ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations that fund a diverse set of programs on a national scale. The Fidelity Foundations are committed to advancing the long-term vibrancy of communities through capacity-building investments in arts and culture, education, conservation, health, and economic opportunity-focused non-profits.
Fidelity Foundations’ grantmaking seeks to build the capacity of leaders and organizations tackling important societal challenges and promoting thriving communities. We are dedicated to strengthening organizations by fostering robust partnerships and supporting projects that enhance our grantees’ long-term success. Each program centers on the ecosystems’ needs and identifies where our capacity-building grants can have the greatest impact. We have a deep history of funding organizations in Boston and New England for over 50 years and also supporting communities in specific regions nationwide.
Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, having grown and evolved in recent years. As our strategies and organization continue to develop, we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise that support the advancement and execution of a long-term portfolio of significant and strategic philanthropic investments.
As a capacity-building funder, the Foundations seek to make catalytic, lasting investments in non-profits at strategic inflection points and support projects that substantially enhance their impact and sustainability. Our values of excellence, integrity, respect, collaboration, and a deep sense of humility guide our quiet grantmaking.
The Foundations’ Education & Economic Opportunity program empowers individuals and families to achieve economic mobility by tackling barriers at every critical life stage. Our partners build essential skills and foster supportive relationships from early childhood through adolescence and beyond. We start with maternal-child health and early childhood development because we recognize the profound impact these early years have on future success. We also support positive youth development, college and career preparation and a range of post-secondary pathways to expand opportunities for historically underserved young people.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
The Associate Program Officer supports the work of the Education & Economic Opportunity team by partnering with senior program staff to develop, manage and evaluate philanthropic investments across the team’s portfolios. The Associate Program Officer will collaborate with and support senior program staff by engaging with existing and prospective grantees and community members as well as participating in programmatic efforts in support of organization-wide initiatives.
The Associate Program Officer’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Under the direction of Program Officers and senior program staff, provide comprehensive support towards the advancement of promising proposals and organizations by conducting due diligence through research, financial analysis, proposal review, and other activities
- Input relevant and timely information into the grants management system and maintain adherence to grant workflows and processes
- Develop processes and schedules to review and ensure data quality and integrity of grants-related data in grants management system
- Provide senior program staff with timely updates on grantee progress; support POs on grantee reporting requirements and reviews
- Support management of current awards, including conditional and contingent grants
- Contribute to development of grant recommendations
- Conduct initial evaluation of grants against stated objectives and formulate recommendations to align grants with sector goals
- Participate in managing schedules and contribute to managing portfolio pipeline
- Synthesizes complex program information and prepares documents and updates for program leadership to share with the Foundations’ leadership in support of Trustee engagement and Foundations’ documentation practices
- Follow literature and media to stay abreast of sector trends, key advances, and challenges in education fields of interest, as well as best practices in grant-making
- Attend relevant external meetings, site visits, and conferences as needed, to broaden knowledge and fulfill the above responsibilities
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:
It is critically important that the Associate Program Officer be a highly collaborative, service-oriented, and collegial team player who listens and communicates well.
To be considered, candidates will possess a majority of the following professional and personal attributes and competencies:
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant work with Education and/or Economic Opportunity-related experience, including work in non-profit organizations; experience in grants-management, development and/or philanthropy is desirable but not required
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to becoming knowledgeable in a variety of issue areas related to the Education & Economic Opportunity portfolios
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create compelling narratives and recommendations with a strong fact base
- Proven and demonstrable analytical skills and ability to analyze data
- Familiarity with organizational and/or project budgets and financial reporting
- Prior experience working collaboratively using an enterprise-wide database; Salesforce experience a plus
- Strong interpersonal skills (e.g., collaborative, diplomatic, able to negotiate and build consensus) to establish effective working relationships with all levels of the organization and develop strong relationships with grantees and community partners
- A proven track record of delivering successfully against goals
- Ability to multi-task and work flexibly and creatively within a fast-moving, changing, and complex environment
- Sound judgment, integrity, humility, and respect for confidentiality
- Ability to move work forward independently and think big picture while applying a keen eye to detail; demonstrated resourcefulness in executing on priorities and managing projects to completion
This position will be based in Boston, MA on a hybrid schedule with a requirement to work in-person a minimum of 3 days per week with colleagues; successful candidates will need to undergo a comprehensive background check.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The Fidelity Foundations offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, an annual performance-based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.
The Fidelity Foundations are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive professional environment. We encourage applications from candidates with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
This position was originally posted by Fidelity Foundations and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
