About TCRP
We are Texas lawyers and advocates for Texas communities, boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts. We envision a Texas where all communities thrive with dignity and justice, and without fear.
TCRP believes that legal advocacy and litigation are critical tools to protect and advance the civil rights of everyone in Texas, particularly our State’s most vulnerable populations, and to effect positive and lasting change to law and policy. We believe that by serving the rising social justice movement in Texas with excellent legal representation and bold strategies, we can respond to the needs of the communities we serve.
Below, you will find our current open positions. You can also learn more on our website's Careers page.
Annual Giving Manager
Remote in Texas
Overview
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is a community lawyering organization boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts and seeking to advance a vision of a Texas where all communities can thrive with dignity and justice and without fear.
The Annual Giving Manager oversees all individual giving for the organization at mid and annual giving levels. Specifically, the Annual Giving Manager implements effective, comprehensive mid-level and annual giving donor programs, including developing strategies for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding mid-level and annual gifts from various sources. The Annual Giving Manager is a key member of TCRP’s Development team and reports directly to TCRP’s Senior Philanthropy Officer.
About TCRP
For more than thirty years, the Texas Civil Rights Project has been a committed partner to community organizers, families, and advocacy groups across the state. Whether through litigation or legal advocacy, the attorneys and advocates at TCRP work to dismantle mass incarceration, fight discrimination in voting and civic participation, and right injustices occurring at the Texas border, all under a race equity lens. TCRP’s lawyers work with coalitions of community-based organizations to identify injustices facing Texas communities and develop systemic solutions using litigation and other legal advocacy tools. For additional highlights about TCRP’s work and to learn more about TCRP, visit www.txcivilrights.org.
TCRP comprises three regional offices across Texas with over 40 employees and an annual budget of over $7 million.
TCRP operates under a hybrid work policy, allowing full remote work from anywhere in Texas and requiring travel and in-person attendance for specified work activities. The in-person activities are typically based out of any of TCRP’s locations: Alamo (in the Rio Grande Valley), Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Exceptions to required in-person activities can be made based on a case-by-case basis.
Job Duties:
Annual Giving Strategy
- Manage mid-level and annual giving donors for the organization.
- Create mid-level and annual giving donor program plans integrated into the overall Development annual plan and address the organization’s fundraising needs.
- Develop and implement a strategic action plan with objectives, timelines, and evaluation plans for the mid-level and annual giving donor programs, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects.
- Create and administer a program and activities to solicit gifts from donors and prospects, including digital fundraising and direct mail campaigns.
- Work with the Prospect Research Specialist to identify mid-level donors qualified for the major donor program.
- Assist with other fundraising projects and other related duties as assigned.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Use the development database to retrieve data. Perform comprehensive analysis and manipulation related to all aspects of the mid-level donor program. Use statistics to evaluate current programs and to make recommendations for program changes.
- As appropriate, produce timely and accurate reports to the Senior Philanthropy Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships.
- Maintain current records in the database and shared file drive.
- Manage the annual and mid-level donor budgets.
Communication and Engagement
- Work closely with the Senior Philanthropy Officer, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and other departmental team members to ensure coordination with their respective fundraising efforts.
- Maintain knowledge of TCRP’s programs and update donor communications as necessary.
- Ensure that all fundraising materials and communication with donors maintain the highest standards.
- Build effective and trustworthy relationships with donors and staff
- Keep current on changing trends in annual giving and adjust programs and strategies as needed.
- Assure compliance with the standards established by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
- Represent TCRP at meetings, conferences, and fundraising events as appropriate.
Characteristics of Ideal Candidates:
- 4+ years of fundraising experience in annual giving/campaigns and appeals.
- Ability to effectively write clear, structured, and articulate solicitations, donor materials, and acknowledgment letters using good grammar and appropriate style to motivate and encourage donors and prospects.
- Ability to tailor communications to reach intended audiences effectively.
- Ability to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously and meet production schedules.
- Knowledge of online fundraising tools.
- Ability to think strategically and achieve the organization’s goals relating to the position.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and planning skills.
