State Grant Consultant Job Description

Title: State Grant Consultant - Washington State
Objective: Work in the State with the Alliance for Retired Americans national field staff and State Alliance leadership to grow the Washington State Alliance membership and financial base and organize the state leadership around federal and state advocacy efforts.

Term: Feb 15, 2010 to Feb 21, 2011, Part Time - 20 hrs/wk

Building for Action:
Make significant and tangible gains in the membership of the State Alliance, working with the existing State Alliance chapter, labor organizations, seniors, community and retiree leadership and other leaders in the assigned state.
Assist National Alliance staff in the planning and implementation of mobilization efforts including, but not limited to: rallies, town hall forums, rapid response events, press conferences, and truth squad events in key areas of the state.
Design and implement educational presentations for use in outreach to State Alliance membership and the general senior community.
Work with State and National Alliance leadership to identify and recruit activists in the assigned state.
Use media events, town halls and other local actions to raise awareness of the State and National Alliance, especially for seniors, legislators and the media.
File weekly reports and participate in weekly conference calls with the National Alliance Field Mobilization Department.

Fundraising:
Identify and secure new and lasting funding streams through a variety of sources. Work with National Alliance to create a fundraising strategy within the first quarter and obtain funding for the assigned State Alliance to build its infrastructure and staffing.
Promote and build State Alliance membership and chapter affiliation.
Engage State Alliance leadership in organizing and promoting grassroots fundraising opportunities including, but not limited to: special events, ad books, raffles and other activities.

Promote Legislative Agenda:
Work with State Alliance leaders and interested individuals to: organize and coordinate meetings, rallies, lobby days, demonstrations and press events; visit, write or call legislators; and speak publicly about the importance of the National Alliance's legislative agenda.
Assist in drafting press releases, talking points, letters to the editor, opinion editorials official statements work to get items placed in the media and promote State Alliance activities to the media.
Coordinate State Alliance efforts on special projects, such as petition drives.
Work with National Alliance to educate members on federal legislation advocacy efforts.
Assist National and state staff in researching and drafting articles for the State Alliance newsletter along with special publications relating to: Federal and State specific election education activities; voter protection issues; and Federal and State legislative issues.

Operations Management:
In coordination with National Alliance staff and the assigned State Alliance, assist with general administrative tasks, organizational mailings, website updating, and contacting affiliates by phone and through mail.
Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements and Qualifications:
Experience with organizational fundraising at the state and local level required.
Extensive experience with coalition building required. Experience organizing within the labor community preferred.
Basic knowledge about senior issues and experience with community organizing and legislative advocacy preferred.
Basic computer competency including email and Microsoft Office required.
Frequent local travel and occasional extended travel throughout the assigned state will be required.

Organization Information:
The Alliance for Retired Americans is a national membership-based organization of union retirees and other seniors with more than 3.5 million members. The Alliance for Retired American's mission is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security. The Alliance believes that all older and retired persons have a responsibility to strive to create a society that incorporates these goals and rights and that retirement provides them with opportunities to pursue new and expanded activities with their unions, civic organizations and their communities.

For More Information or to Apply:
Bob Kearney Deputy Director,
Field Mobilization
Alliance for Retired Americans
815 16th Street NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
Office: (202) 637-5572 Fax: (202) 637-5398
rkearney@retiredamericans.org