Remote Grants Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa

Wikimedia Foundation; United States; Remote; USD 86,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer to lead regional funding programs serving Wikimedian communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This role focuses on trust-based grantmaking, regional strategy, and collaborative decision-making across Foundation teams.

You will analyze patterns, design scalable activities, manage a diverse grant portfolio, and represent the Foundation with partners and communities worldwide, with occasional international travel.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of trust-based philanthropy or community-based grantmaking.
• Experience in participatory decision-making structures.
• Experience in grantmaking, particularly in an international context.
• Experience in nonprofit capacity building as a funder, consultant, or nonprofit leader.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and creative problem-solving ability.
• Excellent organizational skills and judgment; ability to prioritize work, manage time and multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to build constructive partnerships with the Wikimedia community, stakeholders, and fund-seekers; experienced in facilitating volunteer communities.
• Open and transparent communication style; able to engage in dialogue publicly and non-polarizingly.
• Experience managing high‑complexity projects and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel internationally 1–3 trips per year when possible.
• Experience working with online communities is a plus.
• Passion for or experience contributing to Wikipedia/Wikimedia projects.
• Additional language proficiency is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Implement the Community Resources grantmaking strategy considering community needs, opportunities and regional context.
• Analyze regional/global patterns to shape funding rationales and priorities.
• Design program activities with colleagues to achieve scalable impact.
• Manage regional grant portfolio to ensure alignment with strategy and impact goals.
• Lead annual grant planning; review proposals and inform funding decisions with regional committee.
• Collaborate across Foundation teams to support program objectives.
• Represent the Foundation as an ambassador for regional knowledge and priorities.
• Build, onboard and develop regional funding committees for participatory grantmaking.
• Set agendas and facilitate inclusive funding deliberations.
• Provide context, analysis, and synthesis of committee feedback into funding recommendations.
• Provide constructive feedback to applicants and grantees on outcomes and expectations.
• Build trust-based relationships with communities, grantees, and applicants; act as liaison between WMF and partners.
• Understand community needs and dynamics; support conflict resolution as needed.
• Support capacity building of grantee partners; connect them with best practices.
• Design and support convenings, collaborations and knowledge sharing; engage regional philanthropic spaces.
• Share learnings with colleagues and movement partners; inform resource allocation.
• Review grantee progress and ensure completeness of reports; discuss concerns and provide guidance.

Skills

Trust-based philanthropy

Participatory decision-making

Grantmaking

Nonprofit capacity building

Strategic analysis

Organization & project management

Community engagement

Clear communication

Managing complex programs

International travel readiness

Online community experience

Wikipedia/Wikimedia passion

Additional language skills

Job description

The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer to lead regional funding programs serving Wikimedian communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This role focuses on trust-based grantmaking, regional strategy, and collaborative decision-making across Foundation teams.

You will analyze patterns, design scalable activities, manage a diverse grant portfolio, and represent the Foundation with partners and communities worldwide, with occasional international travel.