Program Associate

Position:

Program Associate

New Canaan Community Foundation

Reporting to the Program Officer, the Program Associate is a full-time position that supports the Foundation's grantmaking, scholarship, and Young Philanthropists program. The position also supports community leadership initiatives while helping ensure efficient and effective program operations. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a small, collaborative setting. This person should manage competing priorities with ease, communicate effectively in writing and in-person, and bring genuine care to the relationships they build with grantee partners, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders.

Organization:

Founded in 1977, the New Canaan Community Foundation is the local charitable partner for all New Canaan residents and offers a wide range of philanthropic and educational services. The Foundation has assets of approximately $40 million and annually awards approximately $3 million in grants and scholarships to more than 100 local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation also works closely with families and businesses on their charitable giving strategies, including managing donor-advised and other charitable funds.

Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Program Officer, in coordination with the team’s program goals, the Program Associate will:

Support the Foundation’s annual grantmaking program:

• Manage all administrative aspects of the grant application process – including maintaining the online grant platform, responding to inquiries from applicants, organizing materials, processing grant transactions and communications, and maintaining a grant reporting system
• Support volunteer management efforts, including scheduling, organizing materials for staff and Community Investments Committee, and providing support for large volunteer grant review teams
• Attend site visits, volunteer meetings, and Committee meetings in support of the program team
• Manage relevant events, including the annual Grant Awards Coffee

Support the Foundation’s annual scholarship program:

• Manage online application process, perform initial review and due diligence of applications, and prepare materials for staff and Scholarship Committee
• Coordinate and support Scholarship Committee meetings
• Process scholarship transactions
• Coordinate administration of additional scholarship/award programs housed at NCCF

Manage the Foundation’s Young Philanthropist Program:

• Lead monthly meetings with high school students learning about philanthropy and the local nonprofit sector
• Schedule, coordinate, and support monthly meetings and site visits
• Support and help coordinate fundraising initiatives led by the youth group

Support the Program Officer in implementing NCCF's community leadership initiatives and other strategic programmatic activities:

• Schedule, coordinate, and support meetings with community leadership committees and workgroups (ex: New Canaan Behavioral Health Alliance)
• Assist with community leadership initiatives, including community surveys, responsive grant programs, convenings, and special events
• Support capacity-building programs and events that strengthen nonprofit organizations through networking, learning opportunities, and technical assistance
• Process grant payments as needed outside of regular grant and scholarship cycles

Support day-to-day operations of the Community Foundation, including:

• Database management: Track and maintain accurate nonprofit profile data in NCCF’s database, akoyaGO, and related platforms; produce reports, materials, and dashboards as needed
• Communications: Offer programming updates and information to NCCF staff and consultants to help with the production of newsletters, social media, fundraising materials, and Annual Reports
• Perform administrative duties such as filing, scanning, answering the phone, assembling mailings, and preparing reports and correspondence
• Work collaboratively with the team, carry out other administrative duties, and manage special projects as needed

Qualifications & Attributes:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, database systems, and application management software; experience with grants management software is a plus
• Strong interest in philanthropy or nonprofit sector/community work as evidenced through education, previous jobs, and/or volunteer experience
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

This is a full-time, non-exempt position, 40 hours per week. Salary for this position is based on experience but expected to be approximately $50,000-$55,000 annually. NCCF offers competitive benefits, currently including: medical coverage ($500/month toward medical insurance premium, plus additional employer funded contributions to HRA account), life insurance and long-term disability coverage, retirement contribution (7% of salary), paid vacation time (starting at 15 days), paid sick, and parental/medical leave. Professional development opportunities are also encouraged.

The Program Associate is expected to work regular on-site business hours with some evening and weekend hours required for meetings and to support program events. The Foundation currently operates on a hybrid schedule, with two remote work days.