Careers at NEIP


What Does the Team at NEIP Do?

The New England Innocence Project (NEIP) is a small non-profit organization dedicated to correcting and preventing wrongful convictions and supporting the victims of wrongful conviction throughout the six New England states. We represent people with claims of innocence and use litigation, training, public education, and policy efforts to create systemic change in the criminal legal system. We endeavor to approach our work with an anti-racist and intersectional lens, and we use consensus-based decision making where possible. We recognize that the criminal legal system and the carceral state are shaped by white supremacy and capitalism. We see our work as an opportunity to challenge and undermine the system's drive for punishment, especially in marginalized communities.

Join Our Team!

We have 2 open positions to fuel our fundraising efforts and grow our impact

A note to applicants: We will not begin reviewing materials or reaching out to applicants for next steps until after March 29, 2024, our preferred “deadline” for applications. We appreciate your interest in this work!

Development Director

**This is a Full-Time, Hybrid (Remote/Office) Position**

The Development Director is a new role within our organization. We have had a Director of Development & Communications for several years, and due to our growth, we now have the exciting opportunity to have two leadership positions, one focused primarily on communications and this new position focused primarily on resource development. The person selected for this position will play an important role in the future growth of the New England Innocence Project and its impact in our community. Working with the Executive Director, Senior Director of Communications, Development Coordinator, and other NEIP staff, the Development Director will be responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive fundraising program. 

Beyond the individual responsibilities of each staff member, all NEIP staff work together to support each other and the organization by taking on special projects as needed, and by attending and participating in NEIP-related functions and events.

Responsibilities & Duties At a Glance:

  • LEADERSHIP, SUPERVISION, & STRATEGY

    • Create/update the development plan and calendar on an annual basis in alignment with strategic and budgetary goals/priorities/needs

    • Articulate priorities for new prospect research in partnership with the program team

    • Evaluate success against the development plan with data analysis

    • CRM Leadership

    • Supervise the Development Coordinator

    • Collaborate and communicate with NEIP staff including the Executive Director and Senior Director of Communications

  • BOARD RELATIONS

    • Support the Board of Trustees with preparation of development materials/reports for board meetings

    • Be the primary point of contact and staff manager for the Development Advisory Committee, supporting their work with materials and oversight

  • DONOR ENGAGEMENT & STEWARDSHIP

    • Create/update and execute a stewardship plan on an annual basis; manage donor engagement and ensure timely, accurate, and personalized stewardship

    • Own a portfolio of donor relationships and help manage donor engagement through e-mail, phone, and/or in-person meetings

    • Lead the process of planning and creating fundraising appeals and mailing lists

    • Update gift acknowledgment letters on a quarterly basis

    • Monitor and implement practices to ensure CRM data quality including overseeing cleaning of records and database

  • GRANTS

    • Manage grants calendar

    • Ensure timely submission of applications and reports 

    • Review grant applications and reports where needed

  • EVENTS, INCLUDING OUR SIGNATURE VOICES OF THE INNOCENT EVENT

    • With others, set the budget, goals, and theme for events

    • Create/manage event fundraising strategy and conduct post-event analysis

    • Manage event Host Committee

    • Manage sponsorships

    • Support and prepare fundraising asks 

    • Manage event donor and sponsor stewardship post event

Qualifications: 

  • The Development Director should be familiar with and guided by the principles of “community-centric fundraising” to ensure that our fundraising efforts remain aligned with our values and goals for systemic change. Specifically, it is expected that the Development Director will ensure that: 1. Our fundraising program is grounded in race, equity, and social justice; 2. All who engage in community building are equally valued, whether they are directly impacted, volunteers, donors, staff, or board members; 3. We foster a sense of belonging, not othering; 4. The work is seen as holistic and transformative, not transactional; and 5. We recognize that healing and liberation require a commitment to economic justice.

  • A strong, demonstrated commitment to remedying injustice on behalf of vulnerable populations in general and to NEIP's core mission

  • 7-9 years of experience in fundraising, preferably for a small non-profit, with a proven track record of success in major gifts and familiarity with corporate and foundation giving and special events

  • Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills, with past supervisory experience

  • Experience with fundraising software and donor databases

  • Excellent written and verbal skills with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences

  • Careful attention to detail

  • Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative setting

  • A self-starter who asks questions and seeks clarification when needed

  • Sensitivity to the lived experience of all persons

  • Humility and confidence: no job is too big or too small

  • Values giving and receiving feedback

Salary & Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with experience with an annual salary range from $100,000-$105,000. Benefits include paid vacation, sick, and personal days, parental leave, and holidays; individual/family health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision); and educational opportunities. NEIP also offers a defined contribution retirement plan (401k). NEIP is a flexible workplace that values each individual’s contributions toward our mission.

