Program Officer at van Beuren Charitable Foundation

van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) is a Rhode Island-based private family foundation dedicated to investing in the quality of life and quality of place on Aquidneck Island and surrounding communities.

About The Organization

van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) is a Rhode Island-based private family foundation dedicated to investing in the quality of life and quality of place on Aquidneck Island and surrounding communities. Guided by a Board of Directors comprised of van Beuren family members who have deep familiarity with the community, vBCF invests its grants across four portfolios that support Healthy Communities for all residents, Strong Starts for children and youth, Community Prosperity generated by economic opportunity and planning for the future, and Excellence in the Commons - those shared landscapes and built environments critical to quality of life and quality of place.

vBCF's strategic framework intentionally seeks connectivity between its priority program areas, supports learning and adaptation, and increases emphasis on impact. As a place-based funder, the spirit of partnership with our grant partners is critical to our success.

Since its founding in 1986 by John A. and Hope H. van Beuren, the Foundation has made over $175 million in grants and is one of the largest private foundations in Rhode Island. Its grantmaking and operations are guided by the core values of the van Beuren family: integrity, community, collaboration, leadership and innovation. The Foundation's assets have grown from $100 million in 2009 to $375 million in 2024. The Foundation is staffed by a small, dedicated team of professionals in a supportive, high performing culture that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and collegiality.

For more information on van Beuren Charitable Foundation, please visit this website.

About The Role

What You'll Do

In support of the connected portfolio approach, program officers operate primarily as generalists, working across the four portfolios. Each member of the team has their own unique experience and skills that they bring to bear in support of the whole team. The types of grants the Foundation makes range from operating support, project/program, capital, and occasionally loans. The Foundation's grants support planning, implementation, and learning from the work. Because the Foundation seeks to have an impact at the community level, we encourage and support collaboration when appropriate.

The program team of four staff report to the Executive Director. Program officers help build and manage the grants pipeline, maintain communications with our grant partners, and articulate to our board and external partners what we learn from the initiatives we support.

van Beuren Charitable Foundation is guided by the strategic thinking and coaching of an engaged and knowledgeable Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

The Program Officer responsibilities span planning and strategy, grantmaking, relationships, and leadership.

Grantmaking and Grants Monitoring

The Program Officer will work with the Executive Director and the rest of the team to coordinate the Foundation's competitive grantmaking process and grants monitoring.

• Assess and cultivate funding opportunities that are consistent with the Foundation's portfolio priorities through a process of reviewing proposals, site visits, and other community engagement
• Evaluate proposals and present to grants team recommendations for action on funding requests based upon strategic fit with portfolios; conduct due diligence; prepare written recommendations for and make oral presentations to the Grants Committee of the Board of Directors; monitor progress of grants made
• Maintain current records within the Foundation's database and help ensure compliance with grantmaking standards and legal requirements
• Conduct research and prepare analytical reports/briefing papers, and work on special projects as assigned
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and grants team in developing grantmaking strategies that will have a strong impact on the foundation's portfolios
  
  

Grant Partner Engagement

The Program Officer will work closely with community organizations, local leaders, and other funders to identify opportunities for further investment, technical assistance and collaboration as they relate to the Foundation's mission, funding priorities and interests.

• Stay abreast of developments and potential partners in fields of interest to the Foundation
• Maintain knowledge about current trend/issues impacting the Foundation's portfolios
• Work to support grant partner projects, including where appropriate and feasible, participating in meetings, reviewing drafts of reports and connecting grant partners to other resources
• When warranted, work with grant partners to facilitate communications and information sharing among them, encourage collaboration, and deepen knowledge of the field
  
  

Who You'll Work With

You will report to the Executive Director and work with the program staff which includes a Senior Program Officer, Program Officer, and Program Associate. The total staff size is 7. Given the small team size the work is deeply collaborative and interdependent.

Required Skills And Experience

• A bachelor's degree is required; graduate degrees in relevant fields are welcomed. vBCF also values life and work experiences that enrich a candidate's perspective on the Foundation's mission
• 10 years of professional experience with a strong record of achievement
• 5 years of relevant field experience in programmatic areas relevant to vBCF's grantmaking. Versatility and a breadth of experience across more than one program area is preferred. An ability to see the connections between the four portfolios is essential
• 3 years of nonprofit experience as an understanding of nonprofit organizational development is critical. An understanding of the operation and role of foundations is helpful; prior grantmaking experience is not required
• Exceptional time management skills, deadline management, sense of responsibility and accountability; demonstrated ability to work nimbly and collaboratively as part of a team with a high volume of work
• High degree of cultural competence, and experience in building collaborative relationships with and across diverse constituencies; ability to work comfortably and develop relationships with people who hold diverse perspectives; ability to hold highly confidential information
• Superior analytic and writing skills, including the ability to assess and synthesize complex information into a clear, concise summary
• Experience in reading financial statements, an understanding of due diligence, and an ability to assess an organization's health and effectiveness through qualitative reports and in-person conversations and site visits
• Intellectual curiosity, research, and networking skills that allow for impactful relationship building across a diverse array of stakeholders
• Informed judgement in the planning, design, development and evaluation of programs and/or capital projects
• Ability to monitor, analyze and visually depict impact, trends and research - and translate into strategic recommendations.
• High degree of flexibility and the ability to receive feedback and adapt as needed
  
  

Additional Details

The staff operates out of the Foundation's Newport office, located in a new open-plan workspace on the city's historic waterfront. Program staff spend a substantial amount of time out in the community, engaging with partners and grantees. The Program Officer must have the ability and willingness to travel 25% of the time for site visits and other meetings (largely local, but occasionally greater New England). There are occasional evening meetings and out-of-town travel that may require weekend departures or arrivals. The office is the first place of business but staff may request to work remotely as needed from time to time. Relocation packages available to candidates who may be relocating to Rhode Island.

Equal Employment Opportunity

van Beuren Charitable Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.