Position: PROGRAM OFFICER
Reports to: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ABOUT CRICKET ISLAND FOUNDATION
The Cricket Island Foundation (CIF) is a family foundation dedicated to advancing the field of youth-led social change. CIF’s mission is to develop the capacity and commitment of young people to improve their lives and communities, as well as the world around them. CIF supports organizations that offer meaningful opportunities for youth to contribute to positive social change. CIF currently supports 20+ youth organizations (grantees) across the country that use arts, media, and youth organizing to empower young people to become leaders in their communities, through a combination of general operating grants, capacity-building support, and rapid-response funding.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Program Officer (PO) is part of a close-knit four-person staff team and works closely with the Executive Director and the Board Grantmaking Committee, supporting the Cricket Island Foundation’s programmatic goals and engaging in strategy development and oversight of grant activities. The PO’s primary responsibility is to support and maintain learning relationships with our grantee partners, to communicate about these partnerships to CIF board and staff, and to bring this perspective to the Foundation’s ongoing strategy development. This position may require up to 25% domestic travel. The Foundation encourages applications from candidates with non-traditional experience; the ideal applicant brings field experience from social justice and/or youth organizing work and is an independent self-starter, with the ability to set and meet goals and to balance creative thinking with strong analytical skills.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Grantmaking
- Manage the grantmaking process from RFP through evaluation, to decision and grant closure.
- Maintain close, supportive learning relationships with the Foundation’s grantees; act as a liaison to the board by highlighting trends and insights observed in these relationships.
- Work with the Executive Director to develop grantmaking strategies, priorities, and guidelines.
- Prepare concise, analytical summaries and funding recommendations for Grantmaking Committee and board members.
- Prepare grantmaking presentations for board meetings.
- Evaluate the impact of grants and programs; review and analyze grantee reports.
- In collaboration with the Executive Director, refine the Foundation’s grantmaking criteria and strategies as needed.
- Manage financial and budget reports to track annual grant and program development spending.
- Participate in the development, planning, and organization of program-related events.
- Stay abreast of developments in the field through research, dialogue with key thought partners, and convenings.
- Write strategy/position papers that provide direction on issues impacting the field and/or offer suggestions about strategic program development for funders and grantees.
- Interact with grantees and other field professionals and participate in program- and field-related meetings and convenings.
- Provide timely communications to grantees, grantseekers, and other partners about RFPs, grant proposals, reports, meetings and other matters.
Capacity Building & Technical Assistance
- Administer the Foundation’s Organizational Strengthening program, occasionally in partnership with other funders, through grant support and organized convenings.
- Update and maintain directory of technical assistance/ capacity building organizations, foundations and grassroots organizations.
- Provide technical assistance referrals upon request, based on the specific needs of each grant partner.
Field communication
- Provide timely and clear communication to current and prospective grantees in an effort to establish productive learning relationships; ensure that those partnerships are in service of organizational capacity building and development.
- Maintain ongoing relationships with practitioners (grantees and non-grantees) that support CIF’s ongoing learning and responsiveness to the field.
- Establish relationships with grantees and other partners based on respect, candor, mutual learning and ongoing improvement.
Field Building and Strategy Development
- Develop and maintain collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with other foundations, nonprofits, and field leaders in order to create leveraging opportunities for the Foundation and increase its impact through collaboration and partnership.
- Stay abreast of nonprofit and philanthropic trends and strategies through relationships and field scanning and assist the Foundation in becoming more effective and responsive.
Board of Directors and General Administration
- Perform other Foundation-related work as requested by the Executive Director.
- Provide leadership and oversight of the Grantmaking Committee.
- Arrange schedules for conference calls and site visits.
- Work with the Committee Chair and Executive Director to establish the grantmaking calendar.
- Work with the Committee Chair and Executive Director to refine and revise guidelines and criteria based on CIF’s evolution and strategic thinking.
- Conduct due diligence and prepare grant recommendations for committee and board review, in coordination with the ED.
- Participate in the preparation for and implementation of semi-annual Board meetings.
- Work directly with Board leadership on learning and grantmaking initiatives.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen to and communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Excellent verbal and writing skills; comfortable synthesizing large amounts of information into clear, concise, and compelling reports and briefing papers.
- Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
- Outstanding analytical and creative thinking, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Previous grant-making or nonprofit experience is desirable, including work experience with nonprofit organizations, preferably at the grassroots level; detailed understanding of nonprofit management, fund-raising, and institutional development needs is preferable.
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
- Ability to identify and access relevant research, policy information, and individuals that will advance the work of the Foundation.
- Comfort working with and relating to young people.
- Critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyze proposals rigorously.
- Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, plus database management).
- Ability to connect a variety of issues to broader trends and shifting advocacy climates.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Availability to travel within the U.S. on a regular basis, perhaps up to 25% of time.
LOCATION
While the Foundation offices are located in NYC, this position is almost entirely remote. The role does require up to 25% domestic travel, for meetings with grantees, funding partners, the CIF team and board members.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This is primarily a sedentary desk position, requiring an appropriate off-site work setup, and up to 25% travel as noted above.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000, depending on experience. In addition, Cricket Island Foundation offers employees an outstanding benefits package.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Cricket Island Foundation is committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and actively seeks an applicant pool that reflects the diversity of the populations we support; we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, either as a citizen or permanent resident.