Senior Program Officer

About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
A renowned entrepreneur and co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur M. Blank is now recognized for his values-based Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) and as one of America’s leading philanthropists through The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. All his industry-leading businesses, including the foundation operate on six core values: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example and Give Back to Others.

After 30 years and over $1 billion in giving, the foundation has committed to significantly escalating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years. This milestone coincides with deeper participation among the next generation of Blank family members on the board and in advisory capacities, partnering around their shared core beliefs, including the Jewish value of tikkun olam (“heal and repair the world”) and seeking a fuller realization of American ideals.

The foundation works across five collective giving areas which programmatic focus includes Youth Development, Environment, Democracy, Mental Health and Well-Being and Atlanta’s Westside. The foundation also manages a large portfolio of founder-led initiatives, supporting the causes, institutions and relationships our founder holds dear. Geographically, much of the foundation’s work prioritizes Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence. 

About the Foundation’s Westside Atlanta Work and Team:

The Atlanta’s Westside team is comprised of a managing director, senior program officer (this position) and a shared administrative program associate.  The Blank Family Foundation began grantmaking in the Westside in 2014, keen to listen and respond to community needs and preferences. The team will focus on grantmaking and other philanthropic activities to support nonprofit partners working on affordable housing and financial security to advance economic mobility for residents in the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. Of the foundation’s collective giving areas, Atlanta’s Westside is the most localized because of it strategy’s geographic focus and proximity to the BFOB, particularly Mercedes Benz Stadium. Therefore, the Westside team embraces the opportunities and challenges this presents to their work, including balancing its time in the foundation’s office and in the community with grantees and other partners.

Senior Program Officer, Westside Atlanta Key Responsibilities:

The senior program officer, Westside, will be responsible for

executing responsibilities in three primary areas: portfolio management (ex. grantmaking and ongoing grant monitoring, including results tracking)and operations; communications and external relations; and issue-area and relevant general research.

Grantmaking, portfolio management and operations:

• Manage a portfolio of existing and new Westside grants through the full lifecycle from inception to completion.
• Support the Managing Director to monitor the Westside grantmaking strategy.
• Support the Managing Director to develop departmental workplans, monitoring, and adjusting workplans and timelines as needed.
• Source new grantee partner opportunities consistent with the Westside strategy and desired outcomes.
• Draft memos, grant analyses and recommendations, and summary reports.
• Be a resource and thought partner for grantees and other partners.
• Understand and monitor grant budgets and ensure compliance with foundation practices and protocols, including appropriate programmatic and financial due diligence.
• Collaborate with other foundation program staff to explore ways that other foundation collective giving areas might find expression in the Westside.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director to develop and support initiatives that create and promote opportunities for the BFOB to engage in this work, both the business entities and the associates interested in giving back to community.
• Collaborate with the foundation’s Effective Philanthropy team to review evidence and data, ensure alignment with strategy and develop and refine measurement and evaluation for grants and the portfolio as a whole.

Communications & External Relations:

• Collaborate with the Communications team to share portfolio and grantee progress and trends relevant to the Westside strategy.
• Build internal and external relationships with a variety of stakeholders including colleagues, nonprofit grantees, other funders, and community leaders.
• Represent the foundation in external meetings and conferences, and liaise with other philanthropies and government agencies.

Research:

• ​Stay current on literature in the field, remain abreast of current news and philanthropic strategies relevant to the foundation’s Westside strategy, particularly focused on affordable housing and financial security.

Candidate profile:

• Support and promote a growing culture of joy aligned with the foundation/BFOB’s six core values.
• Demonstrate experience in and a passion for affordable housing and financial security.
• Possess excellent organizational, planning and time-management skills.
• Demonstrate nimbleness to adapt to a dynamic team and workplace.
• Possess a balance of intellectual and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and work collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Be adept at multi-tasking, prioritizing, and balancing changing internal and external priorities with minimal direction.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate proficient research and analytical skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently balanced with the ability to work on a team.
• Possess an inquisitive spirit and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Welcome feedback and committed to learning and growing.
• Model leadership for colleagues across the foundation’s program staff.
• Model positive energy and can-do attitude.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, master's degree or equivalent experience is a plus.
• Direct experience in philanthropy (with a preference for place-based philanthropy), project management, and public sector/systems.
• 7+ years of experience and expertise in affordable housing and/or workforce development is a plus.
• Demonstration of insight and/or experience working in underserved communities, implementing community engagement efforts, and understanding community change politics is a plus.
• Project management experience with ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Understanding/familiarity with Atlanta with a preference for experience in Atlanta’s Westside.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Keenly discreet and respectful when handling private and confidential matters.

Working Conditions:

This is an in-person position Monday- Friday working at the Arthur M. Blank Family Office in Atlanta, Georgia.