Introduction
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment is excited to announce a call for applications to fill the new position of Program Director – Community Engagement, Chesapeake.
This is a unique opportunity to create an entirely new area of grantmaking for the Foundation. The Community Engagement Program Director will develop an annual grants portfolio and distribute a $2.5m annual grants budget, as well as additional capacity building that supports the success of our Chesapeake grantees.
The Foundation is no longer accepting resumes for this position. The deadline of Friday, March 1, 5 pm PT has passed.
Program Director – Community Engagement, Chesapeake
Job Title
Program Director – Community Engagement, Chesapeake
Position and Program Overview
The Program Director will work closely with the President to begin the Foundation’s Community Engagement Program within the Chesapeake Initiative, with a focus on the Delmarva Peninsula and Lancaster County, PA. The Community Engagement Program will engage with and serve diverse populations and constituencies, and seeks to dismantle systems that constrain the choices and opportunities of individuals.
The aim of this Program is to bring needed resources to communities based on our continuous learning about their changing needs. The Program will likely explore a range of topics such as education, economic development, healthcare, nutrition, and support for youth. This Program will take on new grantees for the Foundation, and your evaluation and candor about your learning will be paramount. Your willingness to take risks and use creative thought to find areas where we can help will be your most valuable assets. This new program has the full and enthusiastic support of the President, who you will be working closely with as you begin to build a portfolio of grantees and strategy ideas.
This is a unique opportunity to create an entirely new area of grantmaking for the Foundation. The Community Engagement Program Director will develop an annual grants portfolio and distribute a $2.5m annual grants budget, as well as additional capacity building that supports the success of our Chesapeake grantees. The idea for this Program came from the President’s desire to more actively and intentionally advance racial equity in the communities where we already have established goals and relationships. Rather than choose to fund new geographical communities, she is curious to know more about the needs of the communities where we already have a presence, and provide resources that address those needs.
The Program Director will support all aspects of the grant life cycle, including evaluation of proposals, conducting due diligence, reviewing budgets and financial information, and building and maintaining internal and external relationships. The position will report to the President, Samantha Campbell, and she and the Program Director will provide each other mutual feedback and calibrate position expectations and program goals together.
The ideal candidate for this position is curious and enthusiastic about independently formulating a new grants program that is inclusive. The candidate is comfortable with not knowing the answers right away, and excited that the opportunities for grantmaking to contribute to a more racially equitable society are plentiful. Success in this position revolves around clear communication with the President, and the generation of contacts and ideas for funding that resonate when viewed through a lens of racial equity.
There are tools in place that will help this candidate be successful, including:
- Regular and frequent meetings with the President as the Program is being developed
- A thorough onboarding/training process, including introductions to key stakeholders and other Campbell grants and Programs
- Administrative support
- Six-month, and then annual, employee reviews
- The opportunity to manage a fellowship position
Our work culture is collaborative. We encourage experimentation, learning from each other and challenging the status quo. We welcome staff to contribute new ideas and criticisms around our grants and processes. We are not heavily metric driven. Rather, we sometimes view the most important outcomes as those that are hard to measure, such as building connection between people or groups, or willingness to engage in conversation that was previously a non-starter.
Reports To
President
Location
Remote, but candidate should be located in the Mid-Atlantic region to accommodate frequent participation with in-person meetings in Annapolis, MD, Lancaster, PA and the Delmarva Peninsula. Office space at The Campbell Foundation, Annapolis office is provided if a hybrid work environment is agreed upon.
FTE Status/Hours per week
Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt
Compensation
$175,000 per year
Benefits
The Campbell Foundation offers exceptional benefits, including medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account with employer contribution, 403(b) retirement plan, generous paid leave, matching gifts, tuition assistance and wellness reimbursement.
Process
The hiring process for this candidate will include:
- A questionnaire/video submission
- Skills assessment*
- Interview with the President*
- Reference and background/credit check
- Meet & greet with staff*
*If candidates advance to these stages, they will be compensated at a standard rate of $20 per hour for time spent on submitting materials and participating in activities. They will also be reimbursed for any travel expenses.
Estimated Start Date
Week of June 3, 2024
Primary Job Duties, Roles, and Responsibilities
Program Development and Planning
- Actively explore ideas to expand the Foundation’s commitment to racial equity as a key component in our efforts to put people and communities at the center of our work
- Develop a process for Community Needs Assessments and Landscape Analysis
- Integrate advice and recommendations from the President into regional strategic plans
- Develop and manage a $2.5m grants portfolio, as well as capacity building grants for select grantees
- Remain aware of emerging issues, policies, programs, and organizations that may affect our ability to make progress
Community Building
- Build and maintain a network of partnerships with BIPOC-led and serving organizations, environmental justice organizations, community leaders, and more to inform the priorities of the Community Engagement Program
- Increase the visibility of, amplify the voices of, and encourage leadership for underrepresented communities within the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation Learning
- Understand philanthropic models for supporting BIPOC communities, and make recommendations to the Foundation
- With the support of a third-party consultant (already engaged), work with Program Directors and staff on resources and tools to better guide grantmaking through a racial equity lens
- Provide community engagement resources and guidance for Foundation staff in their own community engagement activities that affect their grantmaking
- Stay current with demographic data of our areas of geographic focus
Grants Management and Processing
- Assure that due diligence is complete, and that grants and other charitable activities contained in the Program include complete financial materials
- Review and evaluate grant proposals and supporting documentation for completeness and adherence to Foundation proposal/report lexicon
- Provide analysis of grantee budgets and other financial information based on the Foundation’s need to understand the financial health of grantee organizations
- Serve as a contact point for grantees, including providing feedback for revisions on grant materials
- During monthly grant briefings to all staff, present grants for discussion and approval.
- Properly document all information pertinent to the grants cycle, due diligence and grants decision making
- On an annual basis, assist the Chesapeake team in developing and presenting for approval a Chesapeake grants budget
- Assist with convening of meetings and workshops in cooperation with grantees and other funders as necessary
Travel
Frequent, regional
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy
The Foundation is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talents that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of our culture, reputation and achievement.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.