PROGRAM OFFICER - Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organizations

ABOUT WAYFARER FOUNDATION

Wayfarer Foundation partners with non-profits to co-create a unified world where all people work together for peace, justice, and prosperity. Wayfarer launched in 2021 as a Bahá’í-inspired organization. Steve Sarowitz, a Bahá’í philanthropist, Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), Director of Payescape, and partner in Wayfarer Studios, started Wayfarer to be the philanthropic engine for his spiritually based giving. In 2023, Wayfarer awarded over $19 million in grants, with over 50% supporting Black, Brown, Indigenous and Native-led, grassroots organizations. For more information about us, please check out wayfarerfoundation.org.

POSITION DETAILS

We seek a Program Officer to facilitate the grantmaking and other philanthropic goals for the Foundation. This person will be an excellent communicator, a lifelong student and a leader in the Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led portfolio, and a person who understands that relationships with partners and respect for the resilience of grassroots nonprofits is at the core of the Wayfarer mission.

● Reports to: Senior Program Officer

● Classification: Exempt/Full-time

● Salary range: $74,142 - $117,266

● Portfolio Area(s) of Focus: Portfolio Area(s) of Focus: Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organizations

● Position Details:

GRANTMAKING

● Independently manage grants in the Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organization portfolios from application through interim and final reporting.

● Evaluate grant applications, performing essential due diligence and evaluation of grant applications and communicating with grant-seekers regularly through virtual and in-person meetings and conducting site visits as part of the review process.

● Represent grant-seekers by preparing and presenting written grant summaries and grantee progress reports to the board.

● Assess grantee progress and maintain ongoing communication with grantees to both understand their evolving needs and continuously improve the grantee experience.

● Oversee and execute participatory grantmaking processes, including selecting and training grant reviewers, facilitating grant review panels, documenting panel decisions, sharing panel recommendations and evaluating the participatory grantmaking process.

● Create and manage advisory committees to inform and evaluate grantmaking and program initiatives.

● Identify challenges facing grantee organizations and networks, and ensure that the grant portfolio helps to meet those needs in areas such as leadership and governance, financial sustainability, racial justice practice, and through convenings, sharing best practices and other technical assistance.

● Work closely with administrative staff to ensure that data regarding grantmaking is accurate and timely.

● Communicate with nonprofit agencies, public and private funders, and the general public about the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities, guidelines, and proposal review process.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

● Build and maintain strategic relationships with diverse thought leaders, funders, nonprofits and other key stakeholders to shape the Foundation’s Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organizations action and physical health priorities and support effective collaboration.

● Serve as a resource and thought partner to external stakeholders who are interested in learning more about or advancing work that is aligned with Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led program areas.

● Develop and implement convenings on issues relevant to the grant portfolio and for the benefit of grantee partners and the communities they serve; track decisions and next steps, disseminate notes and coordinate follow-up actions; when appropriate, collaborate with the program team.

● Develop and/or participate in foundation-initiated and community-led convenings that center programmatic areas and create space for dialogue and healing that builds momentum toward community-driven solutions.

● Regularly attend meetings, events, celebrations hosted by grantees that showcase the grantee organization’s work.

● Meet with potential applicants, individually or via information sessions, to help them understand the Foundation’s grant process and strategic priorities.

● Represent The Foundation, when assigned, in local and regional partnerships that address critical community needs.

● Share content knowledge and expertise with program staff, acting as a resource and thought partner to inform the design, implementation and/or evaluation of efforts that relate to the Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led portfolios.

RESEARCH AND LEARNING

● Contribute to the development of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organizations action portfolio and participate in the evaluation of the results.

● Knowledgeable and informed about current and emerging issues, trends and promising strategies and best practices in the nonprofit sector, philanthropy and the Foundation’s funding interest areas.

● Serve as liaison to grantee-partners for other Wayfarer teams, including Communications, Impact and Operations, Social Impact Investing, and the Executive Office.

● Identify timely and reliable sources of research to understand and respond to key issues related to Baha’i inspired, Native and Indigenous-led organizations.

● Participate in efforts to fully engage the individuals served by the Foundation to assure that their voices and lived experiences inform grantmaking priorities and strategies.

● Participate in efforts to aggregate, and commission where necessary, research that effectively captures and describes the context and causality of factors that impact the quality of life for diverse populations.

OTHER

● Other tasks as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

● Commitment to and passion for Wayfarer’s mission: “We partner with nonprofits to co-create a unified world.”

● 5+ years of experience in a similar role with a non-profit, foundation, educational institution, or other related organization. Direct experience working with Baha’i and/or BIPOC communities is a plus.

● Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lens for all of your work.

● Appreciation for the spiritual dimensions of mission-driven work, especially Baháʼí-inspired practices.

● Excellent and creative verbal and written communication skills in English.

● Willingness to be vulnerable, emotionally intelligent, and service-oriented.

● Collaborative working style, caring and action-oriented supervision skills, project management savviness, and the ability to quickly shift from strategic thinking to granular implementation.

● Flexibility and adaptability, as we strive to provide clear roles all while

navigating the process of being a new and quickly growing nonprofit.

● Proficiency in and/or willingness to quickly learn WF tech platforms: Google apps, major social media platforms, Foundant (grant management system), Slack, Canva, Airtable (project management system), etc.

● Do I have to be a Baháʼí to apply?

● While we are guided by the spiritual principles of the Baháʼí faith, we respect and celebrate all religious devotions and differences and provide equal employment opportunities for all. We only ask you to come to the role with an open heart, mind, and interest in learning more about Baháʼí beliefs and the role diverse spiritual traditions can play in creating social change.

WORKING AT WAYFARER

● Benefits: We offer a holistic package that aims to care for our team in body, mind, and spirit; it includes:

○ Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

○ Retirement savings plan (after one year)

○ Time off:

■ Unlimited PTO and National Holidays

■ Baha’i Holy Days (up to 9/year)

■ 4 days/year for community service (1/quarter)

■ Organization-wide Winter Break

○ Professional development stipend (conference, books, trainings, etc.) wellness stipend (spiritual retreats, body care, therapy, etc.), “boundary bonuses,” and matching nonprofit donations.

● Culture: You can expect

○ The mindfulness of a house of worship: We engage in spiritual practices as a team, explore how spirituality can drive social change, and strive to treat one another with compassion and kindness.

○ The energy of a startup: As a new organization, we are in an organic learning mode and value risk, innovation, and experimentation.

○ The passion for justice of a grassroots non-profit: We celebrate the gifts of diverse individuals, communities, and institutions. We also stand up for justice for those excluded because we know that together, without -isms, we can find solutions to our most pressing problems.

● Where will I work?

● We are a hybrid organization; we work 2-3 days at home and 2-3 days in our office in Wilmette, IL (easily accessible by the CTA purple line).

You will also be expected to travel ~20% of the time.

TO APPLY

We will review applications on a rolling basis until this position is filled. We anticipate that this person will begin in late March or early April of 2023.

• A brief cover letter. Please do not repeat what is written on your resume. In your cover letter include the following:

1) Why do you want to work with us?

2) Please describe your previous work with BIPOC communities

3) What are the responsibilities of the individual in regard to issues of social justice?

4) What are your thoughts about working in this kind of workplace that centers spirituality, and how might you see yourself both using it for your growth and contributing to it as a leader/staff member?

• A 1-2 page resume with 3 references listed.

Wayfarer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Baháʼí, and other underrepresented applicants. We value diverse candidates; your gifts and lived experience matter more to us than titles or numbers.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $74,142.00 - $117,266.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Wilmette, IL 60091 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Wilmette, IL 60091: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wilmette, IL 60091