to a range of stakeholders.
• Experience building consensus and supporting a culture of inclusion and collaboration across an organization's functions.
• Models analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills that support and enable sound and shared decision-making. Decisive and comfortable making difficult decisions when needed.
• Engaging and supportive, with a track record of motivating others to achieve impact through creativity, teamwork, and leveraging individual strengths to meet organizational goals.  

Skilled Fundraiser and Relationship Builder

• Ability to successfully convey an organization’s mission and objectives to a wide range of private, nonprofit, and public audiences.
• Brings experience in fundraising and expanding organizational capacity to creatively grow fundraising opportunities from a range of sources, with a priority focus on major donors.
• Proactive, transparent, and persuasive oral and written communicator – can communicate complex ideas with clarity and across lines of difference.
• Brings a track record of building support and influence with key stakeholders, including Board members, staff, donors, community partners, policymakers, elected officials, and other leaders across lines of difference.
• Ability to develop and cultivate relationships that will advance and amplify AFJ’s value proposition, reputation, and opportunities for impact in the field.

Nonprofit Management and Business Acumen

• Possesses deep experience in nonprofit budgeting, financial management, and compliance.
• Utilizes relevant technology effectively to enhance communication and streamline the delivery of programs.
• Understands the importance of a robust and productive partnership with a Board of Directors to ensure it is achieving its primary responsibilities of excellence in governance.
• Experience leading in or demonstrating support of unionized environments/employees. Understands the need for a productive and positive management and labor relationship.
• Capable of leading, supporting, and motivating a remote and hybrid workforce to effectively achieve organizational objectives.

Champion of the Mission

• An outcomes- and impact-oriented leader, this person must recognize the current societal urgency of AFJ’s work and be energized by the opportunities ahead, ready to lead with resilience, fortitude, and passion.
• Brings a genuine respect and appreciation for community-focused work and exhibits boldness and courage in their advocacy for justice.
• A champion of culturally competent leadership, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace environment that embodies the values of justice.
• Brings vision, courage, creativity, energy, humor, and compassion to high-intensity work, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $240,000 - $275,000 with a generous benefits package.