ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
The Jews of Color Initiative (JoCI) is a U.S.-based effort focused on building and advancing the professional, organizational, and communal field for Jews of Color. The Jews of Color Initiative formally launched in 2017 and continues to do groundbreaking work at the intersection of Jews of Color and Jewish Community.
The JoCI focuses on grantmaking, research, and community education. It hosts the nation’s first-ever philanthropic and capacity-building fund expressly dedicated to responding to racial injustice through helping further establish, fortify and build out the field of support for Jews of Color.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Recognizing that philanthropy is the vital engine of the Jewish organizational ecosystem, the JoCI views the lack of diverse program staff at Jewish organizations and foundations as a clear gap in need of intervention. To address this issue, JoCI is launching a pilot program to recruit, train and create a diverse pipeline of new grantmakers of color at Jewish philanthropic foundations. This program seeks to equip Jewish leaders of color with relevant skills, knowledge, connections and experience to work in Jewish philanthropic roles and create a more racially equitable and representative Jewish communal ecosystem.
This program offers a unique opportunity to work within the JoCI and gain experience in the Jewish communal philanthropic ecosystem through a racial equity framework. This fellowship provides extensive training, professional development, a strong network, and access to view the world of grantmaking through the only national philanthropic fund laser-focused on Jews of Color.
This pilot cohort will include up to three Jewish leaders of color who have a desire to further their leadership skills in the philanthropic arena. The specific components of this 12-month fellowship include:
- Experiential Learning: Fellows will work with the JoCI grants team to learn how to advance racial equity in philanthropy by leveraging grantmaking, field-building, and other philanthropic tools. Fellows will receive rigorous training provided by the JoCI staff and Jewish philanthropy professionals, and participate in other sector-wide opportunities.
- Grantmaking Experience: As part of the program, Fellows will be responsible for creating and running their own grant round to support Jews of Color in the community.
- Professional Development: Fellows will be in a cohort together with the opportunity to receive coaching, refine their leadership and professional skills, and explore philanthropic areas of interest.
- Network: Fellows will engage with a wide variety of philanthropic leaders and colleagues through conferences, trainings, private meetings, and mentorship.
ABOUT THE POSITIONS
The JoCI is seeking up to three Philanthropy Fellows who are passionate about philanthropy and the Jews of Color Initiative’s mission. They will work with the Senior Program Officer and JoCI grantmaking team to implement grantmaking strategies that promote the mission, strategic objectives, and programs of the JoCI. The position is a temporary, 12-month Fellowship. We do not anticipate that Fellows will have the opportunity to remain at the JoCI at the end of the one-year Fellowship. The Fellowship is classified as a non-exempt hourly role, 40 hours per week, and reports to the Senior Program Officer.
The Philanthropy Fellows will support program development, review grant proposals and budgets, and manage assigned portfolios in JoCI’s grants program. These grants present investments in new and emerging efforts. The role will shepherd potential grantees through the grant inquiry and application process and manage all internal operations related to making and managing the grants. The Fellows will additionally be responsible for creating an RFP to address needs in the field as part of the program.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
Leadership & Strategy Development
- Support grants team in planning and implementing grant portfolio as assigned, and new grantmaking initiatives, as needed.
- Participate in planning activities related to JoCI’s grant programs and strategy through collaborative discussions with other JoCI program and senior staff, including analyzing past funding history and scanning community needs to ensure that JoCI’s focus is current and in line with communal needs.
Grantee Partnership and Support
- Potential Grantees
- Coordinate with other JoCI staff in exploring new grantmaking opportunities.
- Work with prospective grantees and provide personalized support and feedback as appropriate.
- Review and analyze grant proposals and budgets and evaluate the feasibility and applicant’s organizational capacity to achieve proposed objectives.
- Conduct due diligence and manage compliance with deadlines and other grant application and reporting requirements.
- Recommend grantee partners who exhibit effectiveness, internal capacity, and strategic skills by composing clear, concise and insightful written analyses (financial and narrative) for grants team to review.
- Monitor grantee progress, including evaluation and review of progress in achieving key objectives, tracking updates and contingencies, and collecting final grant and expenditure reports, as needed.
- Manage administrative elements of grants program as assigned to ensure efficient and effective grantmaking operations.
- Ongoing Grantees
- Develop and maintain relationships with active grantees, offering support, coaching, and advising as appropriate.
- Connect leaders to training, technical assistance, and capacity-building opportunities and providers, as relevant.
- Support JoCI initiatives to convene grantees and others in the field to advance networking and learning opportunities.
Additional Responsibilities
- Prepare and contribute to materials that communicate the alignment of grantee activities with JoCI’s goals and strategies.
- Maintain working knowledge of other foundations, research, activities, and trends in issue areas addressed by grantees. This may include participating in philanthropic learning opportunities to inform JoCI’s strategy.
- Work closely with existing and prospective community partners, leaders, and other funders to identify national needs and promote opportunities for grantmaking as they relate to JoCI’s funding priorities.
- Assist in coordinating annual evaluation of all grants made.
- Assist in docket and grant summary preparation for the Grant Advisory Committee.
- Represent the JoCI at conferences and community meetings as needed.
- Conduct research projects as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Minimum Bachelor's Degree or significant demonstrable training in a specific content area with deployable conceptual training and framing skills.
- 3 - 7 years of professional experience, including passion for community-based grantmaking.
- Demonstrated dedication to JoCI’s mission and values.
- Organized and self-directed with strong project management skills. This includes an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set realistic goals and objectives, and be a strategic problem solver.
- Fluency-level skills and adaptive approach to technology, including Outlook, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office Suite. Salesforce experience is a plus!
- Positive past experiences that demonstrate the ability to thrive and navigate complex, multiracial environments.
- Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with all members of the Jews of Color Initiative community and network, including community leaders, clergy, funders, organizational leaders, and colleagues.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the confident ability to:
- Hold and treat the JoCI’s work with intentionality, care, and absolute discretion.
- Support all aspects of planning and implementing a fast-paced and growing national initiative, as needed.
- Work well in a fast-paced, relationship-driven culture that values creativity and iteration, and is comfortable with changing course and re-prioritizing as necessary.
- Thrive in a collaborative team environment and maintain a collegial spirit when sharing ideas and receiving constructive feedback.