Community Program Assistant Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Location: Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). Must spend at least one day per week in Portland, OR office; remaining days in the North Coast region (Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Tillamook) and, when required, in the Metro region.

Job Title: Program Officer, Community Engagement and Equity Department (serving as OCF’s representative in the North Coast region and supporting the Metro region as assigned).

Position Type: Regular, Full-time, Exempt.

Salary Range: $92,000 - $100,000 per year.

Equal Opportunity Employer: OCF is an Equal Opportunity Employer with offices throughout Oregon.

Community Engagement, Partnerships and Collaboration (55%)

• Act as a public representative for OCF’s programming related to the North Coast; deliver community presentations, meet with other foundations, and communicate with Board, Leadership Councils, staff, and external partners.
• Represent OCF at meetings with public agencies, policy makers, and other key stakeholders; serve on statewide or regional committees or task forces.
• Represent OCF at local and national conferences and events to share OCF’s work and impact.
• Conduct outreach, communicate with, and develop relationships with grant seekers and other constituents statewide about foundation priorities, guidelines, grant opportunities, and grant decisions.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate community engagement strategies to strengthen relationships, build capacity, and provide meaningful opportunities for community involvement.
• Collaborate with the Philanthropic Services Department to support prospective donors, provide donor stewardship, and support donor engagement in OCF's priorities.
• Assist Donor Relations Officers with research and analysis of community issues, nonprofits, and grant applications.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop and execute communications that increase stakeholder awareness and engagement about the North Coast.
• Create reports to externally communicate progress, successes, challenges, and future directions.

Program Management (35%)

• Serve as part of the Community Grants team, including proposal review, site visits, and development of grant recommendations.
• Lead the design and implementation of community problem‑solving grant programs, including program development, stakeholder collaboration, and development of community engagement committees.
• Oversee proactive community problem‑solving and engagement grantmaking: develop program guidelines, application processes, proposal review, and grant recommendations.
• Collaborate with program staff statewide to maintain high‑quality programs that address regional needs and align with OCF’s overarching mission.
• Serve as primary contact for potential grantees, respond to grant inquiries, manage application processes, and conduct site visits and nonprofit outreach.
• Apply equitable grant‑making practices to ensure accessibility, reach, and distribution of funding based on community need and intended impact.
• Monitor collection and assessment of grantee reports; integrate findings into communications plans.
• Develop knowledge and build relationships with diverse communities and leaders in the North Coast region.
• Stay abreast of research and trends in effective community practices to identify opportunities for OCF investments.
• Serve as a resource for OCF Board members, Leadership Council members, community members, foundation partners, and colleagues who need information about nonprofit and community needs.
• Assist the Senior Program Officer with planning agendas, coordinating presentation materials, and reporting to committees and the Board.
• Collaborate with the Philanthropic Services Department to coordinate volunteer engagement.

Program Strategy (10%)

• Collaborate with the Director of Community Programs to identify opportunities for grantmaking that deepen impact in community and civic engagement.
• Work with senior program staff to set strategic direction, plan and develop strategies for the Community Grants Program.
• Align priorities with other Community Engagement and Equity programs as needed.
• Conduct analysis of opportunities for strategic impact and recommend well‑reasoned action options.
• Develop strategies using grantmaking, advocacy/policy, and community engagement tools.

• Knowledgeable about Oregon, especially the North Coast region.
• Extremely organized; can track details, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Tech‑savvy with proficiency in MS Office and experience using a CRM.
• Excellent communicator, able to convey information clearly in writing and verbally.
• Proactive self‑starter, energized by change and growth, flexible, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Culturally agile: works effectively with diverse people and teams.
• Professional: maintains confidentiality and uses discretion in handling sensitive information.

• Six or more years of experience with nonprofit organizations, grantmaking, or program planning and management.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

• Travel required, higher in some months: 5–10% of time.
• Travel primarily within the North Coast region; occasional statewide travel to the Metro region, including occasional overnight stays.

• Comfortable office environment.
• Physical effort includes lifting, carrying, keying/typing for several hours, and the ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.; rarely between 26 and 60 lbs.
• Report injuries, illnesses, or accidents to supervisor within 24 hours.

This position will spend at least one day per week in the Portland office, with the remaining time spent in the Oregon North Coast community. During the initial training period, on‑site work may increase.

• Salary range: $92,000–$100,000, depending on experience.
• Position is full‑time, exempt.
• Benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability and life insurance, employee assistance plan, volunteer leave, and professional development opportunities.