Senior Program Officer, Community Engagement & Grantmaking

Description

The Cleveland Foundation, established in 1914 as the world’s first community foundation, continues to shape the future of place-based philanthropy more than a century later. With $3.9 billion in assets and a legacy of bold leadership, we are driven by a commitment to improve the lives of everyone who calls Greater Cleveland home, today and for generations to come.

Joining our team means becoming part of a culture that blends history-making impact with forward-looking innovation. Our vision is a vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind. Every team member plays a key role in advancing this vision by tackling Cleveland’s most critical issues, championing opportunities for all, and helping unlock the full potential of our region.

Our headquarters in the heart of Mid Town places us at the center of a historic neighborhood and growing district, surrounded by partners, community leaders and residents who are reimagining what’s possible for our city. Here, you’ll work in a dynamic, collaborative environment designed to spark creativity, deepen relationships, and accelerate change.

At the Cleveland Foundation, you can be part of building a stronger future for every Clevelander.

You are passionate about making a difference in your community and excited by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change. You thrive when working collaboratively with diverse groups to solve complex challenges, and you have a proven ability to lead with integrity, foster inclusiveness, and innovate under pressure. You bring a forward-thinking mindset and a commitment to equity to everything you do, always ensuring your work drives social impact and results in tangible, positive outcomes.

Your best results come from thinking strategically while staying grounded in practical, results-oriented action. You analyze business trends and integrate insights to inform decision-making, identifying long-term opportunities and developing plans to seize them. As an excellent communicator and trusted partner, you can listen actively, seek to understand different perspectives, and apply innovative ideas to drive change. You possess a growth mindset, excel in team dynamics, and have a track record of applying entrepreneurial spirit to problem-solving, all while upholding the values of transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

The Senior Program Officer, Community Impact and Grantmaking is a hybrid role that devotes equal focus to strategic community engagement and grantmaking to advance the Cleveland Foundation’s impact priorities, serving as a bridge between the Cleveland Foundation and the communities it supports. The role cultivates relationships with residents, community leaders, and neighborhood stakeholders while managing a portfolio of grants and initiatives.

Focused primarily on neighborhoods within a one-mile radius of the Foundation's headquarters, the Senior Program Officer identifies community needs, opportunities, and emerging trends to inform funding recommendations and investments that advance the Impact Agenda’s long-term outcomes. The position supports one or more grantmaking areas, including health and human services, community organizing, community development, neighborhood revitalization, or related fields.

The Senior Program Officer, Community Impact and Grantmaking reports to the VP of Grantmaking and will work closely with the Chief Impact Officer on enterprise priorities.

• Exercise strategic leadership as a visible and trusted representative of the Foundation in the community, building and maintaining relationships with resident groups, community-based organizations, non-profits, advocates, public agencies, funders, and cross-sector partners
• Develop a people-based approach to the Foundation’s impact agenda with a particular focus on Invest in Vibrant Neighborhoods, strategically resourcing changemakers in the community
• Drive the Foundation’s community engagement strategy in partnership with the Foundation’s real estate division and place-based development staff, actively leading community meetings, convenings, site…