Program Officer, Baltimore Grantmaking

Weinberg Foundation•Owings Mills, MD

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation strives to fight poverty and build strong, vibrant communities where everyone can thrive. Collaborating closely with the Jewish and broader community, the Foundation provides grants to nonprofits in the United States and Israel that equip people to secure safe and affordable housing; lead healthy lives; obtain and keep good jobs; engage in high-quality educational and developmental opportunities; and, later in life, remain independent and age with dignity. These efforts primarily focus on places with ties to the lives and legacies of Harry and Jeanette Weinberg. The Foundation seeks individuals interested in helping to drive change. If you want to contribute toward advancing our mission, values, and work, we want to hear from you! The program officer, Baltimore grantmaking, will support and advance the Foundation’s efforts to expand economic opportunity and strengthen resident-led efforts to improve communities. The role manages a portfolio of grants focused on fighting poverty and helping individuals and families build long-term financial stability through workforce development, economic mobility, savings and benefits, and community development initiatives. The program officer will build and maintain strong relationships with Baltimore’s nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, and resident leaders, helping identify opportunities for collaboration around jobs and economic opportunity and advancing community-led solutions. This role will review grant proposals and conduct due diligence (including in-person site visits), support nonprofits with the grant process, and represent the Foundation at meetings, convenings, and conferences. This position will also contribute to initiatives in other portfolios and special projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Seven to 10 years of relevant professional experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership or the nonprofit sector more broadly, or public policy, with demonstrated familiarity working with community-based organizations and residents affected by poverty.
Deep knowledge of Baltimore’s neighborhoods and nonprofit ecosystem, with demonstrated credibility and relationship-building experience across sectors.
Excellent research skills.
Experience designing or improving internal processes and approaches that support evaluation and learning.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Comfort with fiscal reporting and maintaining accurate budgets and databases.
Ability to review budgets, costs, and forecasts in support of grant recommendations.
Analyzes information carefully and synthesizes key insights to inform decisions.
Identifies issues proactively and recommends thoughtful, practical solutions.
Applies critical thinking as appropriate to the role.
Manages priorities effectively while advancing work independently and collaboratively.
Works respectfully with colleagues across teams.
Builds productive relationships with external partners, grantees, and other stakeholders.
Contributes to a positive, welcoming, and solution-oriented team culture.
Accepts constructive feedback and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.
Exercises sound judgment in complex or sensitive situations.
Maintains strict confidentiality and handles highly sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Communicates clearly and professionally in written and verbal formats.
Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy.
Listens actively and engages thoughtfully with colleagues, partners, and community members.
Brings a professional background and experience that resonate with the Foundation’s values and guiding principles: respect for every individual, care, collaboration, commitment, community, and curiosity.
Demonstrates emotional intelligence and self-awareness in interactions with colleagues and partners.
Adapts to changing priorities and navigates ambiguity with flexibility and composure.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage a portfolio of grants that expand economic opportunity for Baltimore residents.
Lead grant proposal review and due diligence process by assessing strategy alignment, organizational capacity, and fit with community needs.
Conduct in-person site visits and meetings across Baltimore neighborhoods with prospective and current grantees and offer approachable, personalized guidance to prospective grantees, with an emphasis on clarity, transparency, and respect.
Monitor active grants through reports, data review, and ongoing communication with grantees.
Work with grantees to track outcomes that matter to Baltimore residents and to reflect on what support is needed.
Manage compliance with grant applications, contracts, and reporting requirements, including deadlines and documentation.
Ensure prompt turnaround on grantee reporting needs.
Maintain accurate records in grant management system and contribute to grant portfolio reporting, analysis, and internal knowledge management process.
Review grant budgets, fiscal reports, and (as applicable) capital cost assumptions, forecasts, and payment requests.
Recommend and process payments in accordance with Foundation policies.
Support the development and implementation of Baltimore grantmaking strategy in alignment with Foundation priorities through research, analysis, and discussions with residents and local partners.
Track and synthesize trends in workforce development, job quality, economic mobility, and neighborhood-based economic initiatives affecting low-income communities in Baltimore.
Apply a systems-level lens to identify gaps and opportunities.
Review and analyze grantee progress reports, document lessons, and identify opportunities for replication.
Design or refine internal processes and approaches that strengthen evaluation and capture learning over time.
Prepare written materials, including memos, briefings, and recommendations for staff and trustee meetings and present information and analysis internally, as needed.
Build and sustain relationships with Baltimore community stakeholders, neighborhood-based organizations, nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, public-sector partners, and peer funders.
Support networks of grantees working toward shared goals by aligning learning agendas and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Participate in funding collaboratives and partnerships that strengthen Baltimore’s nonprofit ecosystem and bring relevant learning back to the Foundation.
Collaborate closely with fellow Program team members and participate in weekly team meetings to review grants, discuss strategy, and share updates.
Support the managing director, Baltimore grantmaking; vice president, programs; and president and CEO, as needed, in managing relationships with partners, public officials, and institutions.
Manage and contribute to special projects to support effective investment of Foundation funds.
Share insights and observations from the field to strengthen team learning and decision-making.