JOB SUMMARY

Wellspring Advisors, a private philanthropic consulting firm, seeks a NY‐based Program Officer to join its SOGI Program. The mission of the SOGI program is to improve the lives of LGBT people and to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. It does this through support for organizations that promote both formal and lived equality, reflecting the belief that laws, policies, and social norms must be changed in order to improve LGBT people’s lives. 

The SOGI Program supports both domestic and international LGBT organizations. This position is for a Program Officer who would oversee one or more domestic thematic areas. The work consists of building and maintaining close relationships with grantees, soliciting and reviewing proposals, evaluating grants, and participating in funder collaboratives. Additional responsibilities include on‐going development and implementation of funding strategies and grantmaking best practices. The Program Officer would work alongside two other Program Officers and under the direction of the Program Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy

• Under the guidance of the Program Director, develop strategic approaches that respond to established priorities and proactively research grantmaking opportunities and challenges.
• Monitor developments in the field to identify emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities.
  • Write strategy and background papers to present and explain sets of proposed grantees and levels of funding.
  • Work with Wellspring’s Director of Research and Evaluation and other staff to integrate measurement and evaluation as well as capacity‐building and technical assistance throughout the program internally and among grantees.
  • Partner with staff from other Wellspring program areas.

Grantmaking

• Undertake initial screening of potential grantees; manage grantee relationships; analyze and assess background information; conduct site visits; solicit and develop funding proposals; determine appropriate funding levels (in compliance with Wellspring guidelines); and prepare grant recommendations. 
• Review progress reports, conduct evaluations of grantee programs, and monitor use of grant funds.
• Stay abreast of new developments and trends and provide analysis to synthesize implications for the program.
• Ensure adherence to internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting.

External Relations

• Create yearly work plans, annual reports, and undertake other activities to educate donor clients on issues related to the SOGI Program.
• Exercise leadership through active engagement with peer funders and civil society organizations working in fields relevant to the SOGI Program, including LGBT rights, criminal justice, immigration, reproductive rights and justice, and school reform.
• Identify appropriate partners and funder collaboratives to advance grantmaking strategies including, as appropriate, organizing and participating in conferences and workshops. 

Organizational engagement

• Actively participate in the advancement of organization‐wide initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of seven years of experience with a social justice organization or in philanthropy.
• Extensive knowledge of the domestic LGBT rights field and demonstrated ability to think and work intersectionally, particularly with regard to race, class and gender.
• Experience working in coalition across a range of progressive movements and with a diverse set of actors.
• Knowledge of other social justice issues, such as school discipline, immigration, and police/criminal justice reform, and the impact of systems and institutions on marginalized communities.
• Bachelor’s degree minimum; advanced degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Ability to travel extensively (50% time).
  • Excellent research, analytical, writing and communication skills.
  • Ability to think strategically and establish individual and programmatic goals and priorities.
  • Ability to establish and maintain close, collegial working relationships both internally and externally.
  • Ability to work independently and manage own time.
  • Ability to plan and manage multiple priorities on different timelines.
  • Ability to handle confidential donor‐client client information with complete discretion.
  • Good judgment and a good sense of humor. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary range: $100,000‐$120,000 based on experience. Wellspring offers a very generous benefits package including payment of 100% of the health insurance premiums for employees (and 80% of the premiums for spouses, domestic partners and qualified family members. Wellspring also offers life insurance, long‐term disability protection, a group 401(k) retirement plan and is committed to providing transgender‐inclusive healthcare.

ABOUT WELLSPRING

Established in 2001, Wellspring is a private philanthropic consulting firm that coordinates grantmaking programs that advance the realization of human rights and social and economic justice for all people. Wellspring has offices in New York, NY, and Washington, DC.

Wellspring’s work is rooted in respect for the dignity and worth of every human being and is informed by the following beliefs:

• Social institutions and structures should promote the full realization of human rights and human potential, and should be accountable to these ends.
  • The rights of all people are advanced when the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable peoples are protected.
  • Social justice movements should employ means that are consistent with their ideals, and should give agency to the people whose interests they seek to advance.
  • As responsible stewards, we must strive to maximize the impact of our charitable investments.

The firm’s services include: working with donors to develop, implement and administer giving programs that meet their philanthropic goals; conducting research and education tailored to the interests of our donors; managing programs, administering grants and monitoring grantee performance; and working to promote the effectiveness of programs that receive donor funding.

Wellspring Advisors, LLC, hires, promotes and retains employees based on their professional qualifications, demonstrated abilities and work performance, as well as on the degree to which these qualities are required in the employment positions made available by the Firm’s service needs and business requirements.

All personnel decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, domestic partner status, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (each a “protected characteristic”). This policy applies to all our activities, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, discipline and discharge. This policy also bans discriminatory harassment.