About the Mott Foundation

The Mott Foundation, established in 1926 by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the United States and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally. Grantmaking is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area, and Pathways to Opportunity. In addition to Flint, Michigan, offices are located in metropolitan Detroit, Johannesburg, and London. In 2014, the Foundation made more than 400 grants totaling approximately $99 million. For more information, visit www.mott.org.

About the Associate Program Officer Position

The associate program officer (APO) will report to the program officer overseeing the Civil Society Program’s United States grantmaking. This program area focuses on philanthropy and nonprofit sector infrastructure as well as on community philanthropy. The APO will manage grants under the supervision of a program officer and be responsible for all aspects of the grantmaking process, including program research, planning and development; project initiation; proposal evaluation; grant administration and monitoring; and post-grant evaluation. The APO also will participate fully in the work of the Civil Society team, helping to shape and adjust the team’s program goals, priorities, and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Respond to letters, e-mails, and telephone calls requesting general information about the Foundation’s grantmaking and/or the status of a proposal’s review.
• Draft responses to letters of inquiry and proposals that describe projects outside of the Foundation’s interests.
• Interact with grant seekers and grantees to ensure consistency of grant proposals and reports with the Foundation’s requirements, procedures, and program objectives.
• Keep abreast of pertinent developments, emerging issues and trends in assigned program area(s).
• Prepare written materials pertaining to specific grants for management and Trustee review.
• Make recommendations for future grantmaking.
• Help develop program objectives; grantmaking strategies; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches.
• Participate in Civil Society team discussions concerning program planning, management, and evaluation.
• Conduct research to contribute to program planning and monitoring, which may include attending conferences, workshops, and grantee site visits.
• Assist in the preparation of team documents for senior management and Foundation Trustees.
• Develop a general awareness of all the Foundation’s programs and objectives and work collaboratively with other staff program staff as appropriate.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Minimum three years prior experience in the nonprofit sector, with a preference to having worked for a foundation and/or a philanthropy or nonprofit sector-wide association.
• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred.
• Knowledge of issues of public policy, research, and effective practice in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.

Attributes

You may be the ideal candidate if you have the following attributes:

• You are an excellent writer.
• You have outstanding verbal communications skills.
• You are a solid analytical thinker.
• You pay close attention to detail.
• You are insatiably curious but able to focus on tasks and meet deadlines.
• You are a self-starter.
• You are a critical and integrative thinker, able to see both the forest and the trees.
• You work collaboratively, building relationships, trust, and credibility with members of a team.
• You are able to manage a diverse workload.
• You welcome feedback from interested parties as a way to improve the effectiveness of your work and strengthen the Mott Foundation’s impact.
• You have a good sense of humor.

How to Apply for This Position

Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, references, and two writing samples.

Submissions to: [email protected]

Submission Deadline: September 30, 2015

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.