The Organization
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund (WPF) is a private grantmaking foundation dedicated to advancing the realization of human rights and social and economic justice for all people. With offices in New York, NY and Washington, DC, Wellspring’s work is rooted in respect for the dignity and worth of every human being and is informed by the following beliefs:
• Social institutions and structures should promote the full realization of human rights and human potential and should be accountable to these ends.
• The rights of all people are advanced when the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable peoples are protected.
• Social justice movements should employ means that are consistent with their ideals and should give agency to the people whose interests they seek to advance.
• As responsible stewards, we must strive to maximize the impact of our charitable investments.
Core to Wellspring’s commitment to social justice, the Racial Justice Program (RJP) seeks to confront and dismantle entrenched racism and related intersecting systems of oppression, and to build a racially just society in which Black people in all their diversity experience liberation, safety, and dignity. WPF now seeks a Program Officer to join its Racial Justice Program (RJP) who will lead a new portfolio of work dedicated to transforming the United States’ racialized economic system. This new Liberation Economy theme aims to build a more inclusive economy in which Black people and all people of color have their basic economic needs met, have economic safety and security, have their labor properly valued and compensated, and are able to leverage economic power to improve life chances. The Program Officer will be the first to oversee development and implementation of a grantmaking strategy designed to achieve these objectives:
• Advancement in national economic policies that reduce racial inequity and increase racial justice by strengthening organization and field capacity.
• Elevated research and analyses of racial impacts in policymaker and public discourse by expanding strategies, capacity, and tools.
• Expansion of fair chances to work for people with criminal histories by removing barriers to employment.
Position Overview
For the full job description: https://wpfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Program-Officer-RJ-Job-Announcement.pdf
Under the direction of the Racial Justice Program Director, the Racial Justice Program Officer will work in close collaboration with six program teammates, colleagues in the Economic Justice Program, as well as staff across the foundation. The Program Officer’s responsibilities fall in three broad categories, each of which is central to the role:
Strategy and Grantmaking
• Develop, refine, and implement grantmaking priorities and strategic approaches to advance the program’s theory of change, goals, objectives, and outcomes and contribute to strategic learning, research, evaluation, and program adaptation.
• Monitor new developments and trends in the field and provide analyses to synthesize implications for the program and ensure that Wellspring’s resources are directed appropriately toward the highest level of impact.
• Identify potential grantees and invite grantmaking proposals; build relationships and trust with prospective grantees and partners; conduct due diligence; and write grant recommendations.
• Effectively manage grantee relationships, review progress reports, conduct evaluations of grantee programs, and monitor use of grant funds.
• Act as a connector between grantees and partners, strengthening relationships across sectors and seeking opportunities for collaboration.
• Ensure adherence to internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, data entry, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the department of Learning and Evaluation to develop ways to evaluate grants and share learnings.
External Relations
• Engage with peer funders and external stakeholders working in fields relevant to the RJ Program by sharing best practices and integrating new learnings into the portfolio.
• Take part in creative use of learning processes, conferences, convenings, co-funding partnerships, pooled funds, and other tools to promote common and complementary grantmaking agendas and advance learning in the philanthropic and advocacy sectors.
• Participate on panels at funder conferences and other learning opportunities highlighting WPF’s grantees’ work and progress made under the program’s grantmaking strategy.
• Remain well-connected to key actors in the field and understand what new and deepening opportunities exist to lift up and support communities on the ground.
Organizational Engagement
• Support and contribute to the RJ Program team development and infrastructure, including weekly meetings and annual retreats.
• Shape and participate in internal program presentations and opportunities for shared learning.
• Advance institution‐wide initiatives, including by serving on internal committees and/or task forces.
• Contribute to educating and engaging Wellspring’s donors, leadership, other staff members, and public audiences on issues and develop program communication materials, in collaboration with the team and other Wellspring departments.
How To Apply
More information about Wellspring Philanthropic Fund may be found at: wpfund.org
This search is being led by Carolyn Ho and Chaz Chapman of NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation, please let us know.