Program Associate, US Fund (Astraea)

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice - New York, NY; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice seeks a committed, organized Program Associate for the US Fund to support grantmaking and day-to-day activities within a team of 11. You will help manage a $2 million annual national grantmaking effort and provide accompaniment and technical assistance to grantee partners.

Based in New York, this role emphasizes relationship building, logistics management, and coordination across departments to advance LGBTQI racial, economic, and gender justice through

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of programmatic experience in social justice, human rights and/or philanthropic fields.
• Commitment to and knowledge of issues facing LGBTQI racial justice movements in the U.S., and in the U.S. South a plus
• Commitment to racial, economic, and gender justice
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple and often competing deadlines
• Proficiency in general computer and web-based technology including word processing, spreadsheets, and email. Previous experience with program-related database systems and /or project management applications a plus.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven track record in developing creative solutions and trouble-shooting under tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills to manage a wide variety of internal and external relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong collaborative approach, including kindness and humor in partnering with others
• Passion for Astraea’s mission as a public foundation and role as a women’s fund
• Fluency in Spanish in addition to English a plus

Responsibilities

• Support US Fund grantmaking activities, including screening letters of interest, updating proposal forms and engaging in outreach with requests for proposals, participating in proposal review, and supporting grant decision-making meetings.
• Provide support to Program Officers during review and decision-making processes, including sending endorsement requests, conducting checks for compliance, and following up with all applicants.
• Support preparation of grants dockets and other materials for meetings of advisors, fund steering committee members, donor partners, or external audiences.
• Accompaniment, Technical Assistance, and Other Program Activities: Support implementation of grantee accompaniment activities, philanthropic advocacy and engagement activities, and program-related meetings, including handling logistics (travel, venues, lodging, catering, audio-visual & translation needs), and producing/organizing meeting materials.
• Provide logistical and communications support for Racial Justice Fund member calls, meetings, and ongoing coordination.
• Work with the Senior Grants Manager and the Fiscal Department to support grant disbursement processes, including generating grant agreements and processing payments.
• Coordinate administrative tasks such as maintaining up to date grantee data in database and server and maintaining timely and accurate filing of all grantee information.
• Cross-team collaborative work: Support the learning & evaluation activities of the US Fund, including coordinating with Program Officers on mid-term check-in calls with grantee partners and contributing to the review and analysis of grantee reports/program activities.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Development teams to collect and share grantee information, and amplify the work of grantee partners through external channels
• Participation in organization-wide working groups, planning, and other activities as identified

Skills

Program management

Social justice

Organizational skills

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Database systems

Project management software

Job description

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S. and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.

The first grant maker to hundreds of organizations, Astraea plays a catalytic role for LGBTQI groups around the world - particularly those led by lesbian and queer women, trans and gender non-conforming folks, intersex people, and people of color. Our grantmaking, capacity building, media and communications, and philanthropic advocacy programs support their work to challenge oppression and claim rights. A proud public foundation and one of the first women’s funds in the world, in our 40-year history we have granted over $40 million to LGBTQI activists and artists.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Astraea seeks a committed, collaborative, and organized person to join our Program Team as a Program Associate for the US Fund. Working with our program team of 11 people, the Program Associate will support grantmaking and the day-to-day activities of the US Fund. This includes supporting the Fund’s $2 million in annual national grantmaking, supporting Program Officers to provide accompaniment and technical assistance to grantee partners to strengthen movements, and supporting the overall smooth operations of the team. People of color, lesbian, bisexual and queer women, trans and gender non-conforming people, intersex people, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. This position will ideally be based in Astraea’s office in New York. Candidates based in the South may also apply to hold the position remotely.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support US Fund grantmaking activities, including screening letters of interest, updating proposal forms and engaging in outreach with requests for proposals, participating in proposal review, and supporting grant decision-making meetings.
• Provide support to Program Officers during review and decision-making processes, including sending endorsement requests, conducting checks for compliance, and following up with all applicants.
• Support preparation of grants dockets and other materials for meetings of advisors, fund steering committee members, donor partners, or external audiences.
• Accompaniment, Technical Assistance, and Other Program Activities
  • Support implementation of grantee accompaniment activities, philanthropic advocacy and engagement activities, and program‑related meetings, including handling logistics (travel, venues, lodging, catering, audio‑visual & translation needs), and producing/organizing meeting materials. Accompaniment is defined as the strong relationship‑building and programmatic activities carried out in partnership with our grantee partners to deepen access to the resources, expertise, networks, tools, and funding they need and to demonstrate support and solidarity.
  • Provide logistical and communications support for Racial Justice Fund member calls, meetings, and ongoing coordination.
• Work with the Senior Grants Manager and the Fiscal Department to support grant disbursement processes, including generating grant agreements and processing payments
• Coordinate administrative tasks such as maintaining up to date grantee data in database and server and maintaining timely and accurate filing of all grantee information
• Cross-team collaborative work
  • Support the learning & evaluation activities of the US Fund, including coordinating with Program Officers on mid‑term check‑in calls with grantee partners and contributing to the review and analysis of grantee reports/program activities.
  • Collaborate with the Communications and Development teams to collect and share grantee information, and amplify the work of grantee partners through external channels
  • Participation in organization‑wide working groups, planning, and other activities as identified

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum two years of programmatic experience in social justice, human rights and/or philanthropic fields.
• Commitment to and knowledge of issues facing LGBTQI racial justice movements in the U.S., and in the U.S. South a plus
• Commitment to racial, economic, and gender justice
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple and often competing deadlines
• Proficiency in general computer and web‑based technology including word processing, spreadsheets, and email. Previous experience with program‑related database systems and /or project management applications a plus.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a proven track record in developing creative solutions and trouble‑shooting under tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills to manage a wide variety of internal and external relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong collaborative approach, including kindness and humor in partnering with others
• Passion for Astraea’s mission as a public foundation and role as a women’s fund
• Fluency in Spanish in addition to English a plus

COMPENSATION

Astraea offers a competitive salary and benefits for this position. The starting annual compensation for this position is $55,000.

Astraea is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse (multi‑gender, cross‑class, and multi‑racial), collaborative, and sustainable work environment. For more information visit www.astraeafoundation.org.