Common Counsel Foundation is seeking a Program Officer who will be responsible for a set of activities that may include managing and advising family foundations, donor-advised funds, pooled funds and initiatives, as well as communications. Activities may include comprehensive grant program management; research, proposal review, grant recommendations, production and completion of funding dockets; proposal and report writing to grow funding; management and tracking of grant databases and files; attending foundation trustee and affinity group meetings; and external communications, including strategy development and implementation.

Now in its 28th year, Common Counsel Foundation advances equity and environmental health through a combination of direct grant making and strategic philanthropic advising for client member funds and manages projects focused on organizational development, leadership sustainability and donor education. CCF’s core purpose is to grow the resources available for progressive organizations and social movements. Through CCF’s strategic philanthropic services, the Foundation prioritizes support for community-based organizations led by and for low-income people or people of color. www.commoncounsel.org

Primary Responsibilities May Include:

1. Develop and track knowledge of trends across social change issues throughout the U.S.
2. Coordinate multiple grantmaking programs simultaneously
3. Review proposals submitted for funding and maintain respectful relations with funding applicants, institutional philanthropies, and individual and family donors.
4. Manage the research, due diligence, and production of funding dockets for a variety of family foundations, including making strategic and effective grant recommendations
5. Detailed tracking and management of grants, with timely attention to all internal tracking systems
6. Manage grant and reporting calendars, including maintaining databases and files
7. Produce fundraising proposals and reports
8. Represent Common Counsel in a professional manner at foundation trustee and affinity group meetings
9. Participate in developing and implementing communications strategy, including website updates, writing newsletter articles, and social media

Qualifications

Required:     

• Experience working with and/or supporting community-based social justice organizations
• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a foundations program officer or nonprofit fundraiser in progressive social change movements. Alternatively CCF will consider a communications professional or journalist with strong knowledge of grassroots organizations.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience
• Excellent interpersonal, writing and verbal communication skills are a must
• Passion for racial, social and economic justice
• Ability to juggle multiple clients, projects and deadlines
• Team player; ability to work with a variety of clients and staff graciously and with a sense of humor
• Proficiency with computer systems and databases
• Written and spoken English language fluency, excellent writer

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with community organizing
• Technology skills, including database development and management, website design, and development
• Graphic Design
• Experience with strategic communications including traditional and social media, including analytics and e-news
• Familiarity with social change foundations and donors, as well as grassroots fundraising strategies
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations governing donor vehicles, including public charities, private foundations, donor advised funds, fiscal sponsorships and supporting organizations
• Skilled English language copy editor
• Spoken and written fluency in any other languages, including but not limited to, French, Spanish or West African languages

Compensation/Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience and in-line with the modest pay-scale of a public foundation
• Benefits include health, dental, vision, and employer-administered simple IRA
• 20 hour work week, with some flexibility in scheduling for both parties. Occasional evening and weekend attendance at meetings is required

To apply:

Send cover letter, resume, writing sample and references to  director [@] commoncounsel.org Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with preference given to those received by January 25th.

Common Counsel Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages women, people of color including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the Native American, the formerly incarcerated, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities, to apply. We do not discriminate in employment against persons based on age, color, race, religion, ability, gender, gender identity, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or medical condition (cancer-related) or the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS Related Conditions (ARC).