Overview
Park Foundation seeks nominations and applications for the position of Program Associate. Our vision for this role is to hire an enthusiastic and emerging colleague who is talented at helping across programs (including assisting with administrative tasks with team and Executive Director) and someone interested in helping coordinate events and connect internally and externally. This is a new role that will assist across our programs and operations, including help on implementation of new streamlined renewal and reporting processes and help with coordinating scheduling and connectivity for our program priorities. We believe that diversity is critical to our mission, and we value an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences related to our programs and/or applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Park Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to advancing a more just, equitable and sustainable society and environment, both nationally and in our local Ithaca community. We are principled, strategic, and fearless in our grantmaking, collaborative with our partners, and nimble and innovative in our approach. We are committed to challenging the powers that threaten an independent media, a robust democracy, and the future of our planet. Park Foundation was formed in 1966 with an original focus on education and grant-making in communities where Park Communications had interests. The Staff includes 8 team members and there are three local priority areas and five national programs that reflect the mission of the Park Foundation. These priorities include national grantmaking programs in Media, Environment, Civic Participation, Democracy, Animal Welfare and local support for Community Needs, Sustainable Ithaca and School Food and Nutrition.
Responsibilities/Focus
• Support grantmaking and administrative teams and help build connectivity across program areas:
• Support internal and external convening and event management.
• Assist Program areas to engage with grantees to build relationships and partnerships; help monitor grant progress and related matters.
• Support Executive Director and Operations team in ongoing functions such as help with grants database, scheduling, and to prepare and assist in organizing materials and functions for board meetings.
• Engage in opportunities for learning within and across programs, and in broader field of philanthropy to grow knowledge and networking skills.
• Participate in meetings with grantees and other funders and broader community partners. Support the grantmaking process throughout a grant cycle:
• Work with the Program team in helping implement a new streamlined renewal process for applicable grantees and help to bring to fruition flexible reporting processes.
• Support the team in process of grant proposal review; and help prepare and edit proposal write-ups reviews for board meetings. Work with Blackbaud, the Grants database, in supporting team on grants administration.
• Help as needed with initial review of grant proposals and reports for some Program areas, including budgets and financial reports and follow-up with grantees as needed to ensure completion and accuracy.
• Work closely with the Operations team to ensure maintenance of accurate records, tracking status of workflows, including proposal, progress reports, and financial statements. • Help with special projects as prioritized in consultation with direct supervisor. • Help with administrative and operation duties as needed.
• Help to coordinate scheduling of internal meetings, and external communication with grantee partners.
• Assist in coordination of quarterly Board meetings and other Park organized gatherings.
Qualifications, Competencies and Skill Sets
• 2 years of relevant experience in the social justice, nonprofit, environment, or philanthropic sector. Must be willing to relocate to Ithaca area if not already in the community.
• Interested in building a working knowledge of how systems of oppression work to disproportionately negatively affect minoritized individuals and communities.
• Knowledge and familiarity in at least two of the issue areas, nonprofit operations/management; and/or the field of philanthropy.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to synthesize and summarize information in a clear manner to various audiences, from grantees to Foundation leadership. • Experience coordinating multiple projects with overlapping deadlines.
• Ability to work in both a collaborative environment and self-manage independently to prioritize responsibilities. • Comfortable with administrative tasks, working with small teams, and willingness to participate in a variety of Foundation projects.
• Recognize the role of nonprofit sector; approach the work with grantee partners with humility and compassion.
• Proficient with technology, such as Microsoft Office Suite (including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and/or databases and other platforms and able to learn new programs to support the work.