Program Officer

ABOUT US

Inatai Foundation is a growing 501(c)(4) philanthropic organization committed to working with communities to shift the balance of power to ensure racial justice and equity across Washington and beyond. We are hiring a Program Officer to join our expanding team.

Cultivating a staff team that embodies the diverse experiences of Washington communities is essential to these aspirations. We strongly and sincerely encourage applications from people of color; individuals who are immigrants, bilingual, and multicultural; d/Deaf people and people with disabilities; members of LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

Visit our About Us page to learn more about our work, approaches, and values. You may also browse our Join Inatai page to understand our hiring process, work culture, and benefits. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Officer will foster and maintain relationships with communities and grantees to advance the Foundation’s learning agenda and evolving grantmaking and advocacy strategies. In the coming years, the Foundation anticipates exciting changes as we expand our highly committed program and policy team, continue to engage communities across the state, and create the strategies that will translate our bold aspirations into action. The Program Officer is an important external representative for the Foundation and a champion for the communities we serve. They will serve as a critical bridge between the Foundation’s priorities and the priorities of the leaders, organizations, and communities served by our growing team. The Program Officer reports to the Portfolio Director for Grantmaking and collaborates widely across the Foundation to develop, implement, and evaluate grant programs.

This is a full-time, exempt position. Inatai is proud to be a statewide organization and we know there are talented leaders everywhere in our state. As we grow and learn, we know that we are better partners to communities and more strategic grantmakers when we have team members rooted in place and bringing their lived and learned experiences to our work. We are prioritizing the following geographies to ensure we are fully living up to our commitments to geographic equity. 

• The Olympic Peninsula, with special attention to Jefferson, Clallam, Grays Harbor, and Kitsap counties

• North Central Washington, with special attention to Douglas, Chelan, Okanogan, and Kittitas counties

• North Eastern Washington, with special attention to Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry and Lincoln counties

In addition to these regions, we would like to give priority to candidates based in Asotin, Columbia, Clark, Cowlitz, Garfield, Klickitat, Skamania, and Walla Walla counties. 

We currently have offices in Seattle and Pasco. Team members connected to an office will work in the office at least three days per week. Team members not connected to an office will work remotely.

Periodic early morning, evening, and weekend hours will be required, and statewide and regional travel should be expected. All employees participate in our offsite retreats, which often require travel and overnight stays.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with the program and policy team, contribute to the development and execution of grantmaking and other program strategies

• Implement the priorities for an assigned grantmaking area through a combination of grantmaking and community engagement

• Build and enhance relationships with community leaders, organizational leaders, and funding partners across the state, with particular responsibility for leading the Foundation’s relationship-building and engagement efforts 

• Evaluate grant proposals and develop funding recommendations

• Serve as a primary partner and point of contact for grantees and other collaborators

• Represent the Foundation to a diverse range of partners including grantees, community leaders, business leaders, government officials, affinity groups, and collaborators

• Educate community and statewide leaders about the Foundation’s mission, programs, and goals

• Identify and disseminate emerging trends in the sector, relevant case studies, and other topics of interest related to the Foundation’s work

• Prepare strategy memos, briefs, reports, and presentations in a variety of formats to engage a broad range of constituents (e.g., board members, community leaders, grantees, allied funders)

• Contribute one’s own ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences to the emerging culture of the Foundation

• Assume other responsibilities and explore new opportunities that arise with the evolving needs and aspirations of the Foundation

QUALIFICATIONS

• A deep commitment to equity and racial justice, and strong alignment with our organizational values

• Ability to authentically connect the Foundation’s mission and aspirations with one’s own personal experiences

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities

• Knowledge of, or a strong desire to learn about, the needs of communities across the state who are most impacted by structural inequities

• At least seven years of leadership experience in the public or nonprofit sector, preferably in a capacity that involves deep partnerships with place- or identity-based communities

• Experience leading programs or initiatives related to racial justice or disability justice

• Experience as a grantmaker or other funder, or experience as a nonprofit fundraiser, with working knowledge of the sector and workings of different types of nonprofit organizations

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with diplomacy, and to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities

• Excellent project management and organizational skills with demonstrated success managing multiple projects and priorities in a team-based environment

• Demonstrated ability to research and analyze complex issues and the potential impacts on communities

• An understanding of the foundational role that racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of bias and oppression play in perpetuating inequity

• Experience with various equity, justice, and power-building strategies, including a demonstrated ability to connect with these issues on a personal and organizational level

• Humility and curiosity, and an understanding of how these qualities are connected to success in this role

• Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection

• Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills combined with the ability to listen deeply and authentically

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint) and Adobe (Acrobat DC) and ability to adapt to new technologies

• Willingness to take part in occasional meetings and events outside of core business hours

• Enthusiasm for traveling throughout Washington and engaging with communities that may be different from your own (travel is estimated at 15-20% for this position)