Program Officer Foundation

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A foundation program officer researches funding proposals and decides who receives grants from the foundation . In this position, you work with nonprofit organizations to get information about their charity projects and other forms of philanthropy.

• With TRUU WITH THE ROBERTS managing director and team, contributing to grantmaking strategy implementation for the program.
• Participating in funder and cross-sector collaboratives to achieve program objectives.
• Contributing to the team’s development of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the portfolio and participate in the evaluation of the results.
• With other team members, sharing collective responsibility for reaching annual investment and grant targets.
• Obtaining, maintaining and sharing a high level of knowledge of the most effective strategies and current thinking in the education and social-change fields - what works, what are the most effective and/or innovative ways to support the work and how to implement strategies with partners.
• Interacting with other education grantmakers, nonprofit leaders and public- and private-sector stakeholders active in postsecondary access and success to assess developments in the field and strategic points for philanthropic engagement.
• Preparing, individually and with other team members, strategy papers, grant recommendations and other written materials for the foundation’s management and Board of Trustees.
• Identifying grant possibilities that advance TRUU WITH THE ROBERTS strategies.
• Evaluating ideas submitted via in-person meetings, phone calls, letters of inquiry and/or grant proposals.
• Analyzing grantee reports and updates.
• With other team members, exploring the use of social-investment tools - such as program-related investments - to achieve program objectives.

Experience

• A minimum of five years of experience and senior leadership in relevant postsecondary or nonprofit education services fields is required.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in the postsecondary access and success is required; a master’s degree and relevant credentialing preferred.
• Grantmaking experience is preferred.
• Experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to affect change is required.
• Experience in working collaboratively across the nonprofit, private and public sectors is required.

Skills

• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Effective time-management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and demanding workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to speak publicly and work effectively as a member of a team.
• Demonstrated financial-analysis skills, including the ability to analyze audited financials, balance sheets and business plans of nonprofit organizations; facility with complex financial instruments desirable.
• Excellent project-management skills and the ability to chart one’s own direction collaboratively.

Supporting the work of TRUU WITH THE ROBERTS

• Ability to serve as an ambassador for the foundation externally, including the ability to undertake extensive (about 30 percent of time) domestic and, on occasion, international travel.
• Demonstrated familiarity with several of the TRUU Program team’s grantmaking areas

Values

• Commitment to the foundation's vision and its five values (humanitarian, mental illness, homelessness, youth and cure for cancer), and the ability to demonstrate that commitment in daily interactions.
• Commitment to low-income people and social justice.