The Organization
Central Carolina Community Foundation (CCCF) is a public foundation, located in the heart of Columbia’s Bull Street District, with assets of $200+ million and an active and varied grants program of more than $15 million annually. We are dedicated to promoting, increasing, and facilitating philanthropy across 11 counties in the Midlands of South Carolina. Our role as a catalyst for philanthropy, a community builder, collaborator, and provider of grants and scholarships continues to grow. The Program Officer plays an important role at the Foundation as a vital member of the Foundation’s Community Investment Team and working to advance the Foundation’s mission to improve quality of life in the Midlands region.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Vice President for Community Investment (VPCI), the Community Investment Program Officer will oversee assigned grant portfolios and community engagement work to advance the Foundation’s mission, message, and resources to improve quality of life in the Midlands region. You must have a clear understanding and commitment to the Foundation’s mission, vision, and promises. You will use your deep understanding of and love for the community to administer the Foundation’s assigned competitive grant programs, use our available data efficiently to continuously improve our work, and provide outstanding client service as the Foundation’s first point of contact in the community. You must be a mission-driven individual with a commitment to philanthropy, respect for nonprofits, and strong values of partnership and equity.
Responsibilities
- Oversee grantmaking for assigned competitive grants
- Manage grant teams to ensure clear communication, shared outcomes, highly organized and timely processes, and efficient grantmaking.
- Fully utilize the Foundation’s online grantmaking software to include building and processing grant applications, communicating with applicants, performing nonprofit due diligence, facilitating committee reviews, awarding funds, and ensuring all grant records are accurate and complete.
- Work closely with Marketing and Communications to ensure donors, nonprofits and the community are informed of grant opportunities and impacts.
- Review, summarize and report grant outcomes to donors, Board of Trustees, staff, and other stakeholders.
- Continually apply lessons learned to inform and improve the Foundation’s grantmaking.
- Accurately apply the guidelines and processes for all grants, grant recipients and funds.
- Working closely with members of the Community Investment team as well as other Foundation departments to ensure grants align with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
- Build and maintain relationships with nonprofit organizations, fund advisors, volunteers, and the community
- Establish relationships and a working knowledge of nonprofits serving the Midlands, to include those outside Richland County and those led by a Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color.
- Develop trusting relationships with grantees, conduct site visits and check-in calls, and attend grantee events as appropriate.
- Manage grant review committees, ensuring clear directions and expectations, respect of members time and talents, and committee decisions align with the Foundation’s values and goals.
- Serve as the main point of contact for assigned funds. Conduct regular and relevant communication with fund advisors to ensure grant process is rewarding, transparent and meeting donor intent.
- Serve as the Foundation representative on assigned community committees and coalitions and at community events.
- Demonstrate expertise and initiative
- Serve as the in-house specialist on livability, community well-being, and working with marginalized and excluded communities and geographies.
- Incorporate equity, inclusion, and access into Foundation grantmaking.
- Demonstrate initiative in identifying and applying best and emerging practices in philanthropy and partnership development and collaboration.
- Apply a clear understanding of nonprofit best practices, processes and procedures, culture, and norms into Foundation grantmaking, communication, and events.
- Additional Foundation responsibilities include:
- Assist with all Foundation events as requested, including but not limited to giving days, nonprofit trainings, Board meetings, and donor events.
- Support grant entry as needed during busy times throughout the year.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The Program Officer must be a mission-driven individual with a commitment to philanthropy and community and strong values of partnership and equity. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in the programmatic work of CCCF and a desire to contribute by developing and implementing grant process that can support the Foundation’s mission. The candidate should be adept in managing multiple project teams made up of staff, interns and/or community and corporate volunteers. The candidate will demonstrate initiative and be self-directed in all tasks as well as organized and have an exceptional attention to detail. The position requires someone who can balance a range of responsibilities and work proactively to address the organization’s functional needs and the needs of our constituents. Candidate must demonstrate a love of the community, be solution focused and place extreme importance on building and maintaining equitable, trusting relationships.
Ideal Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years’ experience in the fields of philanthropy, community engagement, and/or nonprofit program planning/implementation/evaluation
- Experience working in a leadership role at a nonprofit
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities, including communities of color and rural communities
- Project management and/or grant management experience, including experience delegating tasks, and providing sufficient follow-up
- Experience managing project teams with diverse skills and complex, multiple tasks
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access at the individual, organization, community, and institution levels
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office Suite and database management
- Able to problem-solve, remain solution-focused and constantly improve Foundation procedures
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to be self-directed in all tasks
- Ability to plan, prioritize, and work on various projects and meet deadlines
- Comfortable managing multiple projects and being flexible to changing priorities, while maintaining a strong attention to detail
- Must be a team player/leader who readily collaborates
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills among diverse stakeholder and constituent groups
- Ability to approach situations and challenges with empathy and a sense of humor
This position may require occasional weekends and/or extended workdays
Compensation
- A team-oriented, performance excellence culture
- A fantastic, collaborative work environment
- A full-time, exempt position with flex-time options
- A generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, life, and retirement benefits.
- Salary Range: $55,000-$60,000
How To Apply
Thank you for your interest in this opportunity! Central Carolina Community Foundation has engaged Find Great People to assist with professional recruitment. Interested candidates should submit their resume to the job posting linked here: Website
Additional inquiries may be directed to Mattie Abrams at Find Great People, mabrams@fgp.com (803)719-5547.
Central Carolina Community Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.