REACH Program Director

Borealis Philanthropy; United States; Remote; USD 114,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Borealis Philanthropy seeks a REACH Fund Program Director to lead program strategy, donor relations, and grantmaking with a national scope. Remote work is available with coordination across internal teams and external partners.

You will guide fundraising and capacity building while managing staff and the program budget. The role requires strong leadership, fluency in equity-centered approaches, and a track record of advancing philanthropic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with 10 years in program management.
• Minimum 5 years leading staff and fundraising experience.
• Experience in philanthropy or grantmaking.
• Experience with Salesforce, Zoom, Google Suite, Slack and Asana.

Responsibilities

• Provide program leadership, strategy and design for all aspects of program management.
• Oversee grantmaking processes, donor relations and fundraising.
• Lead fund leadership by managing staff, contractors and budget oversight.
• Amplify impact through communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Borealis’ mission.

Skills

Excellent communications

Problem-solving

Solution development

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Attention to detail

Time management

Stakeholder networking

Adaptability

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred) with ten years of program management experience

Tools

Salesforce

Zoom

Google Suite

Slack

Asana

Job description

Job Title: REACH Fund Program Director
Reports to (Title): Director of Programs
Department: Programs
Employment Classification: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Base Annual Compensation Range: The full-time salary range for this role is between $114,000 - $172,000 with exact salary depending on experience, and new staff rarely start at the top of the range.
Location: Remote

Job Overview

The Program Director provides leadership and strategy in all aspects of planning, executing, and tracking one or more programs/projects with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally. The Program Director develops and implements program strategies, including fundraising, donor engagement/relationship, grantmaking, and capacity building/technical assistance to grantees. This position leads, hires, coaches, and provides direction to staff to execute outcomes within budget and in a timely manner.

Unique and preferred capacities for REACH Director:

Has an in-depth understanding of racial equity principles and practices
Has a strong network in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors - particularly in areas where the work needs to be expanded, e.g., rural, south, midwest, native/indigenous
Responsibilities

Program Strategy: The Director will provide program leadership, strategy and design regarding all aspects of program management, including:

Overseeing grantmaking process and activities, donor relations, and fundraising
In collaboration with the team, design, lead, and implement all programmatic strategies related to assigned funds with input from the department head, program staff,
Driving program planning and execution in collaboration with team members and other internal and external stakeholders
Providing programmatic, administrative, and budgetary leadership and oversight for assigned fund.
Monitoring and evaluating programmatic effectiveness

Donor Engagement and Fundraising: The Director will manage all Fund donor engagement, building relationships with funders and working to translate donor needs into effective strategies. The Director will be responsible for:

Lead, in partnership with Development, donor education and engagement activities, and engage in other approved fundraising strategies, including writing proposals, submitting reports, and meeting with prospective donors, aimed at sustaining and increasing grantmaking support.
In collaboration with the team, cultivate positive relationships with the fund’s donors, including holding regular 1:1 and group meetings to incorporate donor perspectives into grant strategies and action plans.
Setting fundraising goals and managing the Fund’s development plan. In partnership with the Development Director, the Program Director will track existing and prospective donors in order to maintain and grow the Fund’s budget
Managing all fund-related fundraising activities including writing proposals, reports, and meeting with donor prospects in partnership with the Development Director
Exploring and engaging in cross-fund prospective fundraising conversations and opportunities
In collaboration with the fund team plan, prepare for, and lead engaging donor educational opportunities, webinars, meetings, and events

Fund Leadership: The Program Director will lead the Fund’s staff team, including:

Manage all fund-related program staff and contractors, including hiring, onboarding, mentoring, coaching, and assessing assigned staff.
Demonstrate inclusive leadership while coaching, managing performance, and leveraging staff to execute programs within parameters including quality, timelines, and grant related compliance
Managing financial and other resources, and provide creative solutions to staff and external stakeholders to achieve program goals
Own the Fund’s budget, including working with the Finance Director to develop and monitor the Fund’s annual budget, and oversee spending within budget and policy parameters
Review reports, analyze data, and evaluate information to mitigate risk, educate, and inform appropriately
Serve as the principal point of contact for the fund, and build and maintain relationships with prospective grantee partners, grantees, and other constituents.
Communicate Impact: The Program Director will amplify the stories and messages of the organizations they help resource, and the wider movements ecosystems they contribute to. The Director will:

Work with the Communications Department to help elevate the role and impact of the Fund to reach both internal and external stakeholders
Participate in public engagements and communications to represent the program, including sector-related conferences/events, blogging, media interviews, grantee learning and engagement events, external workshops etc.

Other Duties: As a member of the Borealis staff, the Program Director performs certain functions that are not specific to their job, but support the organization as a whole. This includes:

Submitting and approving expense reports and approving timecards by stated deadlines
Attending all staff meetings and required trainings and events
Participating in organizational development and change processes, including serving on committees or special project teams
Model Borealis’ culture and values; align outcomes, practices, and communications within the organization’s culture
Manage special projects and other duties as assigned

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree with ten (10) years of program management experience preferred; or a combination of education and experience
Five (5) years in philanthropy as a grantmaker in-field level or social movements preferred
Five (5) years of experience leading and supervising staff
Five (5) years of fundraising experience
Experience facilitating group conversations of varying sizes
Experience using systems and tools such as Salesforce, Zoom, Google Suite, Slack, Asana

Other Duties: As a member of the Borealis staff, the Program Director performs certain functions that are not specific to their job, but support the organization as a whole. This includes:

Submitting and approving expense reports and approving timecards by stated deadlines
Attending all staff meetings and required trainings and events
Participating in organizational development and change processes, including serving on committees or special project teams
Model Borealis’ culture and values; align outcomes, practices, and communications within the organization’s culture
Manage special projects and other duties as assigned

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Personal/ Behavioral Attributes)

Excellent communications skills and experience designing/developing communications products in a variety of formats
Demonstrated problem-solving, solution development, and analytical skills
Demonstrated experience working and building relationships with clients and stakeholders
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Ability to interact and network effectively with all levels of staff, including senior leadership
Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and to think conceptually, strategically, and learn quickly
Ability to meet deadlines, adhere to project plans, and work on several projects simultaneously
Ability to identify and mitigate risks to the program

Work Environment (Conditions and Physical Demands)

This job operates in a professional, virtual, home office or co-working environment, with local and national travel. In line with Borealis’ commitments to racial equity and disability justice, our current policy is that no staff member travel or attendance at in-person meetings is required at this time. If team members are interested in attending in-person events, Borealis will, as needed, work to make reasonable accommodations to ensure their health and safety.

This role routinely uses standard office equipment, including a laptop computer and cell phone. The employee is generally required to spend long periods of time sitting, typing, and working at a computer. May require the ability to occasionally lift and transport items. Accommodations will be made based on ability and accessibility.