About Gov/Act

The Governors’ Action Alliance (Gov/Act) is a new, nonpartisan organization, fiscally sponsored by Global Impact, that provides alliance infrastructure for 23+ governors and their senior staff across the United States to advance strategies, practical tools, and learnings that protect democracy and fundamental freedoms for all. Governors serve as one of the country’s most potent firewalls against threats to fundamental freedoms and democratic values. They can bring about bold change using their unique budgetary power, administrative agency control, bill-writing and signing authority, and broad executive powers. Despite these expansive authorities, historically, no entity or body has existed to help allied governors advance coordinated, affirmative, nonpartisan initiatives to protect fundamental freedoms. GovAct is building this much-needed infrastructure across a range of key issues, from reproductive freedom and democracy, to gun violence prevention and drug policy reform. GovAct also has a new 501(c)(4) arm, also fiscally sponsored by Global Impact, that currently focuses on targeted polling and message-testing.

Currently, GovAct supports the 23-Governor Reproductive Freedom Alliance, emergent work to safeguard democracy, and other Governor collaborations, including convenings, discussion series, and task forces. Building on the success of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, GovAct continues to create a platform for more robust coordination among Governors and is leveraging a network of senior staff in Governors’ Offices across the country, each of whom have been designated by their governor to lead and coordinate on a priority initiative. Working closely with these gubernatorial leads, GovAct:

• Builds capacity and expertise by connecting experts across Governors' Offices and organizations and tailoring best practices, modeling policies and legislation, and other legal and policy innovations for Governors to make it easier to advance bold policies;

• Develops innovative ideas for collaboration by breaking out of silos and advancing creative initiatives, including through litigation strategies;

• Advances affirmative agendas for Governors to flex their powers to protect fundamental freedoms and counteract assaults;

• Creates a collective voice for Governors to elevate key issues, using strategic communications and messaging; and

• Partners with national advocacy organizations and other stakeholders.

Executive Summary

GovAct is building a senior leadership team to support the organization’s rapid evolution from successful proof of concept via the Reproductive Freedom Alliance to a mature and powerful organization including strategic functional growth and leadership in fundraising/development, communications/marketing, and operations. The team will bring relevant and diverse lived and professional experiences to the build of the organization and will align with key founding values of GovAct including:

• Belief in the power of government and governors’ offices in particular to advance bold, affirmative agendas that protect fundamental rights and defend the Constitution;

• Strong, hands-on work ethic needed to support fast-paced start-up growth and development of a sustainable organization;

• Political adeptness, sound judgment, and experience handling sensitive information needed to gain trust and work effectively across governors’ offices;

• Collaboration, communication, and relationship skills needed to operate effectively across a complex and matrixed network of stakeholders and teams;

• Resiliency, optimism, and solutions orientation needed to advance a joyful approach to the work, remain responsive rather than reactive, and support progress when meeting difficult challenges;

• Commitment and demonstrated ability to work effectively and build alignment across lines of difference; and

• Experience working with or for a governor in their gubernatorial capacity is a plus, but not required.

The new lead in development will have the opportunity not only to steward a strong pipeline of funders and opportunities but also to build strategic fundraising operations, including the identification and implementation of an effective CRM and policies and practices that streamline and connect fundraising to communications and program activities, with the support of seasoned external consultants.

The new lead in communications will not only build brand, content, and strategy for the new organization and alliances but will also be a thought partner to leadership and the alliances on how to center and align communications products and strategies to be effective tools and services for GovAct and its various alliances. This includes digital and social content in addition to more traditional forms of media communications.

The new operations/strategic initiatives lead will bring start up energy and nonprofit infrastructure expertise to support the build of an efficient, effective, and values-based organization that is agile and able to grow at the pace of opportunity. They will partner with leadership across the organization to operationalize strategy, manage goals and deliverables, and align resources to impact.

Individuals with expertise in efforts to safeguard democracy in the United States are also encouraged to reach out to NPAG for further discussions.

We invite those who are interested in exploring the role and/or serving as counsel in this process to reach out by emailing buildgovact@npag.com.

To Learn More

This team build is being conducted with assistance from Katherine Jacobs, Sharon Gerstman, and Ashley Jones of NPAG. All inquiries and nominations, including candidate materials, are welcome. Select individuals will be invited to apply. Please submit your nominations, inquiries, and/or personal interest by emailing buildgovact@npag.com.

Hiring Values:  At GovAct, we celebrate a culture of belonging and are committed to cultivating and nurturing a workplace of diversity, equity, and inclusion. GovAct encourages individuals to apply for this position who are of underrepresented backgrounds including, for example, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.