- Ability to build strong relationships across diverse communities—particularly communities of color, immigrant communities, and persons with disabilities—and across different teams internally.
- Exercise confidentiality and accuracy for all donor and prospect information.
- Knowledge of topics relating to our programs.
Compensation
The salary for this position will be based on years of experience from $70,092 to $75,438.
We envision and work towards an organization that reflects our communities and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness. TCRP offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities, and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. TCRP benefits include employer-paid health insurance, four weeks of paid vacation, 16 weeks of paid family leave, a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two-week winter break. This position is FLSA-exempt and does not qualify for overtime compensation. A minimum of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, are expected.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your cover letter, current resume, and a donor communication you wrote via Submittable.
We encourage interested applicants to apply by April 12, 2024. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, Black and other people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, languages spoken, socioeconomic status, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Research shows that while men apply for positions when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women, Black people, people of color, and other underrepresented groups only apply when they check every box. If you feel like this is the position for you, even though you don’t check every box, please apply. You could be what we’re looking for!
Manne Family Legal Fellowship
Overview
Thanks to the generosity of Neal Manne and Nancy McGregor, the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is accepting applications for the Manne Family Legal Fellowship. This fellowship allows a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School or the University of Texas School of Law to join TCRP for one year.
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is a community lawyering organization that boldly serves the movement for equality and justice in Texas, working in and out of the courts. Whether through litigation, policy advocacy or campaigns for local reform, TCRP works to reduce over policing and criminalization, reduce the harms of incarceration, fight discrimination in voting and civic participation, and end injustices occurring at the Texas border. For more than thirty years, TCRP has been a committed lawyer and partner to community organizers, Texas families and advocacy groups across the state. Today, we are a household name in Texas, and are viewed as one of the go-to civil rights organizations.
We are recruiting outstanding candidates who could work in any of our programs: Voting Rights, Beyond Borders, or Criminal Injustice. We also welcome candidates who are interested in focusing on a topic of our cross-programmatic committees: Reproductive Justice or Disability Justice. The cross programmatic committees work to coordinate and expand our work on an issue across our programs. The final focus of the fellowship will be determined with consideration being given to the strengths and interests of the strongest candidate. Candidates should use their cover letter to express any connection, expertise or interest in these topics, as well as their preference for litigation or policy focused work. Candidates are not expected to design a specific fellowship proposal of any sort and are welcome to express openness to more than one topic or type of work.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
The Legal Director, Dustin Rynders, will lead our hiring process for this fellow, who will then be assigned a supervisor depending on the subject area that is determined.
Primary responsibilities may include:
Impact Litigation & Strategic Advocacy
- Work alone and with colleagues to devise successful legal and extra-legal advocacy strategies.
- Litigate TCRP cases in federal and state Texas courts. This includes drafting pleadings and affidavits, handling discovery, managing client relationships, preparing depositions, consulting expert witnesses, and engaging in settlement negotiation. Litigation includes appellate work.
- Conduct thorough and efficient investigations.
- Research and write clear, concise, appropriately framed white papers.
- Lead public education events, communicating effectively with all audiences.
Legislative Advocacy
- Provide review and analysis of bills filed in one or more areas in the Texas Legislature
- Educate policymakers and the public on the impacts of proposed legislation in private meetings, public presentations, media appearances, and legislative testimony.
- Identify litigation opportunities and needs that arise from the legislative session and conduct related research.
Programmatic, Communications and Development Support
- Assist with designing and implementing strategic advocacy campaigns throughout Texas for local and statewide policy reform.
- Serve as a TCRP spokesperson through various communication and media outlets in collaboration with TCRP’s Communications team.
- Assist in TCRP’s fund development efforts, including presentations and speaking engagements as requested.
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D. or anticipated J.D. from Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School or the University of Texas School of Law in 2023 or 2024.
- A current Texas Law license or plans to sit for the Texas Bar in July 2024.
- Familiarity with constitutional law.
- Track record of working collaboratively with low income, Black, brown and LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills.
