Overview
About MVP
MVP is a best-in-class advising platform connecting progressive donors to the most effective and promising grassroots organizations in the country working at the intersection of movements, community organizing, and elections. We aim to increase investment in frontline organizations led by the most impacted communities to increase turnout among the progressive base, build long-term political power, and ultimately to transform our country at the local, state, and national levels. In the 2020 cycle, MVP successfully moved over $120 million to over 600 local groups across the country, focused in the most critical states.
Our Approach:
We are organizers, and the heart of our work is organizing donors through MVP to support local groups in order to build, sustain, and amplify their impact. We work in service of local groups, and we try to be aware at all times of the power dynamics of being a funder and to be careful about incentivizing actions that could alter an organization’s own priorities; we work hard not to impose on our partners. We are also striving to continuously scrutinize and dismantle the ways we manifest and reproduce white supremacy culture both internally and externally.
We focus on building from our assets, and taking a positive approach to growth and change that helps groups and donors to feel comfortable being vulnerable about their areas of improvement. We believe in a non-competitive, non-divisive, whole ecosystem approach; we are always seeking opportunities to support and encourage collaboration among groups and donors.
POSITION OVERVIEW
As the State Advisor for Pennsylvania, you will be MVP’s main liaison with local groups, intermediaries, select national partners, and select donors seeking to support movement building in the state. You will report to the Senior State Strategy Director and work closely with peer State Advisors, Vice President of Programs, Deputy Director for Program Advising, Program Manager, Fund Advisors, and the Capacity Building teams.
State Advisors are integral to meeting MVP’s mission. They are responsible for cultivating trusting relationships and contributing flexible resources to make timely investments that result in greater progressive power and meaningful policy change, especially for communities that are still fighting to secure a seat at the table. State Advisors –
1. Build a deep and ongoing understanding of the state’s political landscape, progressive infrastructure, challenges, and opportunities through ongoing landscape analyses and serve as experts in their state at MVP (20%)
2. Work on the ground with state-based partners to advance powerbuilding efforts in support of short-term and long-term policy and electoral goals; (35%)
3. Make investment recommendations to the MVP team to support immediate political opportunities, organization and infrastructure-building, and long-term progressive electoral and legislative power; (15%)
4. Serve as a trusted ally and strategic advisor to our partners and connect partners with capacity-building resources at MVP to support their organizational development and strategic capacities; (10%)
5. Where possible, advise and align in-state donors, funding partners and intermediaries to leverage, maximize, and streamline funding towards progressive gains (10%)
6. Document and communicate about the groups and the state landscape regularly as needed; Evaluate progress and make recommendations for necessary future strategic shifts (10%)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Assess the landscape:
Informed by local state partners and other resources, build an understanding of the progressive ecosystem – political, policy, and infrastructure – that helps to inform short-term and long-term investment recommendations
Identify infrastructure gaps and opportunities in the state; make connections among state-based partners
As appropriate, work with MVP Fund Directors to collaborate and coordinate funding in your state
Ensure power building investments are reflective of values especially mission-based and our commitment to anti-oppression, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice
Work on the ground with state-based partners:
Through regular meetings with partners and allies, build and maintain trusting, values-driven, strategic relationships .
Create a vision, with state partner input, for the overall investment strategy for your state for both short-term needs and long-term goals
Work with local groups to strengthen their annual and multi-year electoral, issue advocacy, and base building plans; at times, particularly for start-up and developing organizations, this may include helping them draft plans and budgets, or even to expand existing plans – aka, helping groups “dream big!”
For start-ups and developing state-based organizations (and developed organizations if leadership asks for it), discuss challenges and opportunities on a regular basis – whether they be political/program, infrastructure, narrative, etc.
Identify state infrastructure gaps and political opportunities then work with partners and allies to address and build infrastructure and take advantage of political opportunities.
Contribute to MVP’s overall strategic planning process, including creating goals for your state based on strategic priorities, providing input into program team strategy, and providing input into overall organizational strategy.
Make investment recommendations:
Draft internal strategy documents and external c3, c4, and PAC state plans that make the case for where, when, how, and how much to invest for success in the short and long-term to build progressive power through grassroots organizing.
Plans may include landscape analyses, assessments of partner staffing and capacity needs, opportunities, challenges and gaps both within and between organizations, key best practices to share, budgets, and more.
