Senior Program Officer (YEF

Senior Program Officer;
Exempt Full-time;

NYC Preferred (open to candidates in locations key to YEF’s vision); $85,000 – $95,000 commensurate with experience

The Youth Engagement Fund (YEF) is the only donor collaborative in the United States created to increase the civic participation and electoral power of young people and has been dedicated to doing so for over a decade. We are uniquely positioned to catalyze and facilitate greater philanthropic investment in building political participation and civic activism among young people, their networks, and communities to accelerate progressive social change.

In 2018, YEF committed to a vision that builds the voice and agency of youth of color and marginalized young people to advance democratic governance and generate a culture ofyear-roundcivic engagement. YEF’s grantmaking principles lead through a philanthropic leadership model that:
1) demonstrates commitment to racial equity;
2) supports the advancement and power building of marginalized youth, especially youth of color and their communities;
3) adds value to building local infrastructure in geographic areas with the largest and growing numbers of communities of color; and
4) expands resources for youth focused efforts that create vehicles for youth and communities of color to lead and becomelife-longcivic participants through issues that are important to them. YEF invests instate-basedyouth- focused social justice organizations–mainlyin the South and Southwest–thatengage youth of color and marginalized young people in civic engagement, including non-partisanvoter engagement, issue and electoral campaigns. To build , grow and catalyze resources, infrastructure, and leadership in the youth civic engagement sector, YEF provides monetary grants, serves as a connector and convener, and supports access to technical assistance to ensure youth focused groups are equipped with the tools, relationships, and structures necessary for success.

YEF brings together diverse donors both institutional and individual, working across issues, and in varied regions, to enable collaborative grantmaking towards the common goals of a more reflective and inclusive democracy. We aim to build a generation of marginalized and youth leaders of color who are activating their peers and their communities into lifelong civic participation by engaging philanthropic and organizationaldecision-makersto make investing in youth of color one of their priorities to making the U.S. democracy reflective of all people.

Over the past year, YEF engaged in thoughtful organizational and leadership development processes to meet the demand of thesocio-politicalmoment. Going into 2020, YEF is guided by the leadership of new Executive Director, Alejandra Ruiz who has been involved in the movement for social justice for 15 years since she first shared her story as an undocumented student turned new youth voter.

Alejandra comes to YEF with experience in grassroots organizing at the local and national levels, and expertise in navigating the world of philanthropy, especially with funder and donor partners invested in youth leadership and civic engagement given her most recent fundraising roles at United We Dream and Movement Voter Project. Her approach to leadership is informed by a racial justice and intersectionality lens formed by her development as a youth leader of color in the progressive movement in the United States.

Joining YEF is an opportunity to be part of a new approach to building a philanthropic community towards a vision for intersectional grantmaking. Working with YEF is an opportunity to excel and grow as a leader. YEF has a strong commitment to the personal and professional development of staff.

This is a top leadership position in the organization that serves with the guidance of the Executive Director, focused on supporting the growth and impact of YEF’s movement partners (grantees) and the youth civic engagement sector more broadly. The Senior Program Officer will lead and manage relationship building and partnerships with grantees including movement, training, and research…