Los Angeles, CA

The Organization
The California Community Foundation (CCF) is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that administers almost 1,600 individual charitable funds to meet existing and emerging needs in the Greater Los Angeles area. CCF is one of the largest and fastest growing community foundations in the United States. With assets of more than $1.4 billion currently, CCF has awarded more than $1.7 billion in grants and received more than $1.9 billion in contributions over the past ten years. Since 1915, CCF has been helping individuals, families, corporations and nonprofits establish and develop their philanthropic visions.

We envision a future where all Angelenos thrive – a future where the productive capabilities of Angelenos contribute to the health and well-being of our communities. The fate and future of every resident is interwoven, and our success as a community will be defined by how we improve the quality of life of all residents, especially our most vulnerable. We also envision a future in which more donors impact the challenges of Los Angeles and beyond, fulfilling their passions and creating a diverse spectrum of opportunities and philanthropic legacies.

For 100 years, the passion of our living and legacy donors has defined and built the California Community Foundation. Their generosity and dreams for a better tomorrow make our drive for meaningful social change possible. We partner with individuals and families to not only pursue their own personal passions but to collaborate with us, along with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, in transforming Los Angeles County.

Position Overview
Reporting to the Vice President of Civic Engagement and Public Policy, the Program Officer helps to inform strategies and advance goals for the department’s civic engagement portfolio. Specific responsibilities and priorities of the position include managing grant programs; mapping and evaluating the field; managing special initiatives/coalitions; building and maintaining strategic partnerships with foundations, public, and private sectors; engaging community partners; and supporting integration of civic engagement strategies internally across grantmaking areas. This position requires experience and leadership skills to effectively represent the foundation’s values, and pursuit of its mission.

Major Responsibilities

Program Development and Management:  In conjunction with the vice president (VP), develops and implements the goals, activities, and overall strategy for the foundation’s civic engagement work.  Reviews and revises program strategies on an ongoing basis.  Collaborates and coordinates with other funders externally and grantmakers internally when appropriate.  Oversees budgetary resources and expenditures.

External Engagement and Relations:  Works with key business, philanthropic, community and government stakeholders to advance CCF and program strategies.  Finds alignment and builds necessary relationships, alliances and opportunities for coordination.   This involves building partnerships and coalitions across various sectors.  Represents and provides information about the initiatives and CCF at community events and meetings with foundation partners, constituencies, and stakeholder groups.

Development and Grantmaking:  Leads the review, analysis, and selection of proposals through written materials, site visits, interviews with other funders and relevant agencies.  Processes grantmaking through GE software.  Working with the vice president, identifies and pursues opportunities to bring in funding partners, prepares grant proposals, and project reports, as needed or requested.  Builds strong working relationships with CCF grantmaker community and frequently works collaboratively with peers, external funders, or CCF donors.

Communications:  Works with communications department to consider communications strategies that support and advance programmatic goals.  Drafts internal materials such as briefing memos and external materials such as reports to funders and partners.  Prepares and delivers presentations both internally and externally.  Participates as a member of related committees, teams, coalitions and working groups.

Internal Integration of Work: Identifies opportunities for and integrates the functions and skills of civic engagement, marketing and communications and development and donor relations into their grantmaking to increase focus on systemic change. Engages with internal and external resources to secure necessary competencies. Collaborates across CCF programs and functions and embraces cross-program initiatives and systems change pursuits.  Embraces CCF’s vision of functioning as an integrated foundation where all staff supports our various functions as communicators, fundraisers and grantmakers.

Management: Serves as a member of the foundation’s management team, attending management team meetings, completing assignments as required, and coordinating work between departments and with external vendors, as necessary. Identifies and pursues opportunities for internal integration of work across functions and departments to make connections and leverage the strengths and efforts of CCF.

General: As appropriate, assists other departments and works as a member of interdepartmental teams to ensure the effective and efficient operations of CCF. At all times, demonstrates cooperative behavior with supervisors and coworkers.  Other duties as assigned, dependent on organizational needs and employee skills.

Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with or in a public or nonprofit agency focused on civic engagement (in particular knowledge and experience in voter engagement), government affairs, and advocacy required.  Experience leading and evaluating voter engagement programs as well as collaboratives or coalitions a plus. Multisector experience is also a plus.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.  Advanced degree preferred.

Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.  Works closely with and in frequent communication with Vice President of Civic Engagement and Public Policy and other members of CCF Leadership Team.

Ability to prepare and give presentations, and to comfortably interact with diverse audiences including foundation staff, CCF Board members, elected and appointed officials, as well as nonprofit and community groups. Conversational fluency in a second language is highly desirable.

Community Knowledge:  Knowledge of the Los Angeles County nonprofit community, government agencies, elected officials and civic leadership.  Working knowledge of distinct geographies and diverse neighborhoods that make up the region.  And experience in working effectively with diverse and broad-based community constituencies.

Subject Matter Expertise:  Posses a broad based expertise with various forms of civic engagement (e.g. voter engagement, community organizing, grassroots leadership development) and local, legislative, administrative advocacy.  Serves as a thought leader in the field of civic engagement by building a rapport with other leaders in the field and contributing to its vision and direction within Los Angeles County.  Understands the landscape of civic engagement in the region and its diverse communities.  Exercises an understanding of the political culture and environs of Los Angeles County.

Technology Skills:  Internet competency and strong computer proficiency, including mastery of the Microsoft Office software suite and a familiarity with database software, is required. Familiarity with Social Media platforms, especially as they might intersect with our focus area.  Working knowledge of Blackbaud software preferred, with a willingness and ability to learn appropriate database, spreadsheet and other computer programs.

Project Management Skills: Proven project management experience necessary.  Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.  Experience with budgets.  Ability to prioritize work, adjust to multiple demands and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment with shifting priorities.  Ability to analyze and provide solutions (programmatic and strategic) to complex problems.  Ability to work independently with little direction, taking vision to project.

Team Work & General Skills:  Ability to work well independently and as team member.  Ability to take initiative, and follow tasks through to completion. Ability to lead a team toward the initiative’s and CCF’s goals, leveraging each team member’s skill set.

Working Conditions: Requires the ability to sit and work at a desk for several hours at a time.

Requires the ability to travel and attend meetings, presentations and events outside the office, which may require occasional use of a motor vehicle for transportation to other locations. Due to the nature of external appointments and/or responsibilities requiring travel to locations not easily accessible by public transportation, driving is an essential job responsibility for this position. This position is required to be available to speak with clients and/or others while away from the office and/or with clients and/or others located in other time zones outside foundation business hours.Work may require occasional weekends and/or extended work day. Punctuality and satisfactory attendance are essential functions of the job.

Compensation: This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. A generous benefit package is provided to all full-time staff, including medical, dental, vision, LTD, life, FSAs and retirement benefits.