Program Director

Herbert Simon Family Foundation

Indianapolis (IN)

Hybrid

USD 95,000 - 125,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision coverage

7% employer 403(b) retirement

Paid time off and paid holidays

Paid sabbatical program

Annual holiday closure

Potential annual performance bonus

Hybrid work flexibility on Mondays and

Fridays (in-office Tue/Wed/Thu)

Job summary

Herbert Simon Family Foundation is seeking a Program Director to lead grantmaking across priority areas and build trusted community relationships. You will assess opportunities, develop recommendations, and help advance the Foundation’s strategy with ongoing learning and accountability.

The role emphasizes collaboration, ethics, and the ability to move complex work forward in a growing, mission-driven environment. January 2027 start with hybrid schedule.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit, public, philanthropic, or related sector experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of HSFF impact areas: Arts + Culture, Basic Needs, Environment + Climate, Equity + Justice, and Jewish Causes.
Proficiency with Office 365, Salesforce or similar CRM, project management tools (Asana) and ability to learn SmartSimple quickly.
Strong analytical ability to assess information and form clear recommendations for leadership.
Excellent written and verbal communication for senior decision-makers.
Ability to manage multiple priorities independently with initiative and follow-through.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned grantmaking portfolio including inquiries, timelines, due diligence, reviews and reporting.
Review applications and budgets, translating findings into concise recommendations for the Executive Director and Board.
Develop authentic relationships with grantees, nonprofit leaders, and community partners.
Develop deep knowledge of issues within an assigned impact area and identify opportunities for investment.
Coordinate with stakeholders and participate in site visits, events, and external activities.
Prepare concise materials for Board meetings and support grantmaking decisions.
Help develop new strategic initiatives and special projects.

Skills

Grantmaking

Relationship-building

Strategic thinking

Communication

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Salesforce

Asana

SmartSimple

Job description

About the Herbert Simon Family Foundation

Established in 1999, the Herbert Simon Family Foundation seeks to align the Herbert Simon family across generations to champion the people and ideas that move Indianapolis and Indiana forward. The Foundation supports organizations and leaders working to create communities that are more just, compassionate, resilient, and forward-thinking, with a focus on Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment & Climate, Equity & Justice, and Jewish Causes.

HSFF is growing its dedicated staff and grantmaking capacity by adding up to three Program Directors to lead specific program areas. The Program Directors will serve as outward-facing leaders for assigned impact areas, building trusted community relationships, developing deep subject-matter knowledge, managing grantmaking workflows, and helping move strategic opportunities from idea to execution.

About the Role

The Program Director is a proactive, intellectually curious, and relationship-oriented professional who can pair strong judgment with a sense of urgency. This person will manage an assigned portfolio of grantees and community relationships, assess grant opportunities, develop recommendations, support Board decision-making, and help the Foundation continually improve its grantmaking strategy and practice.

Prior foundation or grantmaking experience is helpful but not required. We are interested in candidates with meaningful experience in the nonprofit, public, philanthropic, or related sectors who can quickly build credibility in one or more of HSFF's impact areas.

The selected Program Directors will join HSFF in January 2027.

What You’ll Do

Manage an assigned grantmaking portfolio, including inbound inquiries, application timelines, due diligence, proposal review, recommendations, reporting, and ongoing relationship management.
Review grant applications, organizational information, budgets and reports and translate findings into clear, thoughtful recommendations for the Executive Director and Board.
Build authentic relationships with grantees, nonprofit leaders, community partners, peer funders and other stakeholders.
Develop deep knowledge of the issues, organizations, leaders and opportunities within an assigned impact area.
Identify emerging needs, promising approaches, strategic partnerships and opportunities for proactive investment or system-level impact.
Convene stakeholders and participate in community meetings, site visits, events, and other external activities on behalf of the Foundation.
Prepare concise, decision-ready materials for Board meetings and support follow-up on grantmaking decisions.
Research and help develop new strategic initiatives, community programs, learning opportunities, and special projects.
Partner with other Program Directors and Foundation leadership on cross-portfolio priorities and shared learning.
Help ensure applicants and grantees experience the Foundation as thoughtful, responsive, respectful, and clear.
Balance strong analysis and attention to detail with the ability to move work forward at a swift pace.
Contribute to a growing team culture grounded in candor, humility, learning, accountability, and care for people.

What You’ll Bring

Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in the nonprofit, public, philanthropic, or related sectors.
Demonstrated knowledge of, or meaningful experience related to, at least one HSFF impact area, including Arts + Culture, Basic Needs, Environment + Climate, Equity + Justice, and Jewish Causes.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office/365, Salesforce or similar CRM, project management software (HSFF uses Asana), and the ability to learn new systems quickly, like SmartSimple, our grants management platform.
Great analytical skills and the ability to assess complex information, identify what matters most, and form a clear point of view.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write concise recommendations for senior decision-makers.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects with independence, initiative and follow-through.
Advanced relationship-building skills and the confidence to work effectively with nonprofit leaders, community members, Board members and highly influential stakeholders.
High standards of ethics, confidentiality, discretion and professional judgment.
Curiosity, humility and a willingness to learn from people with different backgrounds, expertise and lived experiences.
Comfort with ambiguity, change and a growing organization where processes will continue to evolve.
Ability to attend occasional evening or weekend meetings and events and travel locally as needed.

How We Work

HSFF is building a culture that puts people first, leans in and learns, brings joy to work, does the right thing, and operates without ego. Team members are expected to bring candor and humility, take ownership of their work, stay curious, and help one another move important work forward without sacrificing relationships or quality.

Who Will Thrive Here

Ideal candidates will be grounded, self-directed, and comfortable forming their own judgment. They will be able to work with people who hold significant influence, wealth, or authority without becoming overly deferential, while also approaching philanthropy with humility and respect for the organizations and communities closest to the work.

They will enjoy variety, take initiative, move with purpose, and bring both strategic thinking and disciplined execution to a role where the stakes are meaningful, and the work is highly relational.

What We Offer