The Organization – The Beacon Fund:
The Beacon Fund is committed to expanding opportunities for individuals to achieve their full potential by removing systemic barriers that prevent individuals from pursuing the life they want to live and by empowering individuals to live a life of purpose, belonging, and well-being. Based in Denver, The Beacon Fund achieves its purpose through three primary initiatives: career readiness and postsecondary success; immigrant advocacy and integration; and a special interest initiative. The Beacon Fund advances the work of these initiatives through a broad set of tools, including philanthropic grants, investments, and advocacy support.
A core set of beliefs guides our organization: the power of partnership; a focus on belonging; humility in knowing that we do not have all the answers; respect for individuals to discover and engage in building a lifestyle of their choice; a commitment to taking risk and being catalytic; and an openness to adapt to ever-changing needs and to new ways of creating positive change.
Position Overview
The Beacon Fund is seeking a skilled and highly motivated leader to serve as Social Impact Officer. Beacon’s impact is driven by its shared impact model, where social impact officers flexibly work across three primary initiatives: career readiness and postsecondary success; immigrant advocacy and integration; and a general special interest initiative aimed at broader impact. The Social Impact officer will primarily focus on career readiness and postsecondary career projects. Additionally, the Social Impact Officer will support Beacon’s learning and evaluation goals, working closely with the Director of Learning & Evaluation to cultivate a learning mindset and produce insights that collectively influence the organization’s strategy and work with partners.
Core responsibilities will include managing the lifecycle of a portfolio of grants—including researching potential grantees, developing and executing grants with partners, managing relationships across a portfolio of grantees, and evaluating the strategy and impact of both individual grant investments and across multiple partners. This is a collaborative position and will require flexibility, adaptability, and a desire to learn.
Key responsibilities will include:
Managing a portfolio’s full grantmaking cycle
As part of the shared impact team, work closely with the Director of Education to identify, vet, and engage potential partners and initiatives
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective grantees
Solicit grant proposals in accordance with portfolio objectives and fund priorities and prepare materials for the fund committee to consider
Present opportunities to Beacon’s grants committee, answering pertinent questions and framing impact aspirations
Identify and track key performance indicators to measure and monitor the impact of portfolio grants—both at the individual partner and initiative level. Create mechanisms for mid-course corrections as needed
Work closely with the grants administration team to ensure seamless execution and compliance with funding guidelines
Stay current on post-secondary and workforce issues and works to flag new insights and best practices
Supporting Beacon’s learning and evaluation work
In collaboration with the Director of Learning and Evaluation, scope and manage evaluation projects in support of research agendas
As needed, provide leadership to research-related projects such as pilots and learning grants
Organize and facilitate learning conversations to help Beacon’s leadership, grantmaking, and investment colleagues develop implications for strategies, theories of change, and funding decisions and apply those insights to refine approaches
Foster organizational culture of learning, humility, and curiosity that builds the capacity of colleagues as they incorporate new methods of planning, assessment, and continual improvement into their work
In addition to these two core areas of work, the Social Impact Officer will also participate as part of Beacon Fund staff-led internal projects. These include annual strategic planning, learning engagements, and efforts to embed DEIB principles within the organization’s internal culture.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of seven years of relevant professional work experience, including experience in one of the following areas:
Philanthropy: grantmaking with social entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations
Social Impact: as a leader of a social impact organization or program
Skills & Competencies
Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead and manage complex projects in a dynamic environment
Excellent written and oral communication and facilitation skills
Strong relationship development and management with internal teammates and external partners
Ability to analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data
In addition to the technical qualifications for the role, the ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Flexibility: Comfortable with ambiguity and adept at navigating a dynamic landscape where priorities may shift, and new opportunities arise. Willingness to embrace change, think creatively about solutions, even in the face of uncertainty.
Collaboration: Demonstrates a desire and eagerness for collaborative work, excelling in team-focused environments to achieve objectives.
Humility: Approaches work and partnerships with partners humbly, prioritizing asking questions over making pronouncements. Thrives in close partnerships with others and accepts strategic directives.
Curiosity: Possesses a strong desire to learn about current work, emerging trends, and potential opportunities that advance the organization’s ability to achieve social impact goals.
Growth Mindset: Holds a deep belief in the potential for continuous development and improvement. Approaches challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth. Demonstrates a readiness to embrace new strategies, seek feedback, and refine skills.
Ownership and Self-motivation: Exhibits a strong sense of accountability. Drives forward progress and seeks solutions when confronted with challenges.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Actively integrates DEIB principles into all aspects of work, ensuring that initiatives amplify underrepresented voices, acknowledge systemic barriers, and support programs that are accessible, inclusive, and drive positive change in the communities served.
Benefits
Working at The Beacon Fund
The Beacon Fund, based in Denver, Colorado, offers a hybrid work model with three days in the office each week. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous paid time off.
Join our team for an opportunity to thrive professionally, enjoy work-life balance, and contribute to an organization dedicated to DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) and your personal growth.
How To Apply
The Beacon Fund is partnering with EK Talent for this search – please apply at https://apply.workable.com/ek-talent/j/82CBD369E7/apply/