SMB Program Associate

Program Associate, Sm B Innovation & Fundraising

Plug and Play Foundation's mission is to build the next generation of impactful entrepreneurs and innovators by expanding access to technology, career pathways, and innovation ecosystems for communities facing opportunity gaps. As the nonprofit arm of Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, we leverage an extensive network of startups, corporations, investors, governments, and community partners to make innovation and economic opportunity more accessible.

Our work is organized across three pathways:
Access, Elevate, and Impact.

Elevate helps small and medium-sized businesses identify challenges, connect with innovative technology solutions, and adopt tools that support sustainable growth. Through workshops, accelerators, technology grants, and individualized support, participating businesses gain practical exposure to technologies that can improve areas such as marketing, customer acquisition, staffing, inventory management, payments, operations, and productivity.

The Program Associate, Sm B Innovation & Fundraising will support the planning, execution, funding, and continued growth of the Elevate program. This role has two primary areas of responsibility: managing Elevate's small-business innovation programs, startup pilots, workshops, events, and participant relationships; and identifying and securing grants, sponsor ships, and partnerships that support the program's growth and long-term sustainability.

As an entrepreneurial organization in the early stages of building the Foundation, our team members wear many hats and contribute beyond their primary areas of responsibility. We are looking for a hardworking, resourceful builder who is excited to create new programs and systems, take initiative, solve problems, and help shape how Elevate grows.

This individual will conduct ongoing prospect research, maintain the program's funding pipeline, draft and submit grant applications and sponsorship proposals, manage deadlines, and support funder reporting. They will also work directly with small-business owners, startups, corporate partners, government agencies, chambers of commerce, and community organizations.

The ideal candidate is an excellent writer and researcher who is highly organized, proactive, relationship-oriented, and comfortable balancing program delivery, fundraising, and the evolving needs of a growing organization.

• Support the planning and execution of Elevate program cohorts, workshops, pilots, and events.
• Recruit, screen, and onboard small and medium-sized businesses and startups for program participation.
• Conduct discovery interviews to understand each business's needs, operational challenges, technology readiness, and goals.
• Maintain regular communication with participants and provide clear information regarding expectations, timelines, deliverables, and next steps.
• Coordinate onboarding, progress check-ins, and exit interviews.
• Maintain accurate participant records, program documentation, attendance information, and follow-up notes.
• Identify participant challenges early and escalate risks or delays when appropriate.

• Source and evaluate startups whose solutions address the needs of participating businesses.
• Conduct initial research and due diligence on startup products, business models, traction, and suitability for the program.
• Support the matching of startup solutions with participating small businesses.
• Coordinate introductory meetings, demonstrations, pilot planning sessions, and implementation check-ins.
• Develop clear pilot plans outlining goals, responsibilities, timelines, success measures, and expected outcomes.
• Track pilot progress and help troubleshoot communication, adoption, or implementation challenges.
• Gather feedback from participating businesses and startups throughout the pilot process.
• Document pilot results, lessons learned, and recommendations for future program improvements.

• Support the design and facilitation of workshops that help small-business owners understand and adopt practical technology solutions.
• Develop accessible educational materials, demonstrations, guides, and toolkits for participants with varying levels of technical experience.
• Coordinate subject-matter experts, startup representatives, mentors, and corporate partners to lead relevant sessions.
• Help business owners understand how tools such as artificial intelligence can support marketing, customer service, productivity, operations, and business growth.
• Ensure educational content is practical, understandable, and connected to the real needs of participating businesses.

• Research prospective funders / grant opportunities across foundations, corporations, and government programs.
• Draft grant applications, sponsorship decks, proposals, and partner reports.
• Support communication and relationship management with strategic partners.
• Help…