Manage your grantmaking budget for the state including tracking partner budget gaps and adjusting grant making budget accordingly
Based on identified infrastructure gaps and opportunities, nurture new and emerging movement voter organizing groups, alliances, and special projects or campaigns
Work with MVP’s grantmaking team to administer and track grants across the state.
Keep all MVP tracking systems updated and ensure all recommendations for grantmaking are current and meet legal compliance in AirTable or other systems of record.
Strengthen organizational development:
In partnership with MVP’s capacity building team, support local groups in assessing their staffing and capacity needs, upgrade their practices, identify opportunities and gaps, and implement best practices.
Align with allied donors, funders and intermediaries:
Liaise and actively engage with all relevant stakeholders as appropriate: local funders, organizing networks, intermediaries, influencers, etc.;
Develop relationships with local funders, partners and intermediaries to advise their work in the state and/or fund state plans, in partnership with MVP’s Senior State Strategy Director and Program Team leadership; and
Lead MVP’s engagement with the state c3, c4, donor tables and other local alliances as appropriate.
Document, communicate and evaluate progress:
Work with state-based groups to complete compelling and legally-compliant program reports that are rooted in state plans, measure progress to goals, and continue to inspire movement-building and donor support for this work;
Provide strategic insights to Program Team leadership about how MVP reporting processes can continue to evolve to meet legal compliance and other needs without creating an undue burden on busy organizations;
Offer feedback and suggestions to state-based organizational leaders about their progress to goals;
Share “what’s working” with other partners and fellow State Advisors to facilitate continued relationships and growth; and
Document and share with MVP staff stories and photos from local organizations, campaigns, and individuals that illustrate the success of your state’s strategy on a monthly basis and in key moments.
Physical and Environmental Requirements
Location: Position will operate from an at-home office or office of choice by the employee
Employee must be able to work at a computer (including sitting or standing) for extended periods of time with repetitive motion and positions
Traveling Required:
Occasional, optional travel for MVP team gatherings (2-5 times per year).
Frequent travel in-state, once COVID conditions become more friendly, to meet with partners and allies and build relationships
Qualifications
Required:
Depth of knowledge of political and movement ecosystems in the state gained through political campaign experience and/or movement organizing experience (ideally both!);
Experience working across diverse movements, coalitions, and constituencies;
Passion for supporting a diverse ecosystem of grassroots, youth-led, BIPOC-led, and LGBTQ+-led movement voter organizations and leaders;
Ability to assess state funding landscape and grassroots groups’ capacity to grow and expand;
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing;
Organizational and campaign leadership experience, preferable at the Senior level.
In-depth understanding of the funding landscape in the state as well as funding needs of grassroots groups in the state (Preferred)
Some experience with, or strong desire to learn about, fundraising and grantmaking (Preferred)
Demonstrated success supporting and coaching a wide variety of leaders and organizers (Preferred)
Experience in state-based organizational leadership roles (Preferred)
Familiarity with field campaign data and tools, including Slack, AirTable, VAN, and Google Suite (Preferred)
Some experience with, or strong desire to learn about, compliance issues that guide our 501c3, 501c4, and PAC work (Preferred)
We realize that some great candidates may not have every single thing on this list – that’s OK! If this job posting piques your interest, we encourage you to apply!
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Direct Reports: Not applicable, although the position may evolve to require management
COMPENSATION AND HOURS
This is a full-time, salaried position with a base salary range of $100,000min – $115,000max, commensurate with skills and experience, with generous benefits including employer-paid medical and optional dental and vision insurance, basic life insurance, 401(k), regular work-from-home and wellness stipends, and four weeks of paid vacation.
Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled – sooner is better.
Movement Voter Project isn’t just an equal opportunity employer. We are actively seeking to build a diverse and inclusive team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to support the incredible diversity of grassroots organizing across the country. MVP does not discriminate based upon race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a veteran, formerly incarcerated or convicted persons, status as an individual with a disability, or any other characteristic.
Equal employment statement:
Movement Voter Project isn’t just an equal opportunity employer. We are actively seeking to build a diverse and inclusive team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to support the incredible diversity of grassroots organizing across the country. MVP does not discriminate based upon race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a veteran, status as an individual with a disability, and any other characteristics.
MVP is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in its hiring process, employment, services, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Kimbaly Brown at kimbaly@movement.vote or 203.357.5171.