Program Associate

Oregon Community Foundation

Job Posting: Program Associate, Arts and Culture

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) was founded in 1973 with a big mission: to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF works to strengthen communities in every county in Oregon through research, grantmaking, and scholarships. OCF is one of the largest community foundations in the country with over $3 billion in assets under management. In 2023, OCF distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships.

• Knowledgeable: You are familiar with grants administration and grants processes, and you’re able to manage administrative processes, including creating reports and visual presentations.
• Critical Thinker: You are a problem-solver and analytical. You’re able to synthesize information gathered from several sources.
• Communicator: You have outstanding communication skills and are able to speak publicly and facilitate meetings.
• Adaptable: You are comfortable navigating ambiguous and complex situations.
• Relational and Collaborative: You have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop and maintain relationships, and you have the cultural agility skills necessary to work with diverse people, teams, and communities.
• Organized: You are organized, detailed oriented and efficient. You’re able to shift priorities, manage several projects concurrently, and meet deadlines.
• Customer Service Oriented: You have a customer service focus, providing courteous and competent service that promotes trust and confidence.
• Technically Proficient: You have strong knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. You have experience working in a network environment with an integrated database.

The Program Associate partners with the Senior Program Officer-Arts and Culture on the implementation and maintenance of grant programs, community engagement, and strategic investments related to OCF’s goal to encourage and support a thriving arts ecosystem throughout Oregon. The position provides high-level administrative management, program management and communications support to this portfolio and a variety of other programmatic and administrative assignments and projects.

• Manage administrative processes for the Arts and Culture programs and initiatives.
• Provide high-level meeting and event planning coordination, including in-person and virtual community meetings, grant program convenings across the state, four quarterly board committee meetings, and regular team meetings.

• Collect, analyze, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data and develop materials and reports for various external and internal audiences.
• Ensure timely and accurate budget tracking, invoice processing, check requests, reimbursements, and credit card reconciliation.

• Support effective communication and contractual arrangements with contractors and vendors.
• Serve as point person for internal and external branch communications needs.
• Support coordination, collaboration and communication across teams.

• Support Program Officers with implementing discretionary grant programs and initiatives.
• Perform due diligence on grant requests and organize and facilitate online review of applications.
• Submit grant recommendations and track payments, ensure grantee progress reports are submitted, analyze reports, and prepare summaries for presentations to OCF Board.
• Support Program Officers to apply equitable grantmaking practices and ensure accessibility, reach and distribution of funding.
• Remain abreast of research and trends about effective and innovative practices and community needs related to arts and culture.
• Work with Program Officers and OCF’s Research and Learning Team to implement evaluation of the effectiveness of OCF’s arts and culture programs.

• Support Program Officers with implementation of OCF’s statewide strategies and programs, including community engagement strategies to strengthen relationships and establish trust, build capacity, and provide meaningful opportunities for community involvement in OCF's community impact work.
• Provide guidance and answer questions for grant seekers and grantees regarding OCF’s programs and priorities; participate in outreach efforts.
• Support Program Officers in community engagement efforts, including serving as an OCF representative at grant-seeker workshops, stakeholder meetings, advisory committees, and community gatherings, occasionally in a public-speaking role. Assist in coordination of invitation lists, outreach and logistics, and trainings.
• Develop knowledge and expertise about organizations, people and issues related to arts and culture while building relationships with diverse communities and leaders.
• Prepare for and conduct site visits and make recommendations upon conclusion of visit.
• Manage and update contacts and lists for targeted community outreach and engagement efforts and events.

• Four years’ progressively responsible administrative experience and/or project management experience in a nonprofit, educational institution, or other relevant setting.
• Four years’ experience in creative, cultural and artistic fields and knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of artists, culture bearers and creative nonprofits.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• Valid driver’s license.

• Comfortable office environment.
• Minimal physical effort, occasional lifting and carrying. Driving a requirement.

• Hiring Range: $67,000 to $75,000, depending on experience.
• Salary offers are determined in conjunction with an internal pay equity assessment. This initial hiring range reflects our starting offer based on your skills and experience. It’s important to note that this is just the beginning; our overall salary structure offers additional opportunities for growth and advancement based on performance and development within the role, as well as resources available.
• This is a full-time, exempt position.
• Benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, vision, 401k, disability and life insurance, employee assistance plan, volunteer leave, and professional development opportunities.

For the full job description, please visit OCF Program Associate, Arts and Culture