Capacity Building Officer, RISE Together Fund

ABOUT PROTEUS FUND

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support, both through collaborative grantmaking and other efforts, a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories. Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives which play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

To date, Proteus Fund, and its affiliated 501c4 organization, the Proteus Action League, have distributed more than $300 million in grants, and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Proteus Fund is a national organization with offices in New York, NY and Metro Boston, MA, as well as remote staff across the country.

ABOUT RISE TOGETHER FUND AND RISE ACTION

The RISE Together Fund (RTF) and RISE Together Action Fund (RTAF) support cutting-edge Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (BAMEMSA) field-led work. RTF bolsters its national grantmaking with programming, field building, and technical assistance to build and expand the capacity of the BAMEMSA movement toward racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and a fully inclusive and representative democracy. Since 2008, RTF has funded directly impacted voices to lead policy and social change in BAMEMSA communities. RTF is the first and only national donor collaborative dedicated to supporting the critical work of BAMEMSA individuals and organizations facing anti-Muslim targeting, hate crimes, and xenophobia. RTF’s grantees span 22 states and since 2008, RTF has granted nearly $30 million and reached more than 500 organizations. You can learn more about RTF’s 5-year strategic plan here.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Under the supervision of the RISE Together Fund Program Director, the Capacity Building Officer develops, executes, and evaluates program development strategies in furtherance of RTF and RTAF goals to build BAMEMSA community power toward a just and inclusive multiracial democracy. Specifically, the Capacity Building Officer plays a critical role in strengthening the effectiveness, sustainability, and impact of nonprofit organizations and networks within the RTF and RTAF ecosystem. Focused on organizational growth and development, this position, new to RTF and RTAF, designs and implements programs that provide grantees and field partners with tools, resources, and strategies to enhance their operational capacity, leadership skills, and program delivery. By assessing needs, facilitating training, and fostering peer learning opportunities, the Capacity Building Officer ensures organizations are equipped to achieve their missions and drive systemic change. This role also collaborates closely with program officers and external partners to align capacity-building efforts with broader grantmaking and strategic goals, advancing equity and justice across communities served. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with experience in organizational and field capacity building, organizational and leadership development, program design, and collaborative partnerships.

This is a full-time (40 hour per week) U.S.-based remote position. 

Proteus Fund welcomes everyone to our team. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ, women, non-binary people, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Development and Implementation
  • Design, implement, and manage capacity-building initiatives, including workshops, technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, and leadership development that align with organizational goals and address the internal or external operational and programmatic needs of grantees and partners.
  • Conduct assessments, surveys, and consultations to identify organizational strengths, challenges, and capacity-building priorities and programmatic needs of grantees and field partners to develop tailored capacity-building strategies.
  • Identify and engage consultants, trainers, and technical experts to deliver high-quality support services and oversee the implementation of capacity-building programs, including workshops, training sessions, technical assistance, and peer learning networks.
  • Establish clear objectives, outcomes, and performance metrics for capacity-building programs to guide implementation and evaluation.
  • Develop tools, resources, and frameworks to help grantees strengthen their internal systems, governance, and program execution.
• Grantee and Field Partner Engagement
  • In coordination with program officers, build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with grantees, field partners, and stakeholders.
  • Serve as a thought partner and resource to grantees, providing ongoing support and identifying opportunities for collaboration and growth.
  • Facilitate peer learning networks, communities of practice, and other collaborative spaces to promote shared learning and knowledge exchange.
  • Support grantees in navigating challenges and implementing solutions that enhance organizational effectiveness and impact.
  • Manage logistics for events, meetings, and program activities, ensuring smooth execution and participation.
• Collaboration with Program Officers and Stakeholders
  • Work closely with program officers to assess grantee capacity-building needs and align support services with broader grantmaking goals.
  • Provide technical assistance and strategic input to program officers on integrating capacity-building opportunities into their grant strategies.
  • With program officers, serve as a liaison between grantees and consultants, ensuring effective implementation and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
  • Collect and analyze data to evaluate and identify movement wide as well as grantee and field partner trends, threats and opportunities to inform program development as well as improvements.
  • With program officer, develop and track relevant grantee and field partner needs, trends, challenges and developments to help inform programming and assess efficacy.
  • Conduct evaluative research as needed with consultants and in coordination with program officers to assess needs and develop recommendations for programming and interventions.
  • Develop and track metrics to measure the effectiveness of capacity-building programs and assess outcomes.
  • Maintain accurate records of program activities, budgets, and participant feedback, and prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Create and share reports, case studies, and best practices to highlight successes and lessons learned.
  • Continuously adapt approaches based on feedback and emerging needs.
• Strategic and Organizational Contributions
  • Contribute to the overall strategy and direction of the organization, ensuring capacity-building efforts align with mission and values.
  • Represent the organization at conferences, meetings, and external events to share insights and learnings.
  • Stay up-to-date on trends and innovations in capacity building, nonprofit management, and philanthropy to inform program strategies.
  • Collaborate across teams to advance organizational goals and priorities.
• Budget Development and Management
  • Develop and manage budgets for capacity-building programs, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and grantmaking strategies.
  • Monitor expenditures and track program costs to ensure efficient use of resources and adherence to funding requirements.
  • Collaborate with program officers and leadership to allocate funding and resources effectively across capacity-building initiatives.
  • Prepare and present financial reports and forecasts related to capacity-building programs to leadership, funders, and stakeholders.
  • Support the development of proposals and budgets for securing funding to sustain and expand capacity-building initiatives.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Capacity Building Officer has six years+ of experience in organizational leadership positions building programming to support organizational development and capacity building within national, state or local movements. They possess a deep understanding of the BAMEMSA experience and a track record of working with diverse communities. Proteus Fund welcomes experience from professional, volunteer, freelance, consulting and academic backgrounds.

Additional requirements and experience include:

• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with non-profit operational systems, legal compliance structures or obligations, including those related to 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 entities.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple high-priority tasks and responsibilities under tight deadlines and schedules while inspiring others to do the same.
• Excellent writing, editing, and research skills. Strong attention to detail.
• Ability and willingness to adapt as goals and community needs shift.
• Strong financial acumen to review and manage budgets.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, including the ability to facilitate disagreement.
• Experience with identifying and stewarding new relationships, especially along lines of difference.
• We value candidates who can demonstrate capability and articulate how prior experiences will help them transition into this role.

Alignment to Culture and Values

• Commitment to vision and mission of Proteus Fund as a progressive social justice organization.
• Cultural responsiveness and an alignment with our values and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Strong relationship building skills, high ethical standards, discretion, and tact.
• Personal qualities of humility and empathy.
• Commitment to the mission and values of progressive social justice movements and RTF’s commitment to resourcing the BAMEMSA field equitably.
• Cultural responsiveness and an alignment with our values and commitment to equity and inclusion.

COMPENSATION

The starting salary for this role is $107,444-$130,008 and is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, skill set level, years of previous/applicable experience, and Proteus Fund's commitment to ensuring pay equity within the organization. The recruiting team will share more details regarding salary bands based on the candidate's specific geographic location as well as the other factors noted above. Salary is one part of the total compensation that Proteus Fund provides to employees.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Please note, in an effort to maintain and safeguard staff's health, well-being, and safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated prior to their employment and adhere to the regular upkeep of COVID-19 vaccination requirements as per CDC recommendations while employed. Proof of the CDC-recommended level of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus Fund.