Program Officer

Program Officer

Colorado Gives Foundation is seeking a Program Officer to serve as a trusted connector across Jefferson County (“Jeffco”)—building authentic relationships, listening deeply to community needs and aspirations, and translating those insights into strategic opportunities for impact. At the heart of this role is a simple but powerful belief: thriving communities are built through relationships, listening, collaboration, and meaningful action.

Our philanthropic approach draws on a range of tools, including grantmaking, impact investing, policy and advocacy, data and research, convening, and storytelling. The Program Officer will help bring these tools together in ways that elevate community voice, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful, lasting change. This role is an opportunity to help shape a more connected, responsive, and equitable county—advancing our shared vision of a community where All of Jeffco Thrives.

Who is Colorado Gives? 

Colorado Gives Foundation connects people, ideas, and Colorado nonprofits to make good happen. We are a Jefferson County grantmaker and statewide we invest to build the capacity of nonprofits and donors through ColoradoGives.org, nonprofit endowments and donor services. We make it easy for people to donate to the causes they care about, enabling meaningful change to help our neighbors thrive. Our work is rooted in attentive listening and a firm commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Together, we strive to build resilient, connected, and thriving communities. Colorado Gives Foundation is where donors find and discover the community impact that matters most to them, which is good for everyone.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, nurture and sustain relationships with nonprofits, community members, and other stakeholders to understand community needs and enhance customer service
  • Use community listening strategies to assess the issues relevant to our Community Impact Strategy, determine funding opportunities and inform programs or tactics aligned to our focus areas
  • Serve as spokesperson for assigned philanthropic opportunities, including hosting office hours and responding to customer requests
  • Recruit, organize and coordinate community review processes for open/competitive grant opportunities, as assigned
• Implement philanthropic tools (including grantmaking) for assigned focus areas within Community Impact Strategy.
  • Support the development of programming and implementation of philanthropic tools to support community impact efforts
  • Develop and manage directed, responsive and emergent philanthropic efforts aligned with the Foundation’s Community Impact Strategy and community needs, as needed
  • Help identify where specific philanthropic tools and Foundation functions (marketing, communications, ColoradoGives.org) might be helpful to achieve our Community Impact Strategy
  • Conduct due diligence, review grant applications and recommend grant awards and declinations based on alignment with Community Impact Strategy
• Regularly assess the progress of grants and use learnings to support the refinement of operational processes and our Community Impact Strategy.
  • Review impact reports from grantees and identify common themes to both assess and inform our strategy
  • Provide customer support to nonprofit and community partners, including advice, guidance and connections on ideas, projects and applications.
  • Consolidate feedback from community partners on our operational processes and provide input/supporting efforts to improve operational performance
  • Track performance of philanthropic tools to impact metrics in our Community Impact Strategy
  • Implement a continuous community listening approach to inform adjustments to our Community Impact Strategy
• Provide exceptional customer service to all internal and external partners, including other employees, donors, nonprofits and community members across our organizational offerings
• Work across departments to ensure successful implementation of philanthropic tools
• Model our organizational values and contribute to a positive work culture
• Other duties as assigned

 

To succeed as the Program Officer, you should have:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent years of experience, with a minimum 5 years of relevant experience working with diverse communities, nonprofit organizations, management, philanthropy, grantmaking, entrepreneurship and/or program evaluation
• Basic understanding of philanthropic tools and concepts such as grantmaking, impact investing, convening, policy/advocacy and systems change
• Excellent public speaking, persuasive writing, communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to perform at a high level independently and within a team with limited supervision
• Strong project management and organizational skills managing diverse projects 
• Innovative thinker with a record of accomplishment in problem-solving, developing action plans and creating impact
• Ability to build community relationships, listen proactively, identify community needs and make decisions based on community feedback

If you are passionate about strengthening communities through philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and collaborative problem-solving, we encourage you to apply today! 

 

Benefits, Perks and the Fun Stuff:

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation of $89,000-$100,000 depending on experience and extensive benefits package including dental, vision, retirement and 100% employer-paid medical. All employees are eligible for an annual bonus, professional development education and flexible work schedules. We are also conveniently located on the G-line in Old Town Arvada. Oh, and we’re pretty fun so we think you’ll like working with us. 

Apply now and be a part of something meaningful!

By now you’re at the bottom of this job posting so chances are you’re probably interested in this role. If you’re hesitant because you don’t meet every requirement but you think you’re a fit, please give it a shot and apply.

Workplace Culture

We are committed to maintaining the best environment for our employees where people can show up as their authentic selves and grow with the Foundation. 

 

In that spirit, we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetics, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

We anticipate that the application window will close in 60 days.