Job Description

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 $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. 

Position Overview  

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 intersectional emphasis on the relationship between criminal legal system involvement, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and immigration status.  

Who You Are 

The role involves strategy development, facilitation, communication, 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 criminal justice reform or have studied law or policy in a formal school setting.  You may have experience working in a policy organization or in a non-profit working on any number of issues under the broad umbrellas of criminal and social justice. 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 the “systems of systems” that is criminal 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; 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  

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 Black, Indigenous, and people of the global majority, queer and trans people, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, and children and youth 
• Capacity to perform both independent and collaborative work including successful design and implementation of a mission-aligned criminal legal reform strategy  
• Engagement in and support of the Louisiana Justice Fund  
• 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 
• 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  

• Support the capacity bridging of mission-critical community-based organizations in ways that are consistent with the criminal justice program’s priorities and FFL’s strategic plan 
• Manage grant-making decisions to support mission-critical community-based organizations 
• Build partnerships with diverse and cross-sector individuals and organizations across Louisiana 
• Support the development and/or implementation of emerging work projects and initiatives in collaboration with other FFL program staff, including disaster response grantmaking  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  

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: 

• Minimum of five years of experience in working on issues related to criminal justice reform and transformation 
• Work experience with nonprofit and/or community-based organizations 
• A commitment to racial justice and racial equity, and experience working with Black, Indigenous and people of the global majority as well as members of other historically underrecognized communities  
• An intersectional lens on the experience 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 identity to programmatic crossover within and outside of the criminal justice reform and transformation portfolio  
• Strong writing, editing, verbal and non-verbal communications skills 
• Strong time management skills and an ability to meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment 
• Excellent relationship and network building skills 
• Well-developed, dynamic facilitation skills 

Compensation 

The annual salary range for this position is $76,000 – $84,000. FFL offers 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  

• Home office stipend  

The Criminal Legal Reform Program Officer will report to the Director of Pooled Funds. The location for this position is flexible inside the state of Louisiana.   

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. External partner meetings may also require in-person availability and the majority 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. 

Individuals fluent in Spanish and/or Vietnamese are encouraged to apply. 

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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