Magic Cabinet - Program Officer

Full-time, Exempt

FIRM - $115,500

Candidate must live in the Puget Sound to be eligible.

Magic Cabinet ("MC") is a philanthropic foundation that seeks to fundamentally redefine how philanthropy and nonprofits partner for sustainable and thriving communities. We’re looking for a Program Officer who is collaborative, community-centered, flexible, and resourceful. Reporting to a Magic Cabinet Co-Program Director, the Program Officer collaborates with the foundation team to transform strategy and systems into amplified impact.

Magic Cabinet's Mission Magic Cabinet champions communities' work by partnering with nonprofits and other philanthropists to achieve the nonprofits' missions. We do this by providing long-term capacity-building grants, access to peer networks, and advocating for the broader adoption of collaborative, trust-based philanthropic practice.

Magic Cabinet's Vision We believe that nonprofits, community, and philanthropy can help build a just and equitable world by working in solidarity.

Magic Cabinet's Values

• Ongoing Partnership. We engage in deep, collaborative, long-term relationships through multi-year grants, our investments in nonprofits, and support.
• Equity. We purposefully and actively redistribute power to weigh community voice.
• Trust. We support authentic and reciprocal relationships amongst nonprofit peers.
• Flexibility. We are committed to listening and adapting to ever-changing community needs and contexts.
• Informed Decision Making. We ground ourselves in data and translate research and feedback into innovative practice.

Your role as Program Officer

The Program Officer supports the implementation and evolution of collaborative grantmaking processes with nonprofits and other partners, as applicable. The Program Officer works with established and newly formed Cohorts (composed of nonprofit partners), other nonprofit partners, Foundation staff, and appropriate consulting professionals to support Cohort, nonprofit, and/or partnership needs and the associated grantmaking. As the primary relationship holder of their assigned Cohorts and other areas of the MC program work, the Program Officer will ensure nonprofit partners are supported in achieving their success and addressing their capacity building needs via grants and other resources, and will contribute to efforts to refine and strengthen our philanthropic approaches and processes.

Additionally, the Program Officer supports the Foundation’s efforts to identify and build relationships with community-based nonprofits, community members, funders, philanthropic-serving organizations, and consultants to further our internal and external efforts to increase adoption of collaborative, trust-based philanthropic practice.

Program Officer responsibilities include:

Nonprofit Partner Relationship Management and Support (35%)

• Serve as the primary relationship holder and thought partner for assigned Cohorts (typically consisting of 3 nonprofits each and a Cohort Advisor) and any other assigned grantmaking initiatives.
• Build and maintain open, honest, and supportive relationships with nonprofit partners.
• Responsible for the scheduling, planning, and facilitation of assigned quarterly Cohort meetings, coordinating the distribution of approved grant monies, being responsive to nonprofit needs, coordinating with the Cohort Advisor, as well as participating in Cohort meetings as an active member.
• Monitor the implementation of nonprofit partner approved grants and work in collaboration with them to ensure their success, while balancing the concepts of accountability and flexibility.
• Responsible for supporting and monitoring submission of grant reports and other related administrative requirements.
• Support Program team members as needed to research, identify, and develop grantmaking engagements.
• Collaborate with other teams and departments in supporting communication with and addressing feedback from nonprofit partners.

Community and Partner Engagement (15%)

• Build and maintain relationships with peer funders, other community members, and philanthropically-minded organizations in support of nonprofit partners and Magic Cabinet’s continued learning and collaboration.
• Engage with local community partners to support Program’s efforts to keep a pulse on emerging community needs and trends.
• Partner with Magic Cabinet team members on the development and implementation of events for nonprofit partners to foster peer collaboration and networking.

Evaluation, Impact and Continuous Learning (30%)

• Seek continuous feedback from nonprofit partners to understand and diagnose key organizational and programmatic successes and challenges.
• Capture nonprofit partner activities and data in tools for internal management and monitoring of nonprofit partner grant progress and systems success.
• Help the team to stay current on issues in the Puget Sound area and innovative approaches to addressing them through research and connections with experts in the field.
• Seek opportunities to learn from and share new grantmaking and evaluation approaches, models and best/promising practices.
• Regularly participate in sharing successes and failures among the team to inform work and the team’s continuous learning and improvement.
• Present at conferences, workshops, and other community events to share the Magic Cabinet model, approach, and values, and highlight nonprofit partners’ work and impact.
• Participate in and/or lead Magic Cabinet working groups, as capacity allows.
• Attend and participate as needed in select Magic Cabinet board meetings, retreats, donor and cultivation events as ambassadors of nonprofit partners and Magic Cabinet.

Administrative Duties (15%)

• Participate in internal meetings and training.
• Participate in self- and peer- review processes.
• Participate in operational systems and procedures, such as expense tracking and documentation.
• All Magic Cabinet staff members are encouraged to participate in the betterment of Magic Cabinet’s procedures and processes.

Miscellaneous (5%

• Participate in and support other programmatic efforts as needed.
• Staff members may be asked to take on special projects for Magic Cabinet or additional tasks as assigned.

You are well qualified if you have/are:

• 5+ years of professional work experience in nonprofit or public agency leadership or as a nonprofit or public agency consultant;
• Experience in community organizing, working with, or supporting community-based social justice and nonprofit organizations;
• Experience establishing and running daily operations of nonprofits or public sector programs and initiatives;
• Proven track record of developing new cross-cultural relationships with individuals and institutions;
• Deep roots or a continued commitment to an inclusive and thriving Puget Sound community;
• Experience working with culturally, economically, and racially diverse groups;
• Comfort presenting in front of groups of people;
• Experience planning and facilitating meetings with diverse participants;
• Strong customer service orientation;
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and verbal communication skills, including public speaking;
• Strong computer and Internet-based research skills, including expertise using:
  • Spreadsheets, presentation software, project management tools, video conferencing, survey administration, and collaborative documents;
• Experience working independently and with minimal oversight;
• Resourceful with ability to be effective working independently or as part of a project team;
• Emotional maturity and a track record of developing strong credibility and trust at all levels within the organization;
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills and independent problem-solving experience;
• Ability to take initiative and balance competing priorities, adapting to changing deadlines or priorities, and identifying when to escalate an issue;
• A team player and collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with various partners and staff graciously and with a sense of humor;
• Comfortable working with teams across offices in multiple geographic locations;
• The ability to commit to frequent regional travel and limited amounts of domestic travel;
• Proficiency in a language in addition to English is a plus;

The Magic Cabinet provides all full-time employees with:

• Medical insurance is covered at 100% for you
  • 90% for your dependents
• Generous dental and vision care stipend for you and your dependents
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Potential to earn a 401(k) bonus each year
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Parental leave program
• The ability to work from the office or home
• Home office stipend for internet and other home office needs
• Foundation-paid continuing education and networking opportunities

Application deadline: 12:00pm (Noon) on July 1, 2024

Approximate Interview schedule (subject to change):

• First Interview - Week of July 15th
• Second Interview - Week of July 22nd
• Final Interview - Week of July 29th

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Magic Cabinet is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate community leadership while cultivating an inclusive environment for all employees.