Program Officer, Environmental Justice Resourcing Collective

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA (currently remote)

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Organization Background

Kataly Foundation, a new family foundation based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is committed to supporting restorative economics, environmental justice, and mindfulness and racial justice. Founded in 2018 with the intention of spending out a $445 million endowment over a ten-year time horizon, this growing organization intends not only to support movements around these issues, but also to serve as a progressive leader in philanthropy.

Kataly’s mission is to support and provide resources to communities and social movements that are exploring new solutions to persistent, systemic problems. Kataly does this while embracing its role and responsibility in changing systems that led to wealth extraction from these communities in the first place. We move resources to support the economic, political, and cultural power of Black and Indigenous communities, and all communities of color. By transforming its own relationship to capital, the planet, and each other, the Kataly Foundation will redistribute and redefine wealth in a way that leads to transformation, abundance, and regeneration.

One important distinction of the Kataly Foundation is that its approach is meant to be inclusive of the activist communities it seeks to fund. Pursuing a “bottom-up” philosophy, the foundation actively engages leaders in the fields it supports to help make grantmaking decisions. In a sharp departure from traditional philanthropy, Kataly aims to center solutions where the problems are. In addition, the foundation is committed to philanthropic best practices: general operating support, creative use of capital, and a commitment to capacity building and network weaving.

The Opportunity

Kataly’s Environmental Justice Resourcing Collective (EJRC) is led by a group of eight movement leaders who are designing and directing an initial $50 million in support of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color-led projects and organizations. The EJRC will support projects that address community healing, build power, and/or build and strengthen the community infrastructure and land strategies that support the self-determination of Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color and the sustainability of the planet.

The EJRC Program Officer will be a thoughtful and engaged contributor to Kataly’s growing team. They will work closely with the EJRC leaders and Kataly to support the EJRC’s decision-making, planning, and grantmaking processes. 

Position Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with EJRC grantees and EJRC leadership
• Work closely with the EJRC leaders and consultants to advance the goals of the EJRC and amplify its work and the work of its grantee partners in the philanthropic arena
• Provide regular updates to the EJRC leadership and Kataly team on the work of EJRC grantees, and keep them abreast of developments in the field
• Organize, schedule, and plan meetings for the EJRC leadership as needed
• Conduct research and writing as needed to support the EJRC leadership and Kataly’s program needs
• Manage administration and logistics as it pertains to program meetings, events, etc.
• Facilitate and lead meetings and events as needed
• In collaboration with Kataly’s Director of Capacity Building, work with EJRC grantees and the EJRC leadership to identify, prioritize, and address key capacity building needs of grantees and across the ecosystem 
• Partner with Kataly’s Director of Communications to lift up grantee and EJRC stories, and contribute to content for a range of communications opportunities and needs
• Represent the EJRC in philanthropic spaces, and movement/grantee partner spaces where invited/appropriate
• Serve as a connector for grantees--with and among each other where it is useful/supportive of their work, and with potential funders and donors, and other opportunities to lift up and amplify their organizations, and increase their access to philanthropic spaces
• Facilitate opportunities for collaboration across Kataly program areas: coordinate with EJRC leaders and the Restorative Economies Fund and the Mindfulness and Healing Justice programs
• Work closely with other justice-focused funders across a range of issue areas to lift up the work and strategies of our grantees, and of the EJRC and Kataly 
• Engage and play a leadership role in networks of funders where it serves our grantees and the work
• In collaboration with Kataly’s Director of Knowledge and Grants ensure integrity, as well as clarity and ease for grantees, of grantmaking procedures 
• Organize, structure, and maintain grantee data current and present it regularly in relevant formats for the EJRC leaders and Kataly staff and leadership
• Manage the EJRC program budget efficiently and work with Kataly’s Director of Finance and Operations to ensure relevant and appropriate budget projections as the program evolves
• Produce qualitative and quantitative narrative reports on the EJRC’s grantmaking strategy
• Support the EJRC leaders in an annual evaluation of the program’s grantmaking

Profile of the Successful Candidate

Kataly Foundation is deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We seek to have a diverse and inclusive workforce to promote effective work in partnership with all communities and population groups. The foundation seeks a professional with a commitment to the power of philanthropy, social justice, and the common good; a passion for Kataly’s program areas and organizational values; a collegial work style; a sense of humor; and the dedication to work hard toward fulfilling the foundation’s mission of truly supporting   communities to exercise their power and voice and moving the needle on critical issues facing our nation.

The successful candidate for this position will come out of grassroots environmental justice movement-based work, and will hold and embody a strong race, class, and gender analysis and practice, consistent with the values and vision of the EJRC and Kataly. In addition, they will have a mix of the following experiences and skills:

• Lived and work experience directly relevant to environmental justice in the U.S. (inclusive of Indigenous, climate, food, racial, economic, immigrant/refugee justice, and other related arenas)
• Experience with power-building strategies for impacted communities and communities of color
• Demonstrated familiarity with and commitment to social justice concepts and frameworks such as racial equity, gender analysis, economic justice, and structural bias
• Strong emotional intelligence, demonstrated humility, and an orientation toward listening, especially to Black, Indigenous, and communities of color on the frontlines of environmental injustice
• Ability to inspire trust and build authentic relationships with a wide range of people and styles
• Proven capacities as a relationship-builder and a weaver/connector within and across ecosystems of organizations
• Clear and compelling written and oral communication skills, interpersonal awareness, and critical thinking skills
• The ability to manage confidential or sensitive information with discretion
• Highly organized with an attention to detail, ability to meet or exceed deadlines, and a commitment to rigor and excellent work product
• Strong time management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong work ethic and highest level of personal and professional integrity
• Proven project management skills
• A deep commitment to supporting and uplifting the expertise of Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led groups and formations
• Fluency in a second language is preferred, though not required

