Advisor, Art for Justice Fund (RPA)

Who We Are

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) is a nonprofit organization that currently advises on and manages more than $200 million in annual giving by individuals, families, corporations and major foundations. Continuing the Rockefeller family’s legacy of thoughtful, effective philanthropy, RPA remains at the forefront of philanthropic growth and innovation, with a diverse team led by experienced grantmakers with significant depth of knowledge across the spectrum of issue areas. Founded in 2002, RPA has grown into one of the world’s largest philanthropic service organizations and, as a whole, has facilitated more than $3 billion in grantmaking to nearly 70 countries. RPA serves as a fiscal sponsor for more than 50 projects, providing governance, management and operational infrastructure to support their charitable purposes. For more information, please go to www.rockpa.org.

Who We Seek

We seek an enthusiastic, self-starter that has passion for RPA’s mission and values, and a commitment to excellence. The individual must have a strong nonprofit background with an exceptional project management, client service orientation, and ability to be a strong team participant. Candidate should demonstrate commitment to RPA’s values of integrity, diversity, quality and trust.

Primary Responsibilities

The Advisor will maintain a focus on executing the grantmaking function of the Art for Justice Fund, coordinating necessary programmatic and grantmaking resources, and establishing relationships with both donors and grantees. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the initiative with specific duties that include: facilitating Governing Board activities and communications; acting as an RPA liaison with the Ford Foundation program team; serving as a key contact with Fund donors; and supporting communications activities related to the Fund.

Grant and Program Management

Work closely with Ford and RPA program team to ensure that grant award and implementation efforts align with the approved program strategy
Develop a protocol for monitoring grant award activities with Ford Foundation program staff and RPA Advisory staff to ensure effective implementation
Administer, execute and monitor independent contractor, vendor and related agreements for the Project
Liaise with RPA Advisory, Finance and Grants Management teams to ensure seamless execution of program grants
Provide guidance to grantees as needed on communication and implementation strategies that support the overall objectives of the Fund
Earn the trust of grantees to learn of their successes as well as their challenges and serve as a troubleshooter where appropriate

Fund Governance and Oversight

Facilitate communications and governance activities for the project’s Governing Board
Lead preparation and distribution of docket and manage logistics for two Governing Board meetings annually
Collaborate with all internal and external providers of content for the docket and certify completeness prior to distribution
Work closely with RPA Finance team to manage grant outlays and project expense projections and develop financial reporting systems to the Ford Foundation and others
Act as project liaison between the Ford Foundation and RPA communications teams and communications consultants to ensure that all stakeholders receive consistent, timely and relevant information
Anticipate challenges so they can be addressed in a responsible and timely fashion

Donor Development and Stewardship

Working closely with RPA and the Ford Foundation, identify key external partnerships that create donor awareness, receptivity and active participation in the Fund
Working closely with the RPA and the Ford Foundation, cultivate relationships with key influencers in the arts, rights, criminal justice and other relevant donor communities
Contribute to the production of customized events for potential and current donors
Manage and regularly report on the project’s donor pipeline, tangible commitments, potential challenges and fulfilled obligations
Work closely with RPA and Ford Foundation communications teams in the development of external publications, newsletters and donor events
Provide content expertise in the co-development of publications and symposia about criminal justice reform for broader distribution
Participate in or coordinate speaking engagements as directed by Governing Board, RPA leadership or Ford Foundation

Desired Qualifications

BA and advanced degree or equivalent required
Three to five years of demonstrated project management experience
Commitment to RPA’s values of integrity, trust, diversity and quality
Exceptional relationship management skills, with demonstrated experience managing internal and external relationships
Three to five years of experience in criminal justice reform, arts, advocacy, or related fields.
Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, meet deadlines and accept new challenges
Ability and judgment to know when to lead from ahead and when to lead from behind in a supportive capacity. Acumen that permits equal comfort leading or participating in organization initiatives
Experienced, creative and direct communicator
Exceptional writing skills
Process-oriented thinker, with the ability to develop efficient processes and systems