Program Officer

POSITION PROFILE- PROGRAM OFFICER

kpCompanies is partnering with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to find its next Program Officer.

Are you passionate about community impact and equity? Do you excel in relationship building, grantmaking, and facilitating community-led initiatives? If you're a strategic thinker, experienced in community engagement, and ready to advance racial, social, and economic justice, we'd love to hear from you!

Please note: The Foundation envisions this role evolving over time and that the successful candidate will hold the position for a tenure of no more than 7 years.

THE ORGANIZATION: SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION

Mission

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation stands alongside communities to address systemic inequities and advance community-led solutions. The Foundation works closely with nonprofit organizations across Minnesota to strengthen communities through grantmaking, advocacy, and engagement initiatives.

Vision

We envision a just, inclusive, and equitable Minnesota where every person, regardless of their background or circumstances, can thrive. Our work is grounded in collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to dismantling oppression and fostering opportunity.

Values

At Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, our values guide everything we do:

• We Listen
• We Innovate and Learn
• Community is Our Compass
• We Commit to Equity
• We Nurture Philanthropy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Officer plays a pivotal role in collaborating with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and internal stakeholders to advance equity-focused initiatives. They are key facilitators of participatory grantmaking, aligning the Foundation's resources and processes with community priorities. The Program Officer will manage relationships, support grantmaking, and promote a culture of learning and innovation.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

The Program Officer reports directly to the Director of Advocacy, Community Engagement, and Equity (ACE) and works closely with the Community Impact team.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Partnership

• Demonstrate core organizational values in all duties, recognizing that how we work is as important as what we achieve.
• Foster positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, aligning with the goals of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, and Mardag Foundation.
• Nurture and maintain mutual partnerships with grantees through participatory processes, community engagement, and community-informed grantmaking.
• Represent the Foundation’s priorities by collaborating with nonprofits and philanthropic partners to promote and strengthen community interests.
• Stay informed on emerging trends, strategies, and best practices in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy.
• Serve as a resource and advocate for learning about community issues among staff, donors, board members, and grantee partners.
• Provide strategic partnership and leadership in community initiatives as needed.

Program Management & Administration

• Collaborate with Community Impact leaders and the ACE Director to co-create engagement, facilitation, and participatory processes for the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation grantmaking platform.
• Review grant applications, track active grants, and provide clear guidance on each foundation’s grantmaking priorities to current and prospective partners.
• Analyze and synthesize grant requests for board or staff action.
• Manage data related to grantee partners and projects within the organization’s grants management system.

Communication

• Develop and maintain effective communication with internal teams and external partners, sharing insights, opportunities, and stories through convenings, emails, and blogs.

Project Planning and Implementation

• Lead participatory grantmaking committees and facilitate community engagement sessions.
• Support the Foundation's new grantmaking processes, ensuring that community voices are integral to decision-making.

Strategic Support

• Partner with the ACE Director to advance equity and community-focused initiatives.
• Serve as a resource for the Foundation’s community learning efforts, sharing knowledge across staff, board members, and donors.

Board & Governance

• Support leadership in preparing materials and insights for board meetings, contributing to strategic discussions about community impact.

QUALIFICATIONS

Below are some of the typical requirements for the Program Officer. We recognize that skill sets can be a complex combination of experiences. Even if your background does not exactly match these requirements but you have a passion for our work, we would love to hear from you and we recognize the value of transferable skills.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit organizations, government, grantmaking, philanthropy, or community engagement. 
• Practical experience with public policy, community organizing, and/or social change movement strategies.
• Experience coaching or assisting nonprofit organizations in capacity-building efforts.
• Experience leading or managing complex projects to achieve outcomes.
• Significant experience in one or more of the following:
  • Minnesota’s Indigenous and Native communities
  • Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee communities
  • Rural community development

Skills and Abilities

• Commitment to disrupting racism and oppression in philanthropy, building a more just and equitable Minnesota.
• Effective facilitation skills with knowledge of adult learning frameworks and group decision-making processes aligned with organizational priorities, budgets, and timelines.
• Ability to build, wield, and share social and identity power at personal, institutional, and structural levels.
• Exceptional listening skills with the ability to synthesize information.
• Strong capacity to build mutual, trust-based relationships with community stakeholders.
• Excellent storytelling skills, including public speaking, community organizing, or writing reports, case studies, or blogs.
• Confidence in learning and using technology and systems to enhance organizational processes.
• Ability to collaborate effectively on multidisciplinary teams and with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Understanding of advancing community change in rural, urban, and suburban Minnesota.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation operates in a hybrid work environment, with a mix of in-person and virtual engagements. Occasional participation in on-site meetings and community events is expected.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary expectations here no later than 9:00 pm on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Please be aware that this role is a strategic position with a tenure of up to 7 years.

EQUITY AND SALARY DISCLOSURE

Salary: $95,000

We believe in practices that create real equity and pay parity regardless of background or identity. We freely discuss compensation with all qualified candidates the first time we interview them. Saving the salary discussion for the first conversation allows us to understand the needs of each candidate fully and to ensure that qualified candidates, even those who’ve historically been overlooked and/or underpaid, don’t self-select out of the processes based on salary alone, as our experience and research suggest. In addition to those who opt out, because they fear the salary may be out of reach for them, we equally don’t want to miss out on conversations with candidates who are slightly over the range when, in some cases, the total compensation, including factors such as bonuses, flexibility, and better health benefits, etc., may exceed expectations.

Finally, as a search firm, we always look for top-notch talent to introduce to our clients. Should the salary or any other requirement not be fit, there is often a chance that someone on our team is working on another position that may be a better fit for you.

If you would like to discuss your qualifications for this role and salary and compensation, call kpCompanies, and we’d be happy to discuss.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and kpCompanies are equal-opportunity employers. All employees and applicants for employment are afforded equal opportunity in every area of hiring and employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, disability, mental illness, sexual orientation, genetics, military/veteran status, citizenship, arrest record, and any other legally protected characteristic.

All submissions are received in the strictest confidence.