Program Associate, Medical Science

The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations that fund a diverse set of programs on a national scale. The Fidelity Foundations are committed to advancing the long-term vibrancy of communities through capacity-building investments in arts and culture, education, conservation, health, and economic opportunity-focused non-profits.

Fidelity Foundations’ grantmaking seeks to build the capacity of leaders and organizations tackling important societal challenges and promoting thriving communities. We are dedicated to strengthening organizations by fostering robust partnerships and supporting projects that enhance our grantees’ long-term success. Each program centers on the ecosystems’ needs and identifies where our capacity-building grants can have the greatest impact. We have a deep history of funding organizations in Boston and New England for over 50 years and also supporting communities in specific regions nationwide.

Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, having grown and evolved in recent years. As our strategies and organization continue to develop, we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise that support the advancement and execution of a long-term portfolio of significant and strategic philanthropic investments. As a capacity‑building funder, the Foundations seek to make catalytic, lasting investments in non-profits at strategic inflection points and support projects that substantially enhance their impact and sustainability.

Our values of excellence, integrity, respect, collaboration, and a deep sense of humility guide our quiet grantmaking.

The Foundations’ Medical Science program is currently focused on neuroscience and neurodegenerative research. Specifically, the program seeks to identify bottlenecks, knowledge gaps, and unmet funding needs in neurodegenerative disease research. We continually monitor the research and funding landscape to identify opportunities where philanthropy can uniquely address critical barriers to research advancement. We aim to identify and pilot systems‑level solutions and innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness of the scientific ecosystem.

Current strategies include incentivizing global collaboration and lowering barriers to open data and sample sharing. There is potential to broaden the focus to other areas of biomedical research in the future.

The Program Associate supports the Medical Science team by serving as a central project manager, execution partner, and operational lead. This individual works closely with the Senior Advisor and program team to drive forward a portfolio focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative diseases.

This role is designed for a highly motivated self-starter who is intellectually curious about biomedical science, energized by the Foundations’ mission, and eager to learn. The Program Associate operates as a critical partner to the Senior Advisor and Program team where priorities are executed, projects are moving forward, and decisions are supported by clear data and materials, while also embracing hands‑on responsibilities such as data management, quality control, and administrative execution.

The Program Associate also supports the Foundations’ broader programmatic work by coordinating data, systems, and workflows to ensure effective execution across initiatives.

Team Operations & Project Management (40%)

• Serve as the primary project manager for board cycles and other team-wide initiatives, ensuring timeline adherence and managing quality control
• Partner closely with the Medical Science team to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans and ensure strong follow-through
• Act as a connective “hub” across teams, ensuring alignment, communication, and progress on key initiatives
• Coordinate team meetings by setting agendas, preparing briefing materials, and maintaining shared knowledge resources
• Anticipate risks, bottlenecks, and information needs and proactively address them
• Maintain and improve systems, tools, and processes to increase efficiency and clarity

Grant & Strategic Support (30%)

• Se…