Program Officer - Adaptive Philanthropy

PurposePhil Career; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ford Foundation in New York City is seeking an Adaptive Philanthropy Program Officer to shape and steward a multi‑year grant portfolio. You will partner with the Chief Innovation Officer, manage the full grants lifecycle, and engage field leaders to increase impact across the sector.

Based in a hybrid New York office, you will coordinate with regional, legal, and communications teams while guiding strategic investments and intermediary relationships for lasting field health.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of work experience including 6+ years in philanthropy with multiyear flexible funding, equitable partnerships and global trends.
• Proven ability to develop and implement complex strategies with strong qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Organized, institution-first leader who thrives in ambiguity and communicates with impact across diverse audiences.
• Collaborative team player who respects differences and shares goals across the foundation.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CINO to develop Adaptive Philanthropy strategy and drive impact through grants, TA, and convenings.
• Manage full grants portfolio lifecycle from planning to site visits and reviews.
• Support grantees with guidance, risk assessment, and network access.
• Lead convenings, monitor progress, ensure compliance, and report impact to leadership.
• Engage with funders and field leaders to share practices and advance joint priorities.
• Coordinate intermediary relationships and steward strategic investments and sustainability.
• Advise leadership on sector developments and Ford's role; align across programs and operations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Cross-stakeholder communication

Leadership

Ambiguity navigation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

About The Opportunity

The Adaptive Philanthropy Program Officer (PO) is a member of the Office of Innovation and reports to the Chief Innovation Officer (CINO). Working closely with the CINO, the PO helps shape and then stewards the foundation's Adaptive Philanthropy grantmaking portfolio. The portfolio focuses on philanthropic infrastructure organizations, strengthening the field of philanthropy, and supporting innovation across the sector, in the United States and globally, so that philanthropy can be more strategic and impactful. The Program Officer partners with the CINO on strategy and owns the day-to-day grantmaking that delivers it.

How You Will Contribute

Grantmaking

• Partner with the CINO and internal/external stakeholders to develop and implement the Adaptive Philanthropy strategy, using grantmaking, technical assistance, and convenings to drive impact.
• Manage the full grants portfolio lifecycle from annual planning and site visits to financial and narrative review.
• Support grantee outcomes through subject matter guidance, risk assessment, and network access.
• Lead convenings, monitor and evaluate progress, ensure regulatory and accessibility compliance, and report strategy impact to the CINO.

Field Engagement

• Participate in key funder and field leader spaces, representing Ford where it adds the most value.
• Engage with peer funders to share practices and lead collaborative efforts.
• Co-strategize on shared priorities to ensure the field operates with greater collective impact.

Intermediary Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary coordination point for intermediary relationships (grantee partners who receive funding to re-grant), ensuring staff alignment.
• Steward these relationships with a focus on strategic investment opportunities, long-term sustainability, risk mitigation, and overall field health.

Institutional Support

• Advise executive and program leadership on sector developments and Ford's role within them.
• Coordinate across Regional Offices, International Programs, Legal, and Communications to align funder engagement.
• Strengthen networking across the foundation’s programs and operations, and produce internal and external communications that leverage the foundation's thought leadership to strengthen the field.

What You Will Need

• 10+ years of work experience, including 6+ years in philanthropy with deep expertise in multiyear flexible funding, equitable partnerships, and global social sector trends.
• Proven expertise in developing, implementing, and being accountable for complex strategies, supported by strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.
• An organized, institution-first leader who thrives in ambiguous environments and communicates with high impact across diverse audiences to drive collective goals.
• A demonstrated ability to be a productive member of a community at work, respecting differences while working toward shared goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent relevant experience.

Preferred Experience

These strengthen a candidacy but are not required. A candidate who is not strong in every area but is willing and enthusiastic to learn and engage is encouraged to apply.

• Strong background in facilitating adult learning.
• Deep understanding of the regional contexts and cultures, including the geopolitical landscape, in which Ford works.

Salary

The Ford Foundation is committed to practicing salary transparency. The hiring range for this position is $173,000 - $185,000. Final offers are determined by relevant experience and commitment to internal equity.

Location

This position is based in the foundation’s New York office. We operate in a hybrid model and require staff to be in the office three days per week.

Work Authorization

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Employment Type

This position is offered on a fixed-term basis for an anticipated period of 8 years; the initial term is 3 years.

Travel

Some domestic and international travel required

Working at Ford

• Commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels respected
• A hybrid working model and flexible work arrangement policies offer colleagues the opportunity to engage in meaningful ways and the space to maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Professional development and ample opportunities to build your expertise and expand your network
• Comprehensive benefits package designed for your well-being and work-life needs, including medical, dental, and vision benefits effective on your first day
• Generous time off, including personal, vacation, sick, extended holiday time off, and wellness days
• Generous parental leave policy, including birth, surrogacy, adoptive, foster parents, and resources for backup child and elder care that support our colleagues’ ability to attend to family responsibilities
• Comprehensive retirement benefits options (with employee and employer contributions of up to 13%), allowing you to invest in your financial future with confidence

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at The Ford Foundation, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law. The Ford Foundation does not discriminate against formerly incarcerated individuals.