Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation to invest in the immediate recovery of Louisiana’s communities after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While FFL was established in the wake of these disasters, our founders recognized the need to address the longstanding inequities that contributed to their disparate impacts and have shaped life outcomes for the most marginalized of Louisianans for centuries. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice reform, economic justice, gender justice, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Manager will work closely with other staff within the Programs department to partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to support the implementation and expansion of the TOGETHER framework. FFL’s  TOGETHER initiative is a three-part power-building strategy designed to strengthen the capacity of both residents and nonprofit organizations to engage in decision-making about issues impacting their communities. Started in 2013, TOGETHER is built upon the Foundation’s deeply held value of community wisdom and our belief that the people best prepared to build sustainable and thriving communities are the people and organizations living, working, studying, and playing in those communities. To that end, TOGETHER provides intensive skills and issue-based training in policy, advocacy, organizing, and activism. Through this collaborative process, FFL works with participants to structure aligned grantmaking strategies that work to support the needs of the community broadly while specifically ensuring any change actions emerging from the TOGETHER process are resourced. 

The Program Manager can be based anywhere in the state; however, the position will require travel to the Baton Rouge and New Orleans offices when conditions allow.  This position will also require some in-state travel, potentially eight to fifteen days per month depending on program development and pandemic conditions.  

All Foundation for Louisiana employees are currently working remotely. Office space is available in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans; however, pandemic conditions are monitored closely, and FFL observes all municipal, parish, and state guidelines as well as Center for Disease Control recommendations to prioritize the health and safety of our staff, partners, and the communities we serve.

WHO ARE YOU?

You have two years of professional experience in a community-based or nonprofit setting.  Equivalent volunteer experience will be considered.  You have supported coalitions or collaboratives, engaged in initiatives to reimagine, reform, or build systems, and supported an organization in meeting grant deliverables.  Regardless of where you are coming from you have a basic knowledge of racial, gender, and economic justice.   You are comfortable working in complex, frequently shifting contexts and approach your work in a deeply values-centered way.  You are able to take and give meaningful feedback, to challenge and be challenged in ways that are generative and productive, and approach your work with a deep commitment to learning and reflective practice.  You love Louisiana and are concerned about the most pressing issues facing this state. 

You’ll fit right in if you love to: 

• Work towards shared goals with multiple stakeholders and partners
• Use technology to perform multiple tasks and meet critical deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality 
• Use FFL’s core values (community wisdom, courage, integrity, and commitment) to serve Louisiana’s communities of color and low-income communities with an intersectional analysis of racism, specifically anti-Black racism

Want to know what it’s like to work at our office? Don’t worry, we’ll involve multiple internal stakeholders in the interview process. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The following list of duties and responsibilities is representative and may be subject to evolution and change over time.  FFL is committed to an inclusive workplace for all staff, including those with a disability, and is open to discussing disability-related accommodations to essential job functions for qualified applicants. 

Grants Management and Partner Support (50%)

• Participate in grantmaking processes to support mission-critical community-based organizations
• Ensure adherence to internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting
• Build the capacity of community-based organizations or community leaders in ways that are consistent with FFL’s strategic plan
• Document emails, visits, meetings, and calls with grant partners, ensuring the vice president/program directors are kept informed about partner progress, especially highlighting any areas of concern
• Build partnerships with diverse and cross-sector individuals and organizations across Louisiana
• Advise and provide technical assistance to grantees across the state
• Represent the program and the foundation in meetings and committees as appropriate
• Support the development and/or implementation of emerging work projects and initiatives in collaboration with other FFL program staff

Organizational Partnering & Initiatives (15%)

• Attend community meetings and other events to build and foster new relationships statewide as needed
• Compile research and best practices relevant to the Foundation’s mission and various initiatives as directed
• Occasionally represent the Foundation at conferences and meetings; stay abreast of the philanthropic field and the Foundation’s program areas through conferences and other professional activities

TOGETHER INITIATIVE/L.E.A.D.  (30%) 

• Work with FFL program officers, advisory councils, and partners to identify community needs and/or opportunities served well by the TOGETHER initiative/L.E.A.D 
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Programs, programs staff, and other FFL colleagues to assess geographic priorities for TOGETHER initiative/L.E.A.D implementations, including exploratory trips to meet potential partners and allies in parts of the state 
• Provide high-quality contract management, including developing scopes of work, managing invoicing and payment, monitoring completion of contract deliverables, and evaluating partnership success 
• Manage budgets for both specific program implementations and the program area as a whole  
• Provide/oversee administrative and logistical support for program implementations, including but not limited to processing grants to content delivery partners, ensuring IT resources are in place and accessible, securing meeting space, managing catering, creating agendas and materials, gathering/transporting supplies, documenting and archiving all program materials, and working with partners to assess accessibility needs regarding disability, language, childcare, etc. 
• Support equitable co-design of evaluation/impact assessment and learning activities associated with specific program implementations and TOGETHER initiative/L.E.A.D holistically 
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Programs to ensure program implementations are fully accessible to participants with particular attention to disability and language inclusion 

Other (5%)

• Assist the Vice President with prospect research of potential funding opportunities and/or special projects as needed
• Continually scan the field and keep abreast of the changing political climate related to the program nationally and specifically in Louisiana. 
• Share key findings, updates, and learnings both internally and externally, in alignment with FFL’s fund development and communications strategies.
• Contribute to a transparent and equitable organizational culture where ethical and equity policies and practices are understood and lived out by all staff. 
• Provide support cross-functionally as needed to advance the work of development, communications, and finance 

YOU’RE GOOD AT: 

• Performing independent and innovative work including successful design and implementation of policies and programs.  
• Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of your work 
• Time management 
• Multi-tasking 
• Prioritizing work
• Project management
• Problem-solving
• Being organized
• Communicating (verbally and in writing)
• Working with diverse groups

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU:

• Had 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in community-based or regional programs 
• Are familiar with Salesforce, Submittable, online project management applications, and cloud data storage systems 
• Speak Spanish, Vietnamese, and/or American Sign Language 

COMPENSATION

$60,000-$75,000

HOW TO APPLY

Click here for more information or to apply. Please send your resume along with a cover letter to Jamie Schmill, Vice President of Programs, Foundation for Louisiana, via email: [email protected].  Review of applications will begin on June 28, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. 

We encourage applications from people with disabilities and are available to discuss reasonable accommodations for any applicant who may need them.   To inquire about accommodations, please email [email protected] or call FFL at (504) 457-8035.  Please refrain from making phone calls for any reason other than to request application accommodations.