- Well-organized: able to meet deadlines without compromising the quality of work product; ability to multi-task and to prioritize; ability to juggle a heavy meetings calendar with substantive work; willingness to work long hours as necessary.
- A willingness to travel throughout the state of Texas.
- A resilient, can-do attitude, with an openness to constructive criticism, evolving responsibilities, and shifting current events.
Ideal Characteristics
- Demonstrated interest in some aspect(s) of civil rights law with preference for those with demonstrated knowledge and interest in reform of the criminal legal system, immigrant rights, voting rights, reproductive justice or disability justice.
- Critical, creative, innovative thinker w/ ability to identify nuances, attend to detail, and to get in the weeds.
- Issue spotter; self-starter; trouble shooter; tenacious; flexible.
- Ability to build and successfully manage coalitions.
- Lived experiences that inform a complex understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and of the historical nature of structural power differences.
Compensation
Salary will be based on years of experience, with a range starting at $72,468. TCRP also offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. We envision and work towards an organization that reflects the communities we serve and a culture of radical inclusion, continuous growth, and openness. TCRP benefits include employer-paid health insurance, four weeks paid vacation, 16 weeks of paid family leave, a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two week winter break.
This is a temporary position from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025 and is excluded from the Bargaining Unit according to TCRP’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Organization of Legal Service Workers (UAW Local 2320).
Location
TCRP is primarily remote but requires all staff to live in Texas. Staff are able to access office space in any of TCRP’s offices, which are located in Austin, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley (Alamo). Applicants most wanting to work on state policy issues should plan to live in Austin during the legislative session.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following materials via Submittable. For consideration, the deadline to apply is 11:59PM, Friday April 19, 2024.
1. Cover letter indicating:
- Why you are interested in working with TCRP
- Preferred practice group (BB/CI/VR)
- An idea for a proposed fellowship project
- Names and deadlines for any particular fellowship applications to which you are applying
- Interest in working in Texas
2. Detailed resume
3. Writing sample of no more than 10 pages, preferably related to the subject matter of your proposed project idea.
4. A list of at least 3 references with at least 2 of these being professional references.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, Black, indigenous, and other people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, languages spoken, socioeconomic status, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Research shows that while men apply for positions when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women, Black people, people of color and other historically underrepresented groups only apply when they check every box.
If you feel like this is the position for you even though you don’t check every box please apply, you could be exactly what we’re looking for!
2024 Summer Legal Intern
Job Description
At TCRP, we are Texas lawyers for Texas communities. We use our unique community lawyering model to empower Texas communities and create the policy changes necessary for a fairer, more just Texas. In our 30+ year history, we have brought thousands of strategic lawsuits, defending voting rights, reforming systems of criminal (in)justice, and fighting for the rights of immigrant families and those in our borderland communities. Our efforts have helped countless low-income and otherwise marginalized Texans and have widely advanced equality and justice. Today—with dozens of high-caliber attorneys and professionals around the state and an extensive network of pro bono counsel and community allies—TCRP is among the most influential civil rights organizations in Texas. We are proud of our work, welcome innovative thinkers, and offer flexibility to different people’s styles and strengths. Learn more at https://txcivilrights.org/.
The Texas Civil Rights Project is seeking optimistic, motivated, balanced, well-organized individuals to serve as law clerks in our programs for the 2024 Summer term to work on our portfolio of immigrant rights litigation, criminal injustice litigation, or voting rights litigation. Our three program areas are as follows:
Our Beyond Borders program is focused on humanitarian and state and local immigration issues, as well as impact litigation. We aim to eliminate policies that perpetuate the harmful effects of militarization, cultural erasure, imprisonment, and exclusion along the Texas-Mexico border.
Our Criminal Injustice program is focused on challenging the unjust conditions of incarceration, as well as overcriminalization and policing that disproportionately impact Black, Brown, disabled, noncitizen, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Our Voting Rights Program is focused on protecting and expanding the power of underrepresented communities in Texas—especially communities of color, workers, and people with disabilities. Through grassroots, legislative, and litigation advocacy, our Voting Rights program aims to protect the fundamental right to vote that is essential to democracy.
TCRP is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic team and women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. Our law clerks are a critical part of the TCRP family and will assist our attorneys with every aspect of our work, from investigating potential cases to crafting strategic advocacy plans and preparing complaints.
This is a remote position with the option to work from one of our offices (Austin, Houston, and Alamo). Preference for bilingual Spanish speakers, organizing experience, and clear dedication to civil rights work. This internship can be for credit. We will work with you to secure funding, either externally or internally.
TO APPLY
Please apply by sending a resume, cover letter, transcript, and writing sample to daniel@texascivilrightsproject.org. In your cover letter, please specify what TCRP program you are applying to. We will review applications as we receive them.
TCRP is an equal opportunity organization that welcomes all qualified applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
We are Texas lawyers and advocates for Texas communities, boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts. We envision a Texas where all communities thrive with dignity and justice, and without fear.
TCRP believes that legal advocacy and litigation are critical tools to protect and advance the civil rights of everyone in Texas, particularly our State’s most vulnerable populations, and to effect positive and lasting change to law and policy. We believe that by serving the rising social justice movement in Texas with excellent legal representation and bold strategies, we can respond to the needs of the communities we serve. Learn more at www.txcivilrights.org.
Every year, the Texas Civil Rights Project sponsors multiple legal fellows across our three programs (Racial and Economic Justice, Criminal Injustice Reform, and Voting Rights) and in all of our five offices across the state (Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Rio Grande Valley). These fellows are recent law school graduates or judicial clerks who obtain external funding to work with us, usually on a specific project for a predetermined period of time, usually 1 or 2 years. Opportunities for external funding are extremely diverse, including law firms, law schools, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and private foundations of all sizes. Over the last few years, fellows working at TCRP have been awarded fellowship funding from the following sources, among others:
- Equal Justice Works
- Justice Catalyst
- Open Society Foundations
- Kloiber Foundation
- Yale Law School
- Columbia Law School
- University of Texas School of Law
Fellowship applicants are usually required to seek sponsorship approval from a host organization (like TCRP) before applying for fellowship funding. While we are sensitive to time constraints, our process for approving a potential fellow for sponsorship at TCRP is extensive, including application reviews within the organization, interviews, review of past work product and references, and a thorough evaluation of the applicant’s proposed project. This process ensures we only sponsor fellowship applicants who have developed a project proposal that significantly advances our mission of seeking justice for Texas communities, but it also means that we are only able to sponsor a small number of the qualified applicants seeking to work with us. Limiting the number of fellows that we sponsor also allows us to work closely with applicants to develop a strong proposal for funding and to ensure that we have the resources to properly manage and train fellows once they get here.
Because this process takes time, fellowship applicants are encouraged to apply for sponsorship at least 60 days in advance of any funding application deadline. If circumstances prevent an applicant from complying with this timeline, we encourage the applicant to contact our Fellowship Coordinator to discuss the situation.
Because of the widely varying application deadlines for fellowship funding, TCRP accepts applications from fellowship applicants throughout the year. Major fellowship funders (e.g. Equal Justice Works) usually have early fall deadlines, while many smaller funders (e.g., law schools) have deadlines in early spring.
To be eligible for a fellowship at TCRP, an applicant must meet the following basic criteria:
- Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school by the time the fellowship would begin;
- Completion of the bar exam of any U.S state or territory prior to beginning the fellowship;
- Willingness to work in Texas at one of TCRP’s established offices; and
- Development of a project proposal that fits one of the three subject-matter areas in which TCRP works.
If you will be able to meet these criteria and wish to complete your fellowship at TCRP, please submit the following sponsorship application materials:
1. Cover letter indicating:
- Why you are interested in working with TCRP
- Preferred practice group (BB/CI/VR)
- An idea for a proposed fellowship project
- Names and deadlines for any particular fellowship applications to which you are applying
- Interest in working in Texas
2. Detailed resume
3. Writing sample of no more than 10 pages, preferably related to the subject matter of your proposed project idea.
4. A list of at least 3 references with at least 2 of these being professional references.
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
If you have any technical difficulties completing this form, please contact support@submittable.com