Program Officer

About the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation

The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation sustains its founders' legacy by funding arts education programs in NYC schools, awarding grants to cultural institutions, and loaning artworks for scholarly exhibitions. In 2024, the Foundation awarded $6.6 million in grants, reflecting its deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We seek a committed arts education leader to advance our grantmaking through trust-based practices that center grantee leadership. The Program Officer builds strong relationships, supports grantee capacity and collaboration, and reduces administrative burden by documenting progress through direct engagement rather than formal reporting. The ideal candidate brings deep arts education knowledge, strong NYC cultural and educational networks, and passion for advancing equity through the arts.

• Grantmaking & Strategy
  • Collaborate with team to strengthen arts education initiatives and develop funding priorities that center grantee leadership
  • Identify and evaluate new strategies aligned with the Foundation’s mission and trust-based principles
  • Serve as primary liaison for designated grantees, reviewing progress and recommending new grants through transparent, value-driven processes
  • Fulfill due diligence requirements while minimizing grantee administrative burden
  • Champion equity, access, and anti-racism in arts education with rigor and urgency
• Grantee Support & Partnership
  • Build trust-based relationships to understand grantee work, strategies, and goals
  • Partner with grantees to identify capacity-building opportunities tied to their definitions of success
  • Meet regularly with grantees to provide feedback, resources, and connections to additional funding opportunities
• Evaluation & Learning
  • Design assessment frameworks, collect and analyze data, and synthesize actionable insights in partnership with grantees
  • Share evaluation outcomes that elevate grantee work with leadership, partners, and the field
  • Research and analyze emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in arts education and youth development
• Convening & Field Building
  • Design and facilitate convenings for peer learning and knowledge sharing
  • Represent Foundation at conferences and professional gatherings
  • Build partnerships for collective impact and coordinate philanthropic responses to sector-wide needs

• 6+ years in arts/cultural programming, arts education, or related fields (preferably NYC)
• Master’s degree in arts, arts education, or related field—or equivalent experience; multidisciplinary backgrounds welcome
• Deep arts education knowledge and commitment to art's role in social and cultural transformation
• Experience building trust-based relationships to support nonprofits strategic goals
• Strong program evaluation and analytical skills, including qualitative and quantitative research methods and ability to synthesize complex information
• Alignment with Foundation values: creativity, equity, inclusion, community partnership, anti-racism
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing systemic inequities and centering marginalized voices
• Experience working authentically with NYC's diverse communities
• Strong analytical skills; ability to synthesize complex information and draft clear analyses
• Results-oriented with comfort using data while respecting grantee autonomy
• Facility reviewing nonprofit financial statements and budgets
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills
• Proven leadership, collaboration, and project management abilities
• Ability to work independently and in teams; occasional local travel required

• Experience driving organizational growth and impact
• Knowledge of inclusive classrooms and universal design in arts learning
• Deep NYC arts education ecosystem experience
• Familiarity with Salesforce or similar grant management systems
• Experience organizing donors for social justice or arts initiatives

Salary: $130,000–$140,000

Work Model:
Hybrid—in-office Tuesday–Thursday, two remote days weekly, flexibility for site visits

Benefits:

• 100% employer-paid medical, vision, dental for employees and families
• FSA with employer match for healthcare and dependent care
• 401(k) with employer match from hire date
• 15 vacation days (increasing with tenure), 11 holidays, Christmas–New Year closure, sick leave
• Professional development opportunities

For full consideration, please submit resume, cover letter (describing interest, experience, and alignment with trust-based philanthropy), and one writing sample (grant report, evaluation, article, or analysis). No phone calls.

The Matisse Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.