Grantmaking Excellence Officer

Responsibilities

• Curriculum & Onboarding: Develop and co-facilitate grantmaking curricula and onboarding sessions to ground new and existing staff in institutional policies and practices.
• Process Optimization: Conduct ongoing reviews of grantmaking processes and policies, making recommendations to improve overall excellence, partner engagement, and grantee experience.
• Policy Leadership: Advise the Program Leadership Team on grantmaking policy and collaborate with Operations to ensure changes are effectively institutionalized.
• Institutional Strengthening: Lead grantee and internal team support in critical organizational areas, including security, compliance, financial resilience, and leadership development.
• Program Design Support: Assist program teams in diagnosing challenges facing grantee networks and designing specific programs to meet those identified needs.
• Grantee Feedback Loop: Manage the Grantee Perception Report process, from preparation to data reflection, and lead the commitment to improving the grantee experience.
• Data-Driven Insights: Partner with the Data Governance Manager to synthesize and analyze grantmaking data, identifying actionable opportunities for practice improvement.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate with Legal, IT, and Grants Management to ensure all curricula and policies align with broader institutional and operational priorities.
• Global Philanthropic Influence: Engage with international philanthropic leaders to advocate for and advise on the adoption of multi-year, flexible funding and institutional strengthening models.
• Thought Leadership & Communication: Produce internal and external communications—including conference presentations—that highlight how social justice principles are embodied in grantmaking.

Skillset

• At least 6 years of professional working experience in philanthropy/grantmaking and a strong background in social justice issues in the US and the Global South.
• At least 6 years of experience in institutional strengthening and organizational development as a service provider, grantmaker, or through leading an organization through growth and change.
• Proficiency in key issues of institutional strengthening: especially security, grants compliance, financial resilience, and/or leadership.
• Deep familiarity with philanthropy and grantmaking practices, including multiyear flexible funding, equitable grantee partner-funder partnership, clear and candid communication, and planning.
• Strong background and experience in facilitating learning for adults.
• Deep understanding of the regional context and cultures, including geopolitical landscape, in which Ford works.
• Knowledge of the landscape of technical assistance providers in the US and in the Global South so that they can identify.
• Data analysis experience with both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• Exceptional leadership presence – internally and externally.
• Exceptional communications skills – strong active listening skills, constructive verbal and written skills, strong public presentation skills.
• Comfort with periods of ambiguity and constructive participation in ongoing organizational development.
• Ways of working and engaging that aligns with the Foundation’s mission, core values and commitment to creating a culture of excellence.
• Masters degree in related field or relevant and equivalent experience.