The Ben B. Cheney Foundation Seeks Program Officer
*****The Application Period For This Position Is Now Closed*****
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation is seeking a Program Officer (PO) to work with our team as we support philanthropic efforts across the communities we serve. You will be joining an organization that has a legacy of deep commitment to service and is driven to honor the intent of our founder, Ben B. Cheney, and to continue supporting the communities where the Cheney Lumber Company operated from its beginnings.
WHO WE ARE
We are a small team of two working collaboratively in-person to support the mission, vision, and values set forth by our Board of Directors. While we deeply enjoy participating in community meetings and site visits with partners and grantees, we are a small office that can often be a quiet environment. You’ll find success here if you are comfortable working independently in a small, office-first workplace where our work atmosphere is often quiet and reflective.
In addition to our internal work, we get the incredible opportunity to work with smart and driven people in communities across Washington, Southern Oregon, and Northern California. We learn new things every day and are constantly inspired by our partners. We like to have fun where possible and to be supportive shoulders when times get tough. We believe we are all in this together and let our community members guide our work through their expertise. What we learn in one community may benefit our partners in another, so we thrive on sharing knowledge and lessons learned where we can.
WHO YOU ARE
You take relationship building and cultivation seriously and operate with utmost integrity and customer service. You are as comfortable talking one-on-one with the president of a large college as you are helping an elderly member of a small community nonprofit learn how to use our technology system. You are motivated daily by helping people and helping to solve community challenges.
You are known for being helpful, knowledgeable, and kind, and you make friends easily. You are known for doing what you say you’ll do and delivering on your commitments and work product to beat expectations. You pride yourself on your expansive skillset and ability to tackle a variety of tasks a small office requires. Your work and volunteer history has allowed you to learn a wide variety of skills and you thrive when you’re able to use them in switching tasks often through your day. You are comfortable answering routine inquires on the phone as you are helping community partners envision strategy against significant community challenges. People compliment your clear communication style, particularly when you write, and you enjoy writing in a way that helps others clearly understand complex topics.
You are constantly curious to learn more about people, communities, and important work taking place. You are naturally inclined to share what you’ve learned with others in hopes of helping everyone succeed together. You are inclined to collaboration and easily identify system interaction.
You invest time supporting community and nonprofits through your volunteer work and/or board service, and we encourage you with space and time to continue engaging in that work. Because of your volunteerism, you understand the community well and understand the challenges our nonprofit partners face and how you are uniquely positioned to help in your role as Program Officer for the Ben B. Cheney Foundation.
Responsibilities
As Program Officer, you will serve as a pivotal member of our team, specializing in communication with grantees and the public. This role is instrumental in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with grantees and external stakeholders and ensuring effective dissemination of information through various channels. The PO plays a key role in the Foundation’s grantmaking operations. The PO reports directly to the Executive Director.
We welcome candidates from the public or private sector (corporate, foundation or other non-profits). You will have experience and be talented in:
Communication and Relationship Management
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit representatives, providing guidance and assistance as needed.
- Communicate with nonprofit organizations, government officials, schools, and the general public about the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities, guidelines and proposal review process.
- Provide technical assistance to grant-seekers, offering guidance on fundraising, program design, and organizational development. Facilitate connections to other partners and recommend helpful resources as appropriate.
Project Management
- Responsible for administering the Foundation’s High School Scholarship program.
- Work with representatives at each of the 33 high schools to manage applications and candidate selection.
Community Outreach
- Represent the foundation at community events. Act as spokesperson for the Foundation as requested by the Executive Director.
- Stay current on news, activities, and relationships in the communities where the Foundation operates. Collaborate with partners where appropriate.
Content Creation & Communications
- Develop and write engaging content for the foundation’s website.
- Craft content for social media platforms.
- Prepare comprehensive and compelling materials for board packets, including grant summaries, impact reports, and other relevant documentation.
Ongoing Learning
- Stay current on issues and relevant policy in philanthropy and the communities the Foundation serves, especially as they relate to the Foundation’s funding interests.
- Attend community and industry learning opportunities.
While you may not have a role in philanthropy currently, you will have experience and be talented in or demonstrate you can quickly come up to speed in:
Foundation Grants Management
- Conduct thorough grant/project request review, research, and due diligence, ensuring eligibility screening and regulatory compliance.
- Participate in site visits for grantees and potential community projects.
- Develop funding recommendations for the Foundation’s Executive Director.
- Monitor and evaluate grants, maintaining open communication with grantees in ways that help mitigate the power dynamics and facilitate an agile learning environment for all.
- Attend and participate in all Board meetings, providing comprehensive reports and updates on ongoing initiatives to inform decision making, and outcomes reports to inform lessons learned.
- Maintain accuracy of organization and grant records as well as all information within the Foundation’s Foundant database.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package. The salary for the PO will be commensurate with the individual’s qualifications, experience and work history. The proposed salary range for this position is $91,500 to $102,814. Benefits include a generous PTO, comprehensive health insurance and retirement package among other benefits.
This is a full time exempt position and is an in-person role. Cheney Foundation working hours are typically 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, although the PO is expected to participate in events, meetings and other activities outside of these hours as needed for the role. There will be periodic travel involved to work in the communities we serve, including Southern Oregon and Northern California.
TO APPLY
In order to be considered for this position, applications must have been submitted by Friday, February 23.
Complete applications included;
- Your resume
- A cover letter that answers the following:
- Why do you want to be the Program Officer at the Ben B. Cheney Foundation?
- What have you learned in your work or volunteer service with nonprofits that would help you be a successful Program Officer?
- Example of a writing product you created from a current or previous job or volunteer role; i.e., social media posts, newsletter or website article, donor letter, etc.
Please note that in order to ensure we have as complete a picture as possible of prospective candidates, only candidates who address and include all application requirements listed above will move forward in our process. Materials will be reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted by Friday, February 23, 2024 for consideration.
If you have any issues with submitting your application or general inquiries please contact Dawn Chirwa who is supporting the Cheney Foundation in filling this role. She can be reached at dawn@dchirwaconsulting.com.
You may also recommend individuals for this position by submitting names and any supporting materials to Dawn Chirwa at the email address above.
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to reflect the wide-ranging diversity of our community. We recognize, respect and work to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage those who share these values, particularly candidates of color and those from other underrepresented groups, to apply.