Job Description

Charitable nonprofits improve our lives, add vitality to our communities, contribute to our local and national economies, and enhance the health of our democracy. The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) is the largest network of nonprofits in North America. We connect, champion, and inform organizations across the country to score big wins for nonprofits and the communities they serve. Working with our core network and other collaborative partners, we get things done. We are seeking a dynamic, creative, and detail-oriented Public Policy Associate to join our collective efforts to create a connected and powerful nonprofit community that has what it needs to champion the public good.

Reporting to the Policy Director, The Public Policy Associate promotes the policy objectives of the National Council of Nonprofits, as outlined in the organization’s , and the state association network through a combination of policy research and analysis, advocacy, network support, and communications activities.

We Are :

• The trusted go-to experts for and about nonprofits, providing practical information that nonprofits use to operate more effectively, efficiently, and ethically, bringing attention to issues affecting the work of nonprofits, and illuminating how they contribute to a strong culture and a healthy civil society.
• A robust network that connects and strengthens nonprofits across the country so they can identify shared challenges, develop winning strategies, and amplify their voices to produce solutions that improve lives and enrich communities.
• A powerful advocate at the federal, state, and local levels, delivering policy analysis and effective strategies to strengthen nonprofits, protect their missions, and advance their advocacy efforts.
• Driven by our , including centering equity in all our work.
• Growing our team and looking for someone like you to join us.

You Are :

• Passionate about the work of nonprofits and those they serve.
• An exceptional communicator
• A network builder and galvanizer
• A highly organized team member
• A proven and respected leader who takes initiative.

Essential Details:

• Compensation : Salary range of $68,000 - $85,000, plus the generous benefits described below. This is a salaried, exempt position with an intended duration of two years.
• Location : Our office is in Washington, D.C. and a local candidate is highly preferred, with the expectation of at least two days in-office per week.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as a vital member of the public policy staff and work collaboratively as a member of a team.
• In conjunction with our Public Policy Director, prepare articles for our Nonprofit Champion newsletter for bi-weekly publication.
• Manage our Nonprofit State Policy Tracker©, a database of legislative and other policy developments in state legislatures.
• Analyze and summarize state legislation and spot and track trends across the country.
• Research and develop educational content about state policies that affect the work of charitable nonprofits for our networks and our website.
• Manage the National Nonprofit Caucus of State Legislators and help reimagine the role it can play in advocating for the nonprofit sector.
• Participate in NCN’s policy initiatives and advocacy efforts, including the annual Lobby Day.
• Provide technical assistance to network members to further NCN’s policy goals and priorities.
• Research and draft policy briefs, reports, memos, one-pagers, and other policy-related documents as needed.
• Update and maintain public policy webpages and network listservs.
• Represent NCN at internal and external events.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need:

We recognize that an individual's lived experience is a valued skillset, and that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. When reviewing applications, we take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. That said, we are most likely to be interested in applicants who can demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree, preferably in policy, communications, or a related field. A law degree or Master’s degree in relevant field is a plus.
• At least two to five years of experience in public policy. Experience with state policy is a plus.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, especially writing and listening, with great attention to detail.
• Experience in public speaking and presenting on webinars, joint calls, briefings, or conferences.
• Experience with building and maintaining coalitions.
• Deep and steadfast commitment to earning, maintaining, and building trust with people within and outside the organization.
• Commitment to equity as a personal and professional value.
• An enthusiastic team player who enjoys being part of a collaborative, collegial environment of dedicated and talented staff committed to shared success.
• Energetic, dependable, and exemplary.
• Highly organized with excellent time management skills and the ability to excel at multi-tasking and meeting deadlines while juggling multiple projects.
• Creative problem-solver with a steadfast work ethic, sense of purpose, and sense of humor.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work at a computer station for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel two or more times annually.

Additional Information

We are driven by our values. These guide our actions as we unite and strengthen nonprofits across the country to improve lives and enrich communities: serving others by listening and leading; getting things done, together; earning trust in everything we do; centering equity in all our work; and honoring the nonprofit workforce.

We value our people. In honoring the nonprofit workforce, t he National Council of Nonprofits believes in a healthy workplace and offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. For this position, the salary range is $68,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health (with 100% of employee premiums covered, and 50% of dependent premiums), dental, vision, wellness, life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance; participation in 401k retirement plan with employer match; flexible spending accounts; paid annual and sick leave; monthly stipends for transportation and communications; and generous holiday schedule, as well as opportunities for professional development.

The National Council of Nonprofits is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both though our work and within our workforce. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving longstanding social and economic problems, and we aim to diversify the voices of our staff to best reflect the people and communities that nonprofits serve.

The National Council of Nonprofits is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, Indigenous people, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, people experiencing disabilities, and members of other minority or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Our office is conveniently located in downtown Washington, D.C., above Metro Center. Learn more about the National Council of Nonprofits at

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