Position Title:                  Program Officer – Collective Abundance Fund NDN Foundation

Location:                          Remote, with preferred residence and roots in North Dakota

Application Deadline:  January 31, 2024

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Program Manager, this Program Officer position will support the NDN Foundation Collective Abundance Fund Program specifically for North Dakota. This includes supporting all grantmaking processes as part of a continuum beginning with dissemination through application, review, selection, reporting, and evaluation, as well as managing grantee-partner relationships, and sharing information and capacity building resources.

WHO WE ARE

NDN Collective is the most ambitious, systemic effort to empower Indigenous Peoples in the history of philanthropy. We are creating a paradigm change in how society invests in Indigenous Peoples by dramatically scaling up investment and shifting decision-making power. We are doing four key things to create a new ecosystem that supports Indigenous self-determination:

1. We are dramatically increasing philanthropic investment into Indigenous-led organizations, with the goal of giving out $50M per year in grants.
2. We are creating an Indigenous-led CDFI to move $100M of for-profit investment into projects led by and serving Indigenous communities.
3. We are building capacity in Indigenous communities to be able to absorb this new influx of capital.
4. We are advocating for Indigenous rights and policy changes that will enable our peoples and communities to thrive.

What Sets Us Apart

• We represent the people we serve—we are Indigenous-led and support Indigenous people and organizations
• We think in systems and recognize the interconnectedness of all living things
• We are changemakers that have and model a mindset of abundance
• We believe in the power of Indigenous self-determination to create a just, equitable world for all people and the planet
• We integrate culture and ceremony into our work
• We acknowledge and pay respects to our elders and past while taking ownership and control of our future.

THE POSITION

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Supporting the planning and implementation of the Collective Abundance Fund, a newer grantmaking program within the Foundation, the grantmaking arm of NDN Collective.
• Assisting in the recruitment, outreach, assessment, and relationship management of individual grantees across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
• Responding to inquiries regarding the grant program and providing information and feedback to grantseekers.
• Reviewing proposals, budgets, and grant reports; making recommendations for funding decisions and allocations.
• Providing constructive feedback to declined applicants, as requested.
• Co-creating award notification letters to individual grantees and handling general correspondence.
• Analyzing and utilizing grant data for the continuous improvement and refinement of grantmaking programs and processes.
• Supporting the grantmaking process through the effective utilization of all internal systems and procedures.
• Assisting the Foundation team in its collaboration with the Research & Evaluation team to evaluate the outcomes and impact of all grant programs.
• Creating and maintaining critical internal and external relationships while supporting processes that will ensure success for all grantees.
• Working with the advisory committees as needed and appropriate.
• Facilitating grantee convenings, meetings, or site visits, either virtually or in-person.
• Supporting the entire Foundation team with grant reviews and planning for all NDN Grant Programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHO YOU ARE

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 3-4 years of relevant experience
• Prior grantmaking experience with a non-profit, tribal or governmental agency, or other entity
• Demonstrated commitment to serving the public in a mission-driven organization
• Demonstrated experience and deeply networked in Indigenous communities within Minnesota,
• North Dakota, and/or South Dakota
• Demonstrated ability to assess qualitative and quantitative outcome data and able to provide
• coaching and technical assistance to grantees to help them achieve exemplary results

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated success in grantmaking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong presentation and public speaking skills
• Effective in the ability to think strategically, conceptualize, lead, and execute complex projects
• while conveying their impact to various audiences
• Excellent organizational skills while paying strict attention to detail
• Strong collaborating as part of a team to move projects forward in a fast-paced environment
• Outstanding research and analytical skills
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and objectives
• Outstanding partnership development skills
• Success with persuasive writing and has experience developing complex communications projects

Personal Characteristics

• ACTIVATOR: You are a self-reliant person and are strong at making things happen by turning thoughts into actions.
• LEARNER: You have strong learning agility and are able to rapidly understand and analyze new situations. You learn from your successes and failures and improve processes in your work.
• COMMUNICATOR: You are an exceptionally strong communicator who can create high-quality materials and deliver compelling messages and presentations.
• ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT: You are ambitious and creative and enjoy the process of building something from the ground up.
• SOCIALLY & EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT: You are able to work efficiently and respectfully with others. You understand how individuals, groups, and societies work and you build rapport through being trustworthy and empathetic. 
• DETAIL ORIENTED: You strive for perfection and are able to move from the high level of a project to its smallest details. 
• FLEXIBLE: You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are flexible when it is necessary. You are willing to travel when needed and excel in a remote worksite.

This position is salaried, commensurate with experience at a GS level 11 ranging from $58,465
to $76,000. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as 401(k) retirement
plan, a wellness program, personal leave and professional development.

HOW TO APPLY

Send an email to jobs@ndncollective.org with the subject line “INSERT JOB TITLE – [YOUR NAME].” In the email, please include:

As a single PDF attachment, include:

• Your resume
• 1-page cover letter explaining your interest in the organization and position
• Short answers to the following questions:
  • How does your indigeneity inform your current work and your interest in the position?
  • What is your philosophy about the position?
  • What would you be most nervous about going into this role if you were offered and accepted the position?
  • NDN Collective conducts background checks, is there anything you want to share with us about your background?
  • What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
• In the body of the email, please copy and paste the content of your short answers and include your name, phone number, and email address. 

• During the month of December we freeze all hiring. Though applicants may be contacted for interviews during this time, please understand that we will not hire any new employees until January.

As attention to detail is critical for success in this role, only applicants who follow these specific application guidelines will be considered.

Note: Please apply to one position only.

NDN Collective is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination.  It is NDN Collective’s policy to comply with all federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity. In keeping with that policy, NDN Collective is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and harassment and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any of our employees or others present at our facilities by anyone, including any NDN Collective supervisor, co-worker, vendor or client.