Program Officer, Community & Culture

VISION: A thriving region where all individuals and families have the opportunity to succeed.

The mission of the Community Foundation is to make the Richmond region a better place through bold solutions and inspired philanthropy. Today, we manage more than 1,400 charitable funds with assets exceeding several billion dollars and growing. In 2022, we deployed more than 6,000 grants totaling over $85 million. The Foundation also supports the activities of 9 other charitable foundations and organizations that have chosen to fulfill their charitable legacy in partnership with us. Together we do more good!

As a part of the Community Foundation, you have a chance to use your skills and experience to create positive, long-lasting change for our region; while maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional endeavors. We offer competitive benefits, flexibility in schedule and partial telework, half-days on Fridays, a collaborative culture, and mission-centered work.

To learn more about our vision and mission, please visit cfrichmond.org/discover/cf.

TITLE:  Program Officer, Community & Culture

 REPORTS TO: Vice President, Community Impact

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Program Officer of Community and Culture manages the Foundation’s extensive portfolio related to fostering community connection through the arts, culture, environmental and natural resources, and animal welfare initiatives. This position will focus on leveraging these areas to advance upward economic mobility through supporting nonprofit organizations. The Program Officer will cultivate relationships with multicultural communities and neighborhoods to gain deeper insights into their strengths and challenges related to achieving economic mobility. 

The Program Officer will collaborate closely with Community Impact staff on additional initiatives, including promoting opportunity-rich and inclusive neighborhoods, educational success, economic prosperity through rewarding work, and access to good health care. The incumbent will play a strategic role in identifying community needs and solutions, proactively coordinating resources to create measurable and sustainable results. Core responsibilities include determining strategy for funding to advance community connection and cultural engagement, managing the grants process for nonprofit organizations, reacting to outcomes, convening stakeholders around priority topics, and participating in leadership positions in the community related to arts, culture, and the environment. This grants portfolio includes opportunities related to policy work, systems building, and direct services. This is an exempt, full-time position.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Community Leadership

• Convene nonprofit organizations, funders, and community leaders around topics within community and culture with a focus on access, equity, and sustainability. Participate in the alignment of desired regional outcomes and indicators of progress.
• Convene, lead, and participate in community coalitions that advance systemic change.
• Collaborate with other funders to share, develop, and leverage resources to address community needs. Focus on high impact, long-term, and sustainable change.
• Interact with local leaders and nonprofit providers as is appropriate to represent their perspectives in community philanthropic endeavors.
• Represent the Foundation through service on committees and attendance at community events and meetings, providing strategic guidance on issues that reflect Foundation priorities.
• Maintain knowledge about current trends, practices, and policies within the focus area of community and culture. Conduct research on issues or concerns of importance to the Foundation. Present findings in written and verbal formats.
• Cultivate relationships with multicultural and priority neighborhood communities to better understand their opportunities and needs.

Grant Process

• Develop and cultivate strong professional relationships with current and potential grantees. Proactively identify opportunities for the Foundation to provide funding, capacity building, volunteers, and/or community leadership support within the focus area of community and culture.
• Work directly with grant seekers to provide clarification of Foundation priorities, direction regarding the application procedures, and feedback on proposals.
• Participate in Foundation grantmaking process to include review of applications, interviews, site visits, and decision-making. Provide written and verbal analysis of grant applications for Foundation staff, board, and donors.
• Gather outcomes from grantees and provide analysis of results vs. objectives agreed to on grant application. Analyze and assess outcomes to identify trends and opportunities, inform team learning, and shape ongoing strategy refinement.
• Manage the relationship with support organizations and committee-advised funds of the Foundation. This includes the full life cycle of the grants process in partnership with boards and committees.

Donor Interaction

• Collaborate with the Philanthropic Services team to work with prospective and current donors to execute their philanthropic goals and engage them as participants and leaders in community problem-solving.
• Assist individual donors with their specific grantmaking efforts, educating them on issues and non-profit organizations working in the sector, including arranging for site visits.

Other Duties

• Participate in national, regional, statewide, and local groups that provide philanthropy to further enhance the work of the Foundation.
• Work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Foundation.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Advanced degree is preferred.
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in the nonprofit, foundation, and/or funder sectors. Experience in grant management and outcome measurement preferred.
• Writing and speaking proficiency in both Spanish and English preferred.
• A commitment to advancing racial equity and inclusion in the work and at the Foundation.
• Strong understanding of community dynamics and the ability to identify and address community needs.
• Passion for community building and enhancing community connection through arts, culture, and environmental stewardship.
• Knowledge of key partners in the Foundation’s work, with experience in the nonprofit landscape of the Richmond region preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, coordinate and prioritize multiple projects at one time while working under major deadlines and handling diverse tasks.
• Demonstrated success in convening diverse groups of stakeholders, including nonprofit organizations and public agencies, to lead collective action for community impact.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and seize leadership roles when a need is realized.
• Ability to analyze, understand, and communicate policies, politics, local needs, and community dynamics to craft strategy based on independent research and knowledge of best practices.
• Demonstrated success in working with a team, including the ability to lead and support projects, communicate trends and opportunities, and a collegial spirit in sharing ideas and receiving feedback.
• Solid computer literacy in Microsoft Office and database management.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written, one-on-one, and group presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and persuade across broad audiences from diverse backgrounds: grant seekers, board members, community leaders, donors, and the Foundation staff.
• Ability to attend community events that may not be during normal workday hours.