Program Officer, Economic Opportunity

FIDELITY FOUNDATIONS; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Benefits package

Hybrid schedule

Job summary

The Fidelity Foundations in Boston, MA seek a Program Officer for the Economic Opportunity Team to advance the Adolescence strategy, funding youth development and pathways to employment through community partners. You will manage a grant portfolio, conduct due diligence, monitor investments, build relationships with grantees, and collaborate across teams to maximize impact.

This hybrid, in-person requirement, and competitive compensation reflect our commitment to equity, rigorous grantmaking,

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, public systems, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of education-to-career pathways and/or youth development.
• Strategic and systems-oriented thinking with portfolio-wide perspective.
• Strong judgment, due diligence and analytical rigor.
• Learning-oriented approach with curiosity and adaptability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing abilities with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work across teams in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong execution and results orientation.

Responsibilities

• Apply deep understanding of youth development to develop responsive and impactful grants aligned to a defined strategy.
• Contribute to strategy development and research agenda with Insights & Impact team.
• Assess and advance proposals through due diligence, site visits, financial analysis, and related activities.
• Develop and refine proposal requests; prepare written analyses and grant recommendations for leadership.
• Steward relationships with grantees through regular communication and partnership.
• Maintain an active calendar of networking and learning sessions with sector experts and partners.
• Stay current by following media, literature, and conferences to broaden knowledge.
• Evaluate grant and portfolio effectiveness against stated objectives.
• Support grant administration using the grants management system.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Analytical rigor

Grants management

Cross-functional teamwork

Grantmaking

Job description

The Fidelity Foundations are a group of private foundations that fund a diverse set of programs. Our values of excellence, integrity, respect, and collaboration guide our investments in economic opportunity, conservation, arts and culture, and medical science. Today, the Foundations are at an important and exciting stage in our organizational history, and we are seeking individuals with skills and expertise to support the advancement of a long-term portfolio of philanthropic investments.

The Economic Opportunity Team at Fidelity Foundations advances economic mobility by investing in the systems, organizations, and supports that enable individuals to build stable, self-directed lives—regardless of the circumstances into which they are born. The team’s strategy is grounded in the belief that well-timed, capacity-building investments in high-potential organizations can drive lasting impact.

The team concentrates its work across key life stages where targeted interventions can shift long-term trajectories:

• Early Childhood: Advancing healthy starts through maternal and child health, strong family supports, and high-quality early learning environments
• Adolescence: Building critical skills, relationships, and future pathways through mentorship, enrichment, and career exposure
• Young Adulthood: Supporting transitions to the workforce through postsecondary attainment, credentialing, and connections to quality employment

Across all areas, the team prioritizes organizations with strong leadership, evidence of impact, and alignment with regional needs, and works in close partnership with grantees to define clear goals, track progress, and adapt strategies over time. The team’s grantmaking is primarily focused in Boston and across Massachusetts, with growing investments in select communities throughout New England. Our grantmaking is done quietly, and most grants are awarded anonymously.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

As a critical member of the Fidelity Foundations’ Economic Opportunity Team, the Program Officer will further develop and manage a grant portfolio focused on capacity building and grounded in deep local knowledge and strategic alignment with the Foundations’ goals. They will identify and assess potential investments, conduct due diligence, monitor existing investments, and represent the Foundations to grantees and community stakeholders. The role combines strategic leadership, relationship-building, and cross-portfolio collaboration to drive meaningful philanthropic impact.

This Program Officer role will focus on the Foundation’s Adolescence strategy, with a particular emphasis on the teenage years as a pivotal period for skill-building, identity formation, and future pathway development. Grantees in this portfolio help young people build the relationships, experiences, and capabilities they need to navigate adolescence successfully and transition into adulthood with strong options ahead. The Program Officer will help advance investments that expand access to high-quality developmental opportunities for teens, partnering with youth-serving and field-building organizations to strengthen program quality, foster innovation, scale effective models, and build organizational capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply deep understanding of youth development, advising and planning supports, work-based learning, and/or career training to develop responsive and impactful grants aligned to a defined strategy
• Participate in and contribute to strategy development and research agenda in collaboration with the Foundations’ Insights & Impact team
• Assess and advance promising proposals and organizations by conducting due diligence through site visits, in-depth material reviews, financial analysis, and other activities
• Develop and refine proposal requests, and prepare detailed written analyses and grant recommendations for senior management and Trustee approval
• Steward relationships with grantees by maintaining regular communication, offering thought partnership, and serving as a trusted resource throughout the grant cycle and beyond
• Maintain an active calendar of networking and learning sessions with sector experts, nonprofit partners and peer foundations
• Follow media and literature, stay abreast of best practices, and attend relevant conferences to broaden knowledge
• Evaluate grant and overall portfolio effectiveness against stated objectives
• Support grant administrative processes, including use of grants management system

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate will be a thoughtful, collaborative professional with strong communication skills and the ability to build trust across colleagues, grantees, and community partners. Candidates should bring a strong mix of relevant experience, sound judgment, and the core competencies needed to lead thoughtful, strategic grantmaking in a complex and evolving field.

• A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, public systems, or a related field, with strong content knowledge in education to career pathways and/or youth development.
• Strategic and systems-oriented thinking, including the ability to assess opportunities in context, connect individual investments to broader portfolio goals, and translate field insight into strong recommendations
• Strong judgment and analytical rigor, including experience conducting due diligence, interpreting financial and organizational information, and assessing the potential and limitations of philanthropic investments
• A learning-oriented and curious approach, with the ability to synthesize information, ask thoughtful questions, and adapt strategy as new insights emerge
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, compelling narratives and present complex ideas effectively to varied audiences
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to engage grantees, community stakeholders, and colleagues with diplomacy, credibility, and respect
• Ability to work effectively across teams, contribute to shared strategy, and move work forward independently in a fast-moving, complex environment
• Strong execution and results orientation, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain attention to detail, and follow through on commitments

Exceptional judgment, integrity, humility, and respect for confidentiality.

This position will be based in Boston, MA on a hybrid schedule with a requirement to work in-person a minimum of 3 days per week with colleagues; successful candidates will need to undergo a comprehensive background check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $215,000 per year.

Placement in the range will vary based on a variety of factors such as job responsibilities & scope, special skills, education, special certifications, candidate’s relevant experience, and other factors.

Base salary is only part of the total compensation package. Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary performance bonus in addition to their base pay.

The Fidelity Foundations offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, an annual performance-based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

The Fidelity Foundations are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive professional environment. We encourage applications from candidates with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.