Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Proteus Fund is a national organization focused on advancing social justice through philanthropy. The Piper Fund Program Officer, Right to Protest leads efforts to protect freedom of assembly and dissent, developing strategies for grantmaking and engaging with donors and stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Strengthen and refine the program's grantmaking theory of change, articulating a guiding approach, key values, priority issues within the field of right to protest and dissent, and geographies to ensure grantmaking aligns with Piper Fund and Piper Action Fund goals and priorities
- Manage rapid response and proactive grantmaking as threats to freedom of assembly arise, including tracking threats, prioritizing states, identifying and assessing potential grantees, reviewing and evaluating proposals, and reviewing reports for both c3 and c4 grants
- Apply a relational grantmaking approach through regular communications and proposal review processes, including requests for proposals, researching and evaluating proposals, conducting site visits, and written assessments and recommendations. Track and stay abreast of grantee progress and challenges
- Work in partnership with the Protect Dissent Network (PDN) Manager, who leads the national Protect Dissent Network (PDN), a network of over 100 diverse organizations convened by the Right to Protest program, including hosting and facilitating biweekly calls and coordinating national efforts in support of state groups
- Collaborate with the PDN Manager in planning and hosting in-person and online convenings to strengthen the network, develop strategy, deepen coordination and trust, provide shared learning opportunities, and identify core priorities
- In partnership with the PDN Manager, identify and respond to needs in the field, such as securing partnerships and providers for communications/narrative support; safety and security support; and ongoing learning needs and opportunities. Identify and develop plans to address critical gaps
- Identify and participate meaningfully in special projects that are opportunities to advance and strengthen the overall field
- In partnership with the Director, develop and sustain relationships with donors, stakeholders, and funding partners. Develop strategic communications and learning opportunities for the funding community
- Represent the organization in donor briefings and other funding spaces; communicate issue-analysis, program goals, progress, and funding needs to current and prospective funders and grantees
- In partnership with the Program Director and the Director of Strategic Partnerships, fundraise for the program by actively researching and identifying donor prospects, meeting with potential funders, and collaborating with Strategic Partnerships staff to ensure that proposals and reports have relevant and accurate programmatic information
- Seek opportunities to develop and participate in special projects and strategic partnerships to advance awareness of and support for the issue and to deepen coordination in philanthropic spaces, including partnering with philanthropy serving organizations
- Collaborate with the Program Director, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Director of Communications to develop communications materials to engage the funding community around defending freedom of assembly
- Collaborate with the Program Director, Chief Financial Officer, and other finance staff to create and monitor the annual budget for Piper's Right to Protest program
- Participate meaningfully in organization-wide efforts, such as Proteus Fund's Grantee Safety & Security Fund, the Donor Collaboratives Program Team, and scenario planning
- Play a key role in Piper team-wide activities, such as strategic planning and Piper Fund donor convenings
- For the Right to Protest program specifically, identify capacity gaps and needs, and secure contractors for additional support as needed
Skills
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years full-time professional work experience with leading organizing campaigns and/or lobbying at the state and/or local level on social justice issues
- Experience facilitating broad-based coalitions and building inclusive, trust-based, and values-aligned relationships across the field
- Advanced racial equity analysis and demonstrated commitment to building power among underrepresented communities
- Exceptional critical thinking skills and systems awareness, with the capacity to identify opportunities, challenges, and strategic responses; demonstrates an ability to design programmatic approaches that align with long-term movement goals
- Clear and compelling communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders across roles and settings; effectively adapts messaging to reflect audience, context, and cultural nuance
- Strong commitment to the mission and values of Proteus Fund as a progressive, social justice organization, including a deep investment in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
- Advocating for racial and economic justice, and/or structural democracy issues (e.g. First Amendment rights, civic space) strongly preferred
- Prior experience in philanthropy is also preferred
Benefits
- Fully remote position based anywhere in the United States near a major airport
- Minimum of 25% travel for internal meetings and retreats as well as conferences and other events
- Minimum of 40 hours per week
- Business hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm in the time zone where the candidate is located
- Proteus Fund is committed to ensuring pay equity within the organization
- Proteus Fund believes that one of the greatest strengths of an organization is the rich diversity of its staff and board, and is committed to providing equal employment and promotional opportunities based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under the law
- Proteus Fund is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals
- Proteus will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations
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