Thank you for your interest in joining the Coastal Community Foundation team. Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer with offices in North Charleston and Beaufort, as well as three affiliate foundations. We serve all nine counties on South Carolina's coast: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties. Established in 1974, Coastal Community Foundation works to create vibrant communities by identifying the challenges facing the region and bringing together resources to address them. Coastal Community Foundation is the largest community foundation in South Carolina, managing more than 700 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations and awarding tens of millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year. Financial resources are among the many tools we employ in our effort to create vibrant communities. Throughout our history we have served as conveners to bring residents and leaders together to facilitate solutions to community-wide challenges such as housing affordability, economic mobility, quality education and physical and mental well-being. We also have a long history of helping nonprofits build their capacity, and incubating grassroots causes to provide them with structural support, so they grow into fully operational organizations. Why Work for Us? When you join Coastal Community Foundation, you join a dedicated staff and Board of Directors who have earned the trust of donors and grantees alike, helping them advance positive outcomes in the communities they seek to serve and adapting to their evolving needs so that our region thrives together. We take that same approach and dedication to supporting our staff members to ensure their success at work and outside of the work environment. We offer a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, Holidays, Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), 401(k), and professional training and development opportunities. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement Inclusion with equity is one of our four core values at Coastal Community Foundation, so we not only work to recruit diverse candidates, we work to ensure our team members have all the tools they need to be successful. Our purpose is most effectively fulfilled through proactively supporting the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Diversity may be measured by, but is not limited to, differences in age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, class, religion, disability, geography, and profession. We acknowledge and respect the many differences that comprise thriving communities and seek diversity in our staff to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions and experiences are recognized and acted upon in achieving our purpose. It is our intention to promote a fully equitable philanthropic sector that justly represents and serves all our constituencies. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, of LGBTQ+ identity and of other historically marginalized communities. About this Position The Program Associate provides programmatic and administrative support to the Grantmaking Program Team by managing a small portfolio of grant-making programs and assisting the Regional Scholarships & Grants Officer. The Program Associate reports to the Regional Scholarships & Grants Officer and works collaboratively with the team to provide compassionate, equitable community-centered grantmaking. Primary duties include grant application due diligence, evaluation metrics development and monitoring, and program-related research. This is a hybrid work position with three days per week in the office. The Program Associate will agree with and demonstrate respect for the Foundation's belief that diversity means the active inclusion of the entire community as welcomed participants in all Foundation activities; support the Foundation's practice of encouraging diversity, equity and inclusiveness as the cornerstones of all that the Foundation does. Essential Functions Grantmaking and Community Leadership Responsibilities
- Managing a small portfolio of grantmaking and/or scholarship programs and creating productive and rewarding meetings for community volunteers involved in the grant recommendation process. Provide substantial programmatic support to the Program Officer and an additional portfolio of programs. Program portfolio as assigned.
- Assisting with the grant intake process including reviewing and analyzing grant applications and supporting materials, meeting with applicants and conducting due diligence, preparing written summaries of applications and/or site visits, and assisting the Program Officer or Director with fund allocation meetings and preparation for Grantmaking & Community Leadership Committee presentations.
- Providing support for competitive grantmaking and scholarship programs, to ensure smooth functioning of processes for staff and volunteers, and in keeping with established timelines.
- Assisting the Program Officer with reviewing grantee progress reports, analyzing the information presented, following up on missing items, identifying and addressing questions or concerns, identifying and reviewing appropriate supporting documentation to verify grantee programmatic outcomes and conducting site visits as warranted.
- Assisting the program officer in the creation and execution of learning strategies and programs, such as Results-Based Accountability (RBA), and the collection, analysis and reporting of organization assessments.
- Developing materials to support program needs including research on social issues, best practices, and model approaches.
- Providing rapid responses with a target of one working business day turn-around (or less) on all questions from the nonprofit community and CCF staff and committee volunteers.
- Keeping abreast of current events and issues in the field of philanthropy as well as local, state, and regional issues related to the Foundation's Six Pillars Of A Vibrant Community to inform a balanced and objective approach to grantmaking.
- Developing and managing relationships within multiple communities and identifying needs and opportunities within those communities with local leaders.
Development & Stewardship Responsibilities
- Assisting the Development & Stewardship Department's creation of new funds by providing nonprofit/field analysis and conducting research.
- Protecting the legacy of donors by confirming the purpose and intent of funds match the grants going out for assigned programs.
General Responsibilities
- Conducting independent research in response to requests for program-related information or analysis from donors, non-profits, board and/or staff.
- Assisting donors, board members, grantees, Professional Advisors, and the general public in a courteous, helpful, and respectful manner.
- Assuming responsibility for special projects, as requested by the Program Officer
- Responding to requests for Grantmaking & Community Leadership information from the community.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Effective written communication and presentation skills, and the ability to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Strong research, analytical, investigative, and organizational capabilities as well as the ability to distill ideas and clarify issues.
- A strong work ethic, including ability to work independently and collaboratively, plan, set goals and objectives, organize, follow through, and meet deadlines.
- Capacity to manage multiple responsibilities at once and to prioritize projects to align with organizational needs.
- Knowledge of Results Based Accountability or other program evaluation framework a plus.
- Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with other team members for effective, time-bound results.
- Demonstrated proficiency in the use of common software programs including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and the ability to learn to use a grants management database system
- Ability to manage sensitive materials confidentially.
- Commitment to the mission of the Foundation.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
- One to two years in the community foundation or private foundation field, community organizing, or nonprofit program development preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time.
- Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. and lift small items (less than 20 pounds).
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity equipment, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
- Frequently communicates with colleagues and the public. Must be able to exchange accurate information.