 Our Values and Commitment:

NEIP is an equal opportunity employer and strives for diversity among its applicant pool as well as within its staff and board.  We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, especially racial and ethnic minorities, people who are formerly incarcerated, people within the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people with non-traditional experience and educational backgrounds to apply for these positions. Importantly, no matter their background, the person selected for this position must embrace, advocate for, and deeply value equity and diversity.

 Application Instructions, with a preference for Applications by March 29, 2024.

To apply, please send a detailed cover letter, resume, development-related writing sample of your choosing, and the names (and contact information) of 3 references to jobs@newenglandinnocence.org with the Subject Line “Development Director”. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Please note that because of a high volume of applicants, we cannot respond to every inquiry or application.

Development Coordinator

**This is a Full-Time, Hybrid (Remote/Office) Position**

 As a nonprofit, NEIP relies on fundraising to sustain and grow our impact in the community. Working with the Executive Director, Development Director, and other NEIP staff, the Development Coordinator will build and execute strong systems and processes to fuel NEIP’s mission. The Development Coordinator will play an essential role in ensuring that every donor has an excellent experience every time they interact with NEIP. 

Beyond the individual responsibilities of each staff member, all NEIP staff work together to support each other and the organization by taking on special projects as needed, and by attending and participating in NEIP-related functions and events.

Responsibilities & Duties At A Glance:

  • DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS

    • Gift processing, revenue tracking, & reporting success against the development plan

    • CRM technical administration, including ensuring data quality

  • DONOR IDENTIFICATION, CULTIVATION, AND STEWARDSHIP

    • Individual & Recurring Giving

      • Execute stewardship plan on an annual basis

      • Regularly draft and personalize thank you letters for donors and help ensure timely donor stewardship

      • Conduct research on existing and prospective individual donors

      • Record all prospect research and donor interaction notes

      • Serve as support on major donor relationships as needed/appropriate

      • Help create and customize materials for donors

      • Serve as primary point of contact for all general donor inquiries and communications

      • Manage a portfolio of mid-level donor relationships

      • With the Development Director, create/write, project manage, and evaluate all annual appeals/campaigns

      • Follow-up with lapsed donors for reactivation

    • Grants

      • Assist with tracking grant applications and deadlines for reporting

      • Compile grant application attachments

      • Help fulfill reporting requirements

    • Event Fundraising

      • Assist with NEIP’s Annual Event, Voices of the Innocent

      • Prospect for new sponsors

Qualifications: 

  • A strong, demonstrated commitment to remedying injustice on behalf of vulnerable populations in general and to NEIP's core mission

  • Familiar with and guided by the principles of “community-centric fundraising” to ensure that our fundraising efforts remain aligned with our values and goals for systemic change.

  • 1-3 years of experience as a development professional (administration and operations, especially gift processing), preferably for a small non-profit

  • Proficiency with a CRM database, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite

  • Careful attention to detail

  • Demonstrated ability to manage and execute a project against a timeline and goals

  • A problem solver

  • Superior organizational skills with ability to analyze information and data

  • Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative setting

  • A self-starter who asks questions and seeks clarification when needed

  • Sensitivity to the lived experience of all persons

  • Humility and confidence: no job is too big or too small

  • Values giving and receiving feedback

Salary & Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with experience with an annual salary range from $55,000-$65,000. Benefits include paid vacation, sick, and personal days, parental leave, and holidays; individual/family health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision); and educational opportunities. NEIP also offers a defined contribution retirement plan (401k). NEIP is a flexible workplace that values each individual’s contributions toward our mission.

Our Values and Commitment:

NEIP is an equal opportunity employer and strives for diversity among its applicant pool as well as within its staff and board.  We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, especially racial and ethnic minorities, people who are formerly incarcerated, people within the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people with non-traditional experience and educational backgrounds to apply for these positions. Importantly, no matter their background, the person selected for this position must embrace, advocate for, and deeply value equity and diversity.

Application Instructions, with a preference for Applications by March 29, 2024.

To apply, please send a detailed cover letter, resume, and the names (and contact information) for 3 references to jobs@newenglandinnocence.org with the Subject Line “Development Coordinator”. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Please note that because of a high volume of applicants, we cannot respond to every inquiry or application.