Leverage Officer

About Dogwood Health Trust

Founded in 2018, Dogwood Health Trust (Dogwood) is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina. Its sole purpose is to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of the 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina.

As a funder, Dogwood invests in collaborative, innovative and equitable efforts that address the many factors contributing to overall wellbeing, especially in the areas of housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Ultimately, Dogwood seeks to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions.

• Compassion with Courage. We will be bold in pursuing our commitment to the people and communities of Western North Carolina by taking smart risks and investing in opportunities for profound impact.
• Sustainability with Integrity. We will bring transparency and humility in stewarding resources to support and strengthen Western North Carolina for generations to come.
• Partnering with Purpose. We will foster collective impact by promoting collaboration and advancing shared learning.

The Leverage Officer advances collaborative grantmaking strategies that strengthen nonprofit capacity and expand access to external funding for mission-aligned partners. This role translates impact goals into program design, funding recommendations, and measurable outcomes while stewarding relationships with grantees, consultants, and funding partners. The Leverage Officer leads ecosystem‑strengthening initiatives, convenes partners for learning and collaboration, and identifies opportunities to leverage public and private resources that amplify community impact.

Working cross‑functionally, the role supports innovative capacity‑building programs, improves grant processes, and ensures equity is embedded across all aspects of strategy and implementation.

Collaborative Grantmaking Strategy & Stewardship

• Translate our impact goals into objectives, design, and metrics, with a focus on continually evaluating and improving partner capacity and success.
• Regularly engage colleagues and consultants exploring new resource development opportunities for our partners.
• Identify organizations with strong potential for partnership; conduct due diligence and recommend grantee partners with effective track records, internal capacity, and strategic skills.
• Spearhead special projects, including, but not limited to: (1) pilot innovative capacity building initiatives in partnership with local CBOs, (2) research existing national programs focused on capacity building, meet with key sector leaders, innovate on tailored programming that is culturally appropriate for the unique needs of WNC nonprofits, (3) create proposals and timelines for long‑term projects.
• Engage with Grantmaking Operations and Learning & Evaluation team to guide the evolution of leverage fund application process, reporting process, innovations in data capture and management by seeking community feedback.
• Set programmatic goals.
• Embed equity and inclusion in all aspects of your work, considering all stakeholders’ diverse needs and perspectives, promoting fair practices, and contributing to a workplace culture that values and respects diversity. Advocate for equitable outcomes and ensure that all actions and decisions reflect our commitment to equity.
• Participate regularly as a key team member in staff meetings to provide open communication about strategies and efforts.

Field Leadership & Ecosystem Strengthening

• Drive the production and oversee execution of various leverage fund programs, including but not limited to the Next Level Funding webinar series and the Grants Help Desk.
• Serve as a point of contact for consultants and vendors involved in Leverage Fund work, including negotiating contracts and evaluating the efficacy of service delivery.
• In collaboration with the Community Investment team, contribute to the development and execution of alignment of external funding opportunities.
• Maintain an effective cadre of grant writers and consultants…