Current Opening – Program Officer

Job Description

Foundation Background: Incorporated in 1948, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in the Washington metropolitan area. The Foundation has three grant cycles annually, awarding on average $18 to $22 million to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the areas of Arts and Humanities, Community Service, Education, Environment and Health.

Position Title: Program Officer

Purpose: To respond to and collaborate with community stakeholders in our program areas to carry out the mission of the Cafritz Foundation.

Responsibilities:
Grantmaking and Relationship Management

  • Review and assess grant proposals through internal review process during specified grant deadlines.
  • Conduct site visits with grantees and potential grantees to assess program relevance, organizational integrity, and potential for impact. Must be able to review and understand financial statements and synthesize goals that impact the community in a way that promotes equitable grant making.
  • Write, present, and justify funding recommendations to the Foundation’s board.
  • Manage ongoing relationships with grantees, and prospective grantees, and provide insights into funding processes.
  • Perform other appropriate duties as assigned by Management.

Programmatic Knowledge

  • Develop in-depth knowledge of assigned program areas, including current issues and trends and key resource individuals and organizations.
  • Build and advise on flexible funding strategies that respond to the local community and reflect an ongoing understanding of the larger social context.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to local nonprofit organizations to help support the development and capacity of community leaders and provide capacity building and partnership opportunities with current and potential grantees.
  • Initiate meetings or reports to respond to current and emerging needs in cooperation with nonprofit organizations, foundation collaborative groups, government agencies and others that foster shared problem solving and accomplish special projects.
  • Participate in joint efforts and affinity groups of foundations and represent the Foundation on funding collaboratives and working groups, at meetings and conferences.
  • Stay well-informed of relevant community issues and local trends and brief other program staff and Board Chair on a weekly basis.

Qualifications
The Program Officer will have the following:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the DC area local nonprofit field.
  • Knowledge of the region, including current issues, trends, and organizations.
  • Ability to work independently, to manage competing priorities and to work effectively under pressure.
  • Strong proficiency in communicating effectively in conversation, writing and public speaking.
  • Good judgment, discretion, tact, and the ability to collaborate easily with colleagues, Board members and others in the charitable government and business sectors.
  • Commitment to professionalism including the ability to build genuine, productive, trusting relationships with a diverse array of partners and grantees.
  • Strong expertise in the use of Microsoft Office products and grants database software.

This position description is intended to serve as a summary of the general purpose and essential functions of this position. It may change as circumstances warrant and may include other duties as deemed necessary by management.

Location:
The Foundation operates under a hybrid model. The Program Officer must have the ability to come to The Foundation’s office three times a week and travel around the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Compensation:
Salary is in the $90,000 – $110,000 range, based on experience. Excellent benefits include: medical HMO, POS, PPO (85% employer paid for HMO coverage), dental and vision coverage (85% employer paid); 10% employer contribution to employee retirement plan (1st qtr following 6 months of employment); life insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurances (100% employer paid), 3 weeks vacation,12 days sick leave, paid parking or transit assistance.

To Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should apply by sending a cover letter, including salary requirement, and resume by email to hr@cafritzfoundation.org, Attn: Ms. Mary Mulcahy, Co-Executive Director. For best consideration, apply by September 30, 2024.

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive organization.

Cafritz Foundation Leadership Announcement

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is pleased to announce the promotions of Mary Mulcahy and Gretchen Greiner-Lott to the position of Co-Executive Director.

Ms. Mulcahy and Ms. Greiner-Lott bring a wealth of experience to the Foundation and have consistently demonstrated outstanding skills, leadership qualities, and a commitment to excellence in their roles. We are confident that they will continue to thrive in their new positions.

They will succeed Mardell Moffett, who resigned from the Foundation effective August 23, 2024.

Please join us in congratulating Gretchen and Mary on their well-deserved promotions.

We would like to thank Mardell for her 30 years of service. As she begins a new chapter, we want to recognize her significant contributions to the Foundation and the Washington DC area community. We wish her well.

Lessons from the Washington AIDS Partnership: How to Take Big Risks and Move Quickly to Drive Change

By Sarah Hashmall and Channing Wickham

The Washington AIDS Partnership was founded in 1988 with the support of the Ford Foundation and 20 DC-area foundations with the mission of ending the HIV epidemic in the Greater Washington region.

The organization concluded its work in the first quarter of 2024 and published a report, Changing the Course of an Epidemic, that shares valuable lessons about how organizations can move quickly and take big risks to drive change.

Visit Grantmakers in Health to read more.

Honoring the Best in Public Service: 21st Annual Cafritz Awards Honors Distinguished DC Government Employees

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, in partnership with The George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership and the District of Columbia Government, is proud to recognize the extraordinary winners and finalists of the 21st Annual Cafritz Awards Program.