Vice President for Programs

Just another WordPress site; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 177,432 - 210,960; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision benefits

Generous Vacation and time off

401k with employer contribution

Job summary

Proteus Fund seeks a Vice President for Programs to lead donor collaboratives, supervise directors, and advance social justice philanthropy. You will shape strategy, funding, and partnerships across our portfolio while promoting DEIB and responsible governance.

The role combines program leadership with fundraising and external relations in a dynamic nonprofit setting. You will work with senior leadership to elevate impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and mentor teams.

Qualifications

• Deep experience in social justice philanthropy and movements.
• Proven ability to cultivate relationships with donors and funders.
• Track record turning vision into program impact and leading teams.
• Strong communication and external relations capabilities.
• Ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee donor collaborative portfolio and four directors.
• Lead cross-donor programming, grantmaking, and learning.
• Develop multi-year strategic plans and budgets.
• Build external partnerships and representation for Proteus Fund.

Skills

Social justice philanthropy

Donor relations

Fundraising

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Communication skills

DEIB commitment

Job description

Proteus Fund organizes donor collaboratives, provides fiscal sponsorship, and makes grants to organizations that advance social justice. Our work lifts up opportunities, gaps, and challenges facing social justice fields and organizations— and organizes donors to impactfully support their frontline work.

About the Organization

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories. Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives which play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

Proteus Fund operates and pursues its work based on a set of values synergistic with our vision and mission:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Integrity and professionalism;
• Transparency and accountability; and
• Respect and humility.

To date, Proteus Fund, and its affiliated 501c4 organization, theProteus Action League , have distributed more than $300 million in grants, and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Proteus Fund is a national organization with offices in New York, NY and metro Boston, MA, as well as remote staff across the country.

The Vice President for Programs (VPP) will have significant responsibility for advancing Proteus Fund’s powerful vision of a world rooted in rights, justice, dignity and democracy. The VPP will oversee Proteus’ donor collaborative portfolio, and will manage Proteus’ four donor collaborative directors. In a highly coordinated fashion, the VPP leads Proteus’ cross-donor collaborative programming and grantmaking as well as cultivating and developing new donor collaboratives on issues and movements essential to the future of representative, inclusive democracy and marginalized communities in the United States. To advance the work of the donor collaboratives’ portfolio as well as Proteus Fund’s overall vision, mission and values, the VPP is expected to develop and maintain a creative and dynamic thought leadership role in social justice philanthropy. The VPP also plays a central role supporting deep coordination between Proteus donor collaborative teams and Proteus’ Strategic Partnerships, Finance, Grants Management, People & Culture, Donor Services, and other operational teams with a deeply “one Proteus” mindset. They are also expected to serve as a critical member of the senior management team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Vision, Mission, and Organizational Culture

• Work with the President, donor collaborative directors, and other colleagues to ensure that Proteus Fund’s vision, mission and values are manifest in our work, our narrative, and our collaborative model of relationships with grantees, donors, and Proteus colleagues
• Ensure Proteus Fund maintains respected and effective strategic positioning and profile in the social justice field in a way that reflects our vision, mission, and values
• Craft and support a donor collaborative culture that connects Proteus Fund’s vision, mission, and values and is highly coordinated with our ongoing operations

Program Management and Development

• Ensure Proteus’ donor collaborative portfolio remains both cutting-edge and high impact
• Develop and maintain a high-level understanding of donor collaborative work. social justice dynamics in the United States, and social justice philanthropy trends, particularly as applied to donor collaboratives as a philanthropic vehicle for change
• Lead Proteus’ cross-donor collaborative grantmaking and programming on grantee safety and security and grantee operational compliance and best practices
• Develop an internal learning environment and supports for the full donor collaborative team on topics such as impactful grantmaking, capacity building support, and social justice field programmatic support
• Supervise, mentor, and provide direction to donor collaborative directors, including strategic thought partnership, leadership development, and performance evaluation
• Support the development and review of annual work plans for donor collaborative staff
• Support the donor collaborative directors in developing multi-year strategic plans for their donor collaborative
• Oversee recruitment and hiring of new donor collaborative directors, and serve as interim support for a donor collaboratives as needed
• Lead efforts to explore and develop new donor collaboratives advancing social justice issues
• Ensure legal/regulatory compliance and ethical standards for donor collaborative grantmaking in coordination with Proteus’ legal counsel and grants management team
• Strengthen relationships with sister philanthropic intermediaries
• Identify trends in philanthropy and social justice ecosystems to inform new initiative development

Resource Development and Fundraising

• Advocate and inspire current and potential funders to support donor collaboratives through meaningful, thoughtful, partnership-oriented engagement
• Partner and support Proteus’ relationship with key donors, donor institutions, and donor associations or organizations in coordination with donor collaborative directors and Proteus’ strategic partnerships team
• Coordinate with donor collaborative directors and Proteus’ strategic partnerships department to develop and fulfill annual and long-term resource development plans
• Deeply support strategic partnerships leadership in ensuring Proteus donor meetings — both in-person and virtual — are best in class
• Mobilize donors to support underfunded areas of social justice philanthropy in coordination with donor collaborative directors and Proteus’ strategic partnerships department

External Relations and Communications

• Support of the President and CEO in overseeing Proteus Fund’s communications function as it relates to Proteus’ donor collaboratives
• Educate external audiences, including donors and philanthropic media, about Proteus Fund’s work
• Strengthen thought leadership and visibility in donor communities through conferences, donor convenings, and articles

Staff Leadership and Management

• Play a central role supporting deep coordination between Proteus donor collaborative teams and Proteus’ Strategic Partnerships, Finance, Grants Management, People & Culture, Donor Services, and other operational teams with a deeply “one Proteus” mindset
• Shape productive and effective organizational systems, processes, policies, and structures
• Model effective management and leadership aligned with Proteus Fund’s vision and values
• Strengthen systems and culture with deep fidelity to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Support strong financial health through participation in budgeting and internal controls
• Oversee Donor Collaborative budgets to ensure alignment with financial forecasts and revenue projections
• Manage Vice President of Programs budget to support cross-Donor Collaborative initiatives
• Support compliance with federal and state regulations for Donor Collaboratives’ Programming

Governance and Board Relations

• Ensure reporting in writing and at Board meetings on donor collaboratives’ impact, pain points, opportunities, and progress
• Attend relevant sections of Board of Directors meetings
• Perform similar activities for Proteus Action League (PAL), an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, as determined by Proteus Fund

Who You’ll Work With

• You will report to the President & CEO (President).
• You will supervise a dedicated Program Associate, and the donor collaborative directors: the Director, Piper Fund; Director, RISE Together Fund; Director, Rights Faith & Democracy Collaborative; and Director, Solidarity Collaborative.
• The VPP is a part of Proteus’ senior leadership team which includes the President and CEO, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer, and the Vice President of People and Culture.

Required Skills and Experience

While no one person will embody all the qualifications listed below, the ideal incumbent will possess many of the following:

• At least 7 years of deep experience and deep impact as a social justice advocate working in complex environments in a coordinated fashion
• Deep expertise in social justice philanthropy and strategies for building progressive movements
• Demonstrated record of success in cultivating relationships with and raising funds from institutional and individual donors, and in working in partnership with funders, donors and grantee organizations
• Prior experience with fiscally sponsored projects preferred
• Demonstrated record of success in turning organizational vision into programmatic impact, leading a team, and building a strong external organizational presence
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, inspire, and unite colleagues and stakeholders around a shared vision and plan of action; demonstrated the ability to build strategic alliances, advance field-wide initiatives, and represent Proteus Fund with clarity and credibility
• Brings project management experience overseeing complex initiatives with clarity, accountability, and calm; able to balance competing priorities, tight timelines, and cross- functional demands with excellence
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively across organizational levels and external audiences
• Ability to work in an uncertain and changing external landscape
• Demonstrates strong commitment to the mission and values of Proteus Fund as a progressive, social justice organization, including a deep investment in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)

Location and Work Environment

This role is open to remote candidates who are located near a major airport. However, there is a strong preference for candidates who are willing to work in-person at the Proteus headquarters in New York City most of the work week. This position requires a minimum of 20% travel for internal meetings and retreats as well as conferences and other events. Should the hire not be based in New York City their travel may be higher.

This is a full-time position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week. Business hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm in the time zone where the candidate is located. Additional hours regularly required, including some evenings and weekends.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $177,432-$210,960, based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: geographic location, skill set level, years of previous/applicable experience, and Proteus Fund’s commitment to ensuring pay equity within the organization. Additional detail on compensation tiers will be shared throughout the process. Salary is one part of the total compensation that Proteus Fund provides to employees.

Medical, Dental and Vision benefits for employee and eligible dependents available on first day of work

Generous Vacation: 3 weeks vacation in first year, 4 weeks per year after that

Retirement savings account (401k) with an organizational contribution of 10% of annual salary

Additional Time Off: 15 sick days 3 personal days per year 15 paid holidays (including 3 floating) and winter break

Paid Family Leave

Equity at Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund believes that one of the greatest strengths of an organization is the rich diversity of its staff and board, and is committed to providing equal employment and promotional opportunities based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under the law. Proteus Fund’s policies and practices are to reflect Proteus Fund’s commitment to nondiscrimination in all areas of employment.

Accessibility

Proteus Fund is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Proteus will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please [e-mail] . Additionally, throughout this document, use of the pronoun “they” is intended to be inclusive of individuals who identify as non-binary as well as those of gender expansive identities and experiences.