School Network Staff Program Director
Job Description
About The Thompson Family Foundation
Since 2009, the Thompson Family Foundation has supported Arts, Culture & Public Space, Medical Research, and Community Service. Its founders, Wade and Angela Thompson, were passionate about New York and determined to make lasting contributions to its civic life. The hallmark of our grantmaking has been significant and transformative investments. In addition to funding large capital and endowment grants, Thompson has provided both general operating and project support. We concentrate on institutions that strengthen the city, but also make grants nationally and occasionally internationally. Thompson has been instrumental in revitalizing the Park Avenue Armory and developing innovations in cancer treatment.
Position Overview
Thompson is planning an expansion into new program areas over the next three years. We will double our commitments to $30 million annually across three major categories: 1.) new responses to critical issues; 2.) capital and endowment investments; and 3.) core support to current partners. The Program Director will be charged with building out the strategy and execution of the new responses portfolio. We will begin in three initial areas – criminal justice, college/career access, and the environment – and will dedicate $10-20 million to each over a five-year period. In addition, the Program Director will assist in surfacing, vetting, and selecting new areas in the future.
The Program Director will develop and execute the grantmaking program and refine Thompson’s approach to research, selection, grant design, and evaluation. The role requires both strategy and operations, as well as an ability to facilitate decision-making across a small and invested team. The Program Director will work in close partnership with the executive director and board president and will supervise a program associate. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about building a new model that will allocate dollars effectively while providing our partners with the diverse and flexible support they need to accomplish their goals.
Responsibilities
The Program Director’s Primary Responsibilities include:
Grantmaking (85%)
- Research new focus areas and develop a landscape analysis, defining funding opportunities and developing strategies in response
- Prioritize investment ideas, articulating the roads not taken and rationale
- Develop new grants, defining grant objective, structure, reporting, and measures of success
- Monitor and evaluate grant progress, providing feedback and recommendations for extension, adjustment, and completion
- Partner with grant recipients, respond to opportunities and challenges, and provide deep organizational support
Administration (15%)
- Draft documents for board, organization, and grant recipients that drive progress, alignment, and accountability
- Design and build reporting capabilities via Salesforce and Excel to track portfolio strategy, progress, and results
- In partnership with Program Associate, ensure an organized and complete record of the grantmaking process and grantee accomplishments
Who You Are
This position provides an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneur who is passionate about building a highly impactful and efficient foundation while working in service to and partnership with the organizations we fund.
- Strong Track Record. Fifteen plus years of accomplishment in relevant fields including grantmaking, nonprofit strategy, operations, or management consulting
- Strategic and Operational. You are gifted at both defining the strategy to accomplish goals and developing and managing the operational plans to ensure success
- Creative and Driven. You generate ideas and see them through, seeking excellence and sweating the details. You take the initiative and lead alongside
- Analytical and Compelling. You are rigorous and data-driven. You’re persuasive, with excellent written and oral presentation skills
- Curious and Collaborative. You listen carefully and you learn from others. You derive joy from surfacing the great ideas, designing something better, and improving it ongoing
- Kind, Humble and Humorous. You take your work seriously, but not yourself
Compensation, Benefits & Flexibility
Thompson offers an extremely competitive salary and a generous benefits package while encouraging a strong work-life balance. The Program Director will be a part of a small hybrid team and will be required to work from the New York City office in Midtown three to four days a week.
Relevant Policies
The Thompson Family Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
