Community Programs Officer

Spirit League; Seacliff (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401k + employer contribution

Paid vacation & holidays

HSA/FSA options

Job summary

The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County seeks a Community Programs Officer to lead grantmaking, scholarships, and fellowships while guiding nonprofit capacity-building and community engagement. You will supervise program staff and partner with local leaders to advance trust-based, impact-driven philanthropy across Santa Cruz County.

Ideal candidates have 7–10 years in philanthropy or nonprofit leadership, strong strategic and communication skills, and a deep understanding of local needs.

Qualifications

• Seven to ten years of progressive experience in philanthropy or nonprofit leadership.
• Commitment to assisting Santa Cruz County’s community of givers and changemakers.
• Deep understanding of local nonprofit ecosystems.
• Experience supervising staff and leading teams.
• Strong project management, relationship-building, facilitation, and partnership skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Experience presenting to boards, committees, and community audiences.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead foundation's grantmaking, scholarships, and fellowship programs.
• Support nonprofit capacity-building and community engagement activities.
• Supervise program staff and manage two Engagement Coordinators and an intern.
• Develop and refine grant guidelines, processes, reporting, and evaluation frameworks.
• Represent the Foundation at seminars, workshops, and public events.
• Monitor community needs and adapt programs to maximize impact.

Skills

Grantmaking leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Independent working

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OFFICER

Hours: Mostly M-F 8:30am-5:00pm, with occasional evening and weekend assignments

Location: Aptos, CA (Mostly in-person, with some work from home flexibility)

Reports to: Kevin Heuer

Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000 annually (Actual salary will be determined by the candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and expertise.)

Benefits: Medical, dental, disability & life insurance (dependent coverage available, employee pays dependent premiums); options for Health Savings or Flexible Spending Accounts; retirement 401k + employer contribution; sick time; 4 weeks’ vacation; 12 paid holidays + 2 personal holidays

Application Deadline: Nov. 6, though qualified candidates will be interviewed and possibly offered the position prior to the closing date

About Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

The Community Foundation was born in the wake of the 1982 floods and mudslides that devastated the Pajaro and San Lorenzo valleys. Generous people looking to help were searching for a central organization to send donations to—one that would support the long-term recovery efforts. But such an organization didn’t yet exist, and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County was formed to meet that need. From those humble beginnings 43 years ago, we’ve grown to address needs far beyond disaster. Since our founding, our donors have helped us award $279 million in grants, loans, and scholarships across education, the arts, human services, the environment, health, and economic development.

Our vision is to make Santa Cruz County thrive for all who call it home, now and in the future. We do this by bringing together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things. We value community-driven solutions that are based on trusted relationships with our nonprofit partners and donors.

What’s great about this job

This is an important moment for Santa Cruz County. Nonprofits, donors, and community leaders are navigating increasing challenges alongside emerging opportunities. The Senior Community Investment Officer will help the Foundation identify where philanthropy can make the greatest difference, strengthen nonprofit organizations, and foster collaborative solutions that help our community thrive. Few roles offer the opportunity to influence so many aspects of community wellbeing in Santa Cruz County. You'll gain a unique county-wide perspective across issues spanning housing, arts, health, environment, economic mobility, youth development, seniors, racial equity, disaster resilience, safety net needs and more.

What you’ll be doing

The Community Programs Officer provides leadership for the Foundation's grantmaking, scholarship & fellowship programs while supporting nonprofit capacity‑building efforts, and community engagement activities. The role ensures effective grantmaking practices, cultivates partnerships with community leaders and nonprofit organizations, and supervises program staff. The role serves as an ambassador for the Foundation and helps position the organization as a trusted funder, convener, and catalyst for community change.

Community Leadership

• Promote the Foundation's visibility, credibility, and community leadership role.
• Monitor emerging community needs, nonprofit trends, relevant policy and funding environment developments, and philanthropic best practices.
• Support organizational strategic planning and implementation.
• Lead special community initiatives and strategic projects as assigned.

Grantmaking Leadership

• Manage the Foundation's competitive, discretionary, and strategic grantmaking programs, evaluating 100-200 applicants annually.
• Oversee administration of an annual scholarship program and a bi-annual visual arts fellowship program, evaluating 300+ combined applicants.
• Ensure grantmaking practices are equitable, transparent, responsive, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Guide due diligence, proposal review, recommendation development, and grant approval processes.
• Monitor grant portfolios for effectiveness, compliance, learning, and impact.
• Develop and refine grant guidelines, application processes, reporting requirements, and evaluation frameworks.
• Advance trust-based and relationship-centered grantmaking practices.

Community Engagement & Education

• Coordinate with staff and partners to develop and manage an annual calendar of nonprofit learning and connection building opportunities offered by the Foundation.
• Assist Borina Nonprofit Resource Center visitors, as well as the management and of the Foundation’s resource library. Answer informational queries from the public.
• Represent the Foundation at seminars, workshops, convenings, community meetings, and public events.

Staff Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise & mentor program staff (currently 2.2 FTE) including Engagement Coordinators and an intern.
• Support departmental annual goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
• Ensure effective workload management and operational excellence across the program team.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration with donor services, communications, finance, and operations staff.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Learning, Evaluation & Impact

• Support the design and implementation of actionable evaluation tools for improved decision making.
• Prepare agendas, recommendations, reports, and presentations for the Board of Directors.
• Support trustees and donors in understanding community needs, program strategy, and impact outcomes.

Desired Qualifications

• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, public service, education, community development, health, government, or other sectors who have experience building partnerships, leading initiatives, and creating community impact.
• Commitment to assisting and empowering Santa Cruz County’s community of givers and changemakers to accelerate positive social change.
• Deep understanding of local community needs and regional nonprofit ecosystems.
• Experience supervising staff and leading teams.
• Strong project management, relationship‑building, facilitation, and partnership‑development skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Experience presenting to boards, committees, and community audiences.
• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational, and personal leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and within a team.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, master’s degree a plus.
• A valid California driver’s license, insurance and reliable transportation.

Typical demands

• This is a full-time, non-exempt from overtime position and reports directly to the Chief of Communications and Programs
• This role is highly community-facing. The role regularly attends meetings, workshops, site visits, and events throughout Santa Cruz County and occasionally works evenings or weekends.
• Physical demands including sitting at a desk for 2 – 3 hours at a time, keyboarding 2 – 3 hours at a time, lifting and moving documents and supplies, bending to retrieve documents.

What success looks like in your first 12 months

• Build strong relationships with nonprofit leaders, donors, community partners, and public agencies throughout Santa Cruz County.
• Lead implementation of $3+ million in grantmaking including Community Grants, scholarships, Rydell Visual Arts Fellowships, and other grant investments led by staff.
• Strengthen grantmaking operations and systems for learning, evaluation, and impact measurement.
• Manage a slate of 10-12 well-attended and high value events, workshops, and seminars that support nonprofit effectiveness.
• Partner with the VP, Communications & Community Programs and colleagues to advance strategic community initiatives.
• Support and develop a high-performing team of two Engagement Coordinators and a department intern.

Everyone is welcome here

Our vision is to make Santa Cruz County thrive for all who call it home, now and in the future. That starts in the workplace. We strive to build an office community where employees feel that they belong and can thrive. Learn more about our equity approach and actions. We encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ people, Bilingual (Spanish/English) candidates, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

What’s great about working at the Community Foundation

• Our backyard is the Forest of Nisene Marks.
• We have electric car charging stations, indoor bike storage, and showers.
• We are five minutes from Seacliff State Beach.
• We have snacks and bottomless coffee and tea!
• We are a staff team of surfers, dog-lovers, cat aficionados, parents, care‑givers, bikers, bakers, crafters, hikers, musicians, softball players, readers, and volunteers.
• We truly and deeply care about the people and places of Santa Cruz County and celebrate that our work is about helping build a safe, happy, and healthy county for everyone.