North Star Fund, a community foundation, is seeking a creative, detail oriented grants manager to fill the Program Associate position. The Program Associate’s overall responsibilities include: 1) coordinating our activist-led grant making programs; 2) reporting and developing stories for our online and print materials; and 3) assisting as needed with donor programming and grants reporting.

Founded in 1979, North Star Fund is New York City’s community foundation supporting grassroots groups leading the movement for equality, economic justice and peace. Since its founding, North Star Fund has awarded over 27 million dollars to 3700 organizations. As a community foundation, North Star Fund raises the majority of its annual operating and program budget through a network of individual donors, foundation partnerships and an annual special event.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Associate reports to the Deputy Director for Programs, and must possess outstanding administrative and coordination skills, be detail oriented, and provide energy, imagination and strong leadership to link North Star Fund’s programming goals and technical assistance with our development efforts. As directed by the Deputy Director for Programs, specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinate all aspects of our activist-led grants programs including grants administration and recruitment of the Community Funding Committee (CFC), which is comprised of activists and organizers from our diverse stakeholder community;
• Working closely with the development team, evaluate and report (through online and printed publications) on our strategic grants impact; manage the grants database, and in collaboration with the CFC and our grantees, monitor and evaluate the organizing and advocacy needs in the communities we support;
• Coordinate North Star’s technical assistance program including partnerships with other foundations, helping to raise resources to expand the technical assistance program, and developing events and workshops to build our grantees’ skills and capacities;
• Assist with donor education and cultivation, research, media outreach and participate in development events and activities;
• Assist with our donor advised grants program and administration;
• Develop and manage grants budgets, and assist the Deputy Director for Programs with the administrative and reporting requirements of our foundation partnerships and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• A progressive philosophy and political vision compatible with the North Star Fund’s mission to “fund change beyond charity,” and the ability to work with diverse grantee and donor constituencies is essential;
• 2 – 5 years of community organizing or advocacy experience in the progressive, non-profit or philanthropic sectors; knowledge and experience with New York City grassroots politics and issues;
• candidates with experience in community organizing and grants administration will be prioritized;
• Outstanding attention to detail and administrative skills;
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral);
• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to cross-class and inter-group issues;
• Strong computer skills, particularly web content development.

Compensation

This position will focus primarily on grants administration and management, with time devoted to working as part of a team to develop grants and social movement building strategies. It is ideally suited for community organizers seeking a transition into the foundation sector, or a grants administrator with a social change background who wants to improve their grant craft. It will offer a competitive salary in the progressive philanthropic sector, based on experience and qualifications, and the position includes an excellent fringe benefits package.

The North Star Fund is firmly committed to affirmative action and strongly encourages people of color, women, LGBT, elderly and disabled candidates to apply. We appreciate all applicants but please be advised that North Star Fund is able to respond only to those best qualified for the position.

To apply: Send cover letter, resume, salary requirements, 2 references to:

Email: pasearch@northstarfund.org with “Program Associate candidate” as subject line.

Mail: North Star Fund, Attn: Program Associate Search. 520 8th Ave, Rm. 2203, NY, NY 10018-6656

Application deadline: rolling with hire expected by late August to September.

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