Los Angeles Organizing Director

YIMBY Action and Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) are seeking a skilled political organizer, excellent volunteer manager, confident fundraiser, and politically savvy relationship builder to grow the pro-housing movement in Los Angeles. 

YIMBY Action and Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) are affiliated 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that work together to advance policy changes that will increase the supply of housing in high-opportunity cities and towns. Our organizations envision an integrated and environmentally sustainable society where every person has access to a safe, affordable home near jobs, services, and opportunity. Our mission in Los Angeles is carried out by YIMBY Action’s local chapter: YIMBY Los Angeles.

What we're looking for

The Los Angeles Organizing Director will lead the fight for more inclusive housing policy in Los Angeles, and oversee all grassroots political activation, membership growth and management, coalition building, political relationships, and local media relationships. They will also collaborate with YIMBY and YIMBY Action national staff to set Los Angeles strategy and build and nurture fundraising relationships. They will collaborate closely with a team of “power volunteers” (known internally as Leads), providing facilitation to help the Leads team identify chapter goals and strategies, and providing extra capacity to execute on goals and strategies. 

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Supporting Volunteer Leads to Achieve Growth (40%)

• Meet regularly with Leads to set chapter growth and political goals. Ensure goals and strategies are informed by YIMBY Action national organizing best practices and YIMBY Action Chapter Development model.
• Activate the Leads (providing extra capacity to Leads as needed) to accomplish the following:
• Meet list and membership growth targets through events, membership drives, and digital campaigns.
• Host monthly member meetings and social events to keep membership trained and engaged.
• Conduct 1-on-1s with new activists to welcome them to the movement and support their inclusion.
• Build narrative power through hosting events, mobilizing members to write op-eds, and building relationships with local media.
• Leverage local excitement to recruit new leads, grow the list, increase membership, get mentioned in the press, & write op-eds
• Ensure enforcement of YIMBY Action Code of Conduct throughout the Los Angeles YIMBY community.

Activating Leads and Members for Policy Priorities (25%)

• In collaboration with Leads, inspire effective advocacy from members. Specific campaigns may include:
• Endorsements - oversee regional endorsement process including endorsement votes. Inspire members to disseminate endorsements and candidate information and support endorsed candidates’ campaigns
• Legislative activation - inspire members to advocate for strong federal, state, and local pro-housing legislation
• Housing Proposal Advocacy - inspire members to support housing proposals at hearings and through petitions
• Housing Elements - inspire members to participate in Housing Elements meetings and hold cities accountable to pro-housing policies in their Housing Elements
• Provide extra capacity to Leads to build key relationships:
• Build relationships with relevant local elected officials and influencers
• Build coalition power by meeting with other local pro-housing groups

Coalition and Media Relationships (10%)

• Inspire coalition partners to support YIMBY legislative, electoral, and project advocacy.
• Foster relationships with media and press contact.
• Participate in local panels, television and radio shows, conferences, and other speaking engagements

Fundraising (20%)

• Collaborate with the fundraising team to meet annual Los Angeles fundraising goal of $350,000
• Meet with and cultivate major gifts from individuals and foundations; develop personal relationships and make bold asks, with support and coaching from the fundraising team.
• Proactively identify prospective major gifts individual funders ($5,000+) and foundations by mining Board members’ networks, hosting house parties and salons, reviewing mid-level and small donor lists, and tapping into volunteer networks, with support from fundraising team
• Reach out to and cultivate mid-level donors with guidance from Associate Director of Development
• Identify prospective building industry and corporate partners and meet with building industry and corporate prospects and funders, in collaboration with Senior Manager of Industry Partnerships

Other Projects (5%)

• Assist with various priorities, especially when geographically and demographically relevant

Metrics

Measurables of success for this position may include:

• # of active Leads 
• % growth of subscriber list
• % growth in dues-paying and volunteer membership 
• diversity of Leads, subscribers, members
• average turnout at key mobilizations 
• # of coalition partnerships 
• # of media hits of YIMBY Los Angeles
• # of op-eds produced by members 
• # of monthly chapter events 
• $ raised

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of experience in local community organizing and/or political activism, including event-planning and team coordination. Ability to plan and run organizing events and campaigns to completion. 
• 5-10 years of experience managing volunteers, coordinating issue-based advocacy efforts, and organizing volunteers for candidate endorsements/elections. Strong project management experience and a demonstrated ability to supervise and delegate to others in order to effectively complete complex tasks.
• A demonstrated commitment to the YIMBY vision; previous work or volunteer experience that is aligned with YIMBY goals. A demonstrated passion for more housing and shelter of every type including subsidized nonprofit affordable housing, market-rate housing, transitional housing, navigation centers, and more.
• Experience in volunteer recruitment, including attracting, engaging, and cultivating leaders within a diverse community.
• Experience building positive working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders; demonstrated ability to professionally interact with stakeholders, with an orientation towards identifying and building on common ground.
• Positive attitude and excitement to fundraise from individuals, businesses, and foundations, with the ability to meet local and statewide fundraising targets.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively address and resolve interpersonal and organizational conflicts while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Excellent public speaking abilities; ability to serve as a compelling ambassador with media and on panels.

Benefits

• Up to 100% employer funded comprehensive medical coverage
• 401k enrollment opportunities
• 3 weeks of paid vacation plus another 20 paid holidays
• Paid sick time
• Paid family & disability leave
• Significant professional development opportunities, including paid professional development stipend
• Flexible work hours within a 40 hour work week
• Membership in YIMBY Action nationwide activist network and vibrant 3,700+ member Slack community
• Access to YIMBY Action network of elected officials, journalists, and business leaders