Program Officer, Economic Mobility & Opportunity Fund

Overview:

Launched in 1983 as Public Interest Projects, a 501(c)(3) public charity, NEO Philanthropy is a New York based national leader in innovative philanthropic solutions. We lead large-scale collaborative grantmaking funds on a range of social justice issues, provide fiscal sponsorship and management to projects and campaigns, manage funds on behalf of donors and develop organization and field-focused capacity building initiatives. As a philanthropic intermediary, NEO bridges the gap that often exists between funders and organizations doing a range of social justice work. Through its funder collaboratives, project partnerships, and strategic partnership programs, NEO develops sustainable partnerships among philanthropic donors and social justice advocates at the local, regional, national, and international levels.

The Economic Mobility & Opportunity (EMO) Fund at NEO Philanthropy is working to expand grant reach and engagement across the economic mobility field by piloting and learning from new grantmaking strategies and governance processes that focus on increasing the upward mobility for the 47 million people in the U.S. ages 16-64 whose annual incomes are below 200% of the federal poverty line. Prioritizing trust-based philanthropy principles, the EMO Fund has three pilot grantmaking programs with the following goals: 1) Provide flexible capacity-building and learning-based grants that increase reach and accessibility to community-based organizations working towards local action in economic mobility and historically underrepresented or underfunded networks of local leaders that can provide insights and learnings into future funding strategy decisions. 2) Support the economic mobility and opportunity ecosystem by providing more unrestricted funding to cross-cutting sector work from organizations and initiatives whose work is innovative, unique, or filling a gap for the wider economic mobility field while lessening funder burden on these organizations. 3) Develop a participatory grantmaking process to bring in more diverse voices and professionals with more proximate lived experience to the constituencies the fund aims to support to identify, prioritize, and fund critical research knowledge and data infrastructure gaps in the understanding of poverty alleviation and economic mobility. The EMO Fund is housed within NEO’s Strategic Partnerships department that develops and pilots initiatives around philanthropic practice, methods, and governance that aim to support the movement towards trust-based philanthropy, participatory decision-making, and other structures funders and donors want to partner on regarding program design, strategy, and implementation.

Position:

NEO is seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Program Officer to the Economic Mobility & Opportunity Fund to manage its grant programs. The position is committed for an 18-month period, with the possibility of an extension depending on future growth and funding. The Program Officer reports to the EMO Fund Director who also oversees NEO’s Strategic Partnerships team housing other grantmaking funds. Activities include managing a multi-million-dollar grants portfolio including working with prospective grantees to develop proposals for grant recommendations; managing and building relationships with existing grantees; learning from grantees to support strategy decisions and identifying ways to support grantee networks; and building relationships with other funders and field stakeholders to increase philanthropic coordination and contributions to the field. The EMO Fund centers the values of trust-based philanthropy and frequently uses participatory decision-making methods in its programming, convening and facilitating advisory committees towards grant decisions, so the successful candidate will have deep interest, if not experience, in learning and facilitating grant programs within a participatory approach and trust-based philanthropy principles. The program officer will work collaboratively with a small team to ensure effective support to stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, reliable and detail-oriented person with excellent judgment, communication skills, and knowledge of the economic mobility field whether at a cross-sector level or working within a specific program sector within the larger mobility from poverty field. They should have experience working in the nonprofit sector, preferably with grantmaking programs, and comfortable juggling multiple time-sensitive deliverables and workstreams. They enjoy adapting their working style to collaborate effectively with others and bringing humor and compassion to their work. They thrive in a perpetual learning environment.

Location:

NEO Philanthropy has its headquarters in NYC and the Economic Mobility & Opportunity (EMO) Fund is based in that office. NEO HQ has a hybrid work remote structure based on job function. It is our expectation that this role will be able to be fully remote, with in-person NEO/EMO Fund meetings and program convenings required 4-6 times per year. Staff can be based anywhere in the US but will have the option to select a partial or full in-office schedule if they are based in the NYC area.

Vaccine Requirement:

All NEO staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for medical and/or religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis, to the extent required by law.

Responsibilities:

• Grantmaking: Work with the Fund Director to oversee EMO Fund’s grantmaking programs in a collaborative fashion with team members to develop and implement an aligned and integrated funding program. This includes working closely with grants management and operation teams to implement grant programs; updating grantmaking guidelines and procedures; reviewing and assessing proposals and/or workplans; drafting write-ups and rationales and analyses of outcomes; conducting due diligence; and preparing briefs that summarize grantmaking decisions.
• Program Management and Supports: In collaboration with technical assistance partners, manage and implement technical assistance, capacity building, and/or other learning activities for grantee programs. Maintain strong relationships and identify opportunities, troubleshoot, and collaborate with grantees and partners to constantly strive to improve program experiences and engagements. Lead management of virtual and potential in-person convenings as needed for programming.
• Strategy Support and Committee Facilitation: Support the fund Director in iterative design and strategy of the various grantmaking advisory committees. Serve as a liaison for committee members and facilitate trainings, onboardings, strategy meetings, and grantmaking of these participatory methods. Manage workflows of committees as they intersect with grantmaking, communications and convening members.
• Evaluations and Impact: Conduct evaluations of grant programming and impact and collaboratively review and revise program strategies as needed to achieve program goals. Organize and/or participate in briefings, site visits and preparation of materials to analyze grant programs and lessons learned from advisory committees, grantees, and other stakeholders. Assist in preparing interim and final funder reports, memos, and briefs as needed.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain productive working relationships internally and externally and keep abreast of field issues and activities. Serve as liaison and connecter across all stakeholders engaged in this work—staff, grantees, technical program partners, advisory committee members, funders and the wider program field—to advance program objectives. Support development of internal and external communications and collateral as needed.

Desired qualifications:

1. Exceptional strategic and critical thinking, with expertise within the economic mobility field, likely gained through seven or more years of experience with increasing responsibility, whether at a cross-sector level or working within a specific program sector within the larger mobility from poverty field. Experiences with place-based work, local, state, or national landscapes are all welcome.
2. Experience with grantmaking, grant, and nonprofit management systems. Prior experience in participatory decision-making or similar methods/concepts preferred but not required.
3. Demonstrated skill and experience in program evaluation, designing inclusive learning spaces/experiences, and facilitating group environments.
4. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Maturity and flexibility needed to establish linkages with a diverse range of staff, grantees, partners, committee members, and donors.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to represent the EMO Fund and its programs in many environments in an engaging and dynamic manner. Has the skills, temperament and/or experience to work effectively with a remote team.
6. Ability to manage complex initiatives. A track record of aligning multiple stakeholders around shared goals, developing and executing strategic plans, and managing through change and uncertainty.
7. A “self-starter” who is able to work independently to carry out responsibilities, with the ability and energy to multi-task and adjust to a dynamic work environment.
8. Strong relationship builder and networker with ability to quickly build rapport and establish trust and respect among colleagues, our grantees, partners, and other stakeholders.
9. Commitment to social justice work, trust-based philanthropy principles, and participatory decision-making. Demonstrated experience with and commitment to centering equity and proximity to the communities served by our funding.
10. Willingness to travel for program convenings and conferences as needed.
11. A curious and creative intellect; a strong learning orientation; professional style that includes flexibility, evenness, and a sense of humor.
12. High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and database management tools, preferably Salesforce; technologically savvy and adaptable.
13. A Bachelor’s and graduate work or equivalent experience preferred.