Fund for the Public Interest
A national non-profit organization that raises awareness and builds public support for some of the nations top environmental and social non-profits like Environment America and the Human Rights Campaign.
Will be visiting U Delaware to hold some info sessions and interviews in order to recruit students for our summer campaign jobs. Date and time TBA.
1) Citizen Outreach Director
As a Citizen Outreach Director for the Fund, you run a campaign office in one of dozens of cities throughout the country. The staff you supervise educates citizens about the issues and gets them involved in campaigns to win progressive change. In essence, you build a team of committed activists who, in turn, mobilize hundreds or thousands of citizens to take action.
The U.S. PIRG is standing up to powerful special interests and cutting wasteful subsidies that encourage unhealthy eating. The Human Rights Campaign is fighting bigotry to protect the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation. Environment America is working to restore the Clean Water Act and keep our rivers, lakes, and streams protected for future generations.
At Fund for the Public Interest, we work with these and other leading progressive groups to help fight for the future of our health, our environment and our democracy. We are looking for candidates to join us as Canvass Directors and Telephone Outreach Directors.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Staff Management
- Recruit and manage a campaign staff of 10-40 canvassers or callers.
- Teach effective canvassing and campaigning techniques to staff.
- Identify strong staff and teach them to run local campaigns and develop leadership skills.
- Run staff meetings and leadership trainings.
- Arrange briefings and issue workshops to educate and motivate staff.
- Evaluate staff performance and give ongoing feedback.
Canvassing and Field Work
- Reach or exceed your office’s fundraising and membership goals. Most offices have goals of $250,000 raised and 5,000 members identified each year.
- Canvass door-to-door, by telephone or in public places (depending on the position) three times each week to train staff, raise money, identify and activate members, and educate the public on the issues.
- Oversee all administrative functions related to fundraising, membership development, campaign work and general office management.
Campaign Strategies
- Run letter-writing or petition drives to state legislators, local government, corporate boards and congressional representatives.
- Build coalitions of local and state organizations and elected officials.
- Identify local activists within state legislative and congressional districts. Organize them into networks for quick political action.
- Attract media coverage for campaigns. Send out news releases, hold news conferences and meet with editorial boards to release research, expose problems and promote solutions.
TRAINING:
Staff will participate in an intensive, paid training program for the first four weeks of the job. Trainings are held on an ongoing basis—and for students graduating this year, the training will start in July. This initial training focuses on staff management and canvassing and also includes sections on campaign strategy, media and public speaking. All staff participate in additional regional trainings and staff meetings throughout the year.
QUALIFICATIONS:
We are looking for smart, motivated, action-oriented college graduates who are interested in politics and have a commitment to public interest issues. To do this work, you need stamina. You need to be able to convey the sense of urgency and passion you feel about these issues. You need to be able and willing to work hard. You need to be resourceful on a shoestring budget. (In-depth training on issues, campaign strategies and skills is provided.)
LOCATIONS:
We are running campaigns in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI and Washington, D.C.
SALARY/BENEFITS:
First-year staff earn $23,750-$27,000, depending on position. Benefits include eligibility to enroll in our group health plan and college loan assistance.
TO APPLY:
Fill out our online application. http://www.fundforthepublicinterest.org/jobs/leadership/application
For more information, contact Kristin Saybe at (303) 573-5885 ext. 312 or jobs@fundstaff.org.
2) Telephone Outreach Project (T.O.P.) Directors
Through telephone outreach, progressive organizations are able to reach, inform and mobilize thousands of citizen supporters. Directors of the Fund's Telephone Outreach Projects oversee a staff who raise funds and activate citizens over the phone.
Your responsibilities
You recruit and manage a staff of 20 to 30 people, who conduct membership drives and special appeals over the phone. You train your staff in effective telephone canvassing techniques, you identify those who show the most potential, and you teach them how to be leaders.
You organize a grassroots campaign. You teach your staff how to attract media coverage for the issues. You teach them to enlist the support of political leaders and others for your cause. You teach them to organize grassroots pressure on elected officials, corporate boards and other decision-makers.
You raise funds, seeking to reach or exceed your office goals. A typical Telephone Outreach Project office will raise $1 million and contact 50,000 citizens. You'll call two to three evenings a week to train staff, raise money, and develop new approaches.
You make the office run smoothly, tracking and analyzing your staff's performance in terms of fundraising, membership, campaign and other work.
What we're looking for in you
We want to see if you're smart, motivated and action-oriented. If you're interested in politics and are committed to progressive issues. If you work well with a team of people. If you're able to convey a sense of urgency and passion about the issues. If you're able and willing to work hard. If you can be resourceful on a shoestring budget. We'll train you on the issues, on campaign strategies and tactics, and on calling skills. You provide the brains, heart and drive.
What you earn
Assistant Telephone Outreach Project Directors earn $23,750 in their first year. All staff are eligible for apply for college loan assistance and accrue two weeks of paid vacation over the course of their first year on the Fund staff. Staff are encouraged to join our group health care plan through pre-tax payroll deductions. Those who secure positions with the Fund for a second year are eligible to join our 401(k) plan.
Where you work
The Fund is running Telephone Outreach Projects in Boston, Mass., Portland, Ore. and Sacramento, Calif.
To apply
Fill out our online application. http://www.fundforthepublicinterest.org/jobs/leadership/application
For more information, contact Kristin Saybe at (303)573-5885 ext. 312 or jobs@fundstaff.org.
Dates are: 3/5, 3/6 and 3/7
Short information sessions at 10am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm each day.
Immediately interview all the candidates who are interested in applying.
