Grantmaking Excellence Officer

Ford Foundation • New York, NY

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY The Grantmaking Excellence Officer sits within the Office of Strategy and Learning and reports to the Deputy Vice President of Strategy and Impact. The position holds two primary responsibilities: promoting and sustaining good grantmaking policies and practices within the Ford Foundation and supporting institutional strengthening for cohorts of Ford’s grantees. The Officer helps develop content and facilitates learning for Ford’s FunderMentals program, which supports program staff (directors, officers, and other program team members) throughout the life cycle of their grantmaking roles while overseeing the evolution of institutional practices and policies. In all of their work, they help the foundation balance ambition and risk, providing enabling conditions for mission-driven work within the institution and across the fields in which we work. For institutional strengthening, the Officer builds out a robust set of external technical assistance and capacity building offerings for the US and Global South. They work closely with program staff to identify grantee needs, ensure quality, and assess/adjust offerings as needed. HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE As the Grantmaking Excellence Officer, you will perform the following and/or similar activities:

Requirements

• At least 6 years of professional working experience in philanthropy/grantmaking and a strong background in social justice issues in the US and the Global South
• At least 6 years of experience in institutional strengthening and organizational development as a service provider, grantmaker, or through leading an organization through growth and change.
• Proficiency in key issues of institutional strengthening: especially security, grants compliance, financial resilience, and/or leadership.
• Deep familiarity with philanthropy and grantmaking practices, including multiyear flexible funding, equitable grantee partner-funder partnership, clear and candid communication and planning.
• Strong background and experience in facilitating learning for adults
• Deep understanding of the regional context and cultures, including geopolitical landscape, in which Ford works
• Knowledge of the landscape of technical assistance providers in the US and in the Global South so that they can identify.
• Data analysis experience with both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally
• Exceptional leadership presence – internally and externally
• Exceptional communications skills – strong active listening skills, constructive verbal and written skills, strong public presentation skills
• Comfort with periods of ambiguity and constructive participation in ongoing organizational development
• Ways of working and engaging that aligns with the Foundation’s mission, core values and commitment to creating a culture of excellence
• Masters degree in related field or relevant and equivalent experience

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in a language other than English spoken in one or more of Ford’s regional offices is helpful

Responsibilities

• Curriculum & Onboarding: Develop and co-facilitate grantmaking curricula and onboarding sessions to ground new and existing staff in institutional policies and practices
• Process Optimization: Conduct ongoing reviews of grantmaking processes and policies, making recommendations to improve overall excellence, partner engagement, and grantee experience
• Policy Leadership: Advise the Program Leadership Team on grantmaking policy and collaborate with Operations to ensure changes are effectively institutionalized
• Institutional Strengthening: Lead grantee and internal team support in critical organizational areas, including security, compliance, financial resilience, and leadership development
• Program Design Support: Assist program teams in diagnosing challenges facing grantee networks and designing specific programs to meet those identified needs
• Grantee Feedback Loop: Manage the Grantee Perception Report process, from preparation to data reflection, and lead the commitment to improving the grantee experience
• Data-Driven Insights: Partner with the Data Governance Manager to synthesize and analyze grantmaking data, identifying actionable opportunities for practice improvement
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate with Legal, IT, and Grants Management to ensure all curricula and policies align with broader institutional and operational priorities
• Global Philanthropic Influence: Engage with international philanthropic leaders to advocate for and advise on the adoption of multi-year, flexible funding and institutional strengthening models
• Thought Leadership & Communication: Produce internal and external communications—including conference presentations—that highlight how social justice principles are embodied in grantmaking

Benefits

• Commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels respected
• A hybrid working model and flexible work arrangement policies offer colleagues the opportunity to engage in meaningful ways and the space to maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Professional development and ample opportunities to build your expertise and expand your network
• Comprehensive benefits package designed for your well-being and work-life needs, including medical, dental, and vision benefits effective on your first day
• Generous time off, including personal, vacation, sick, extended holiday time off, and wellness days
• Generous parental leave policy, including birth, surrogacy, adoptive, foster parents, and resources for backup child and elder care that support our colleagues’ ability to attend to family responsibilities
• Comprehensive retirement benefits options (with employee and employer contributions of up to 13%), allowing you to invest in your financial future with confidence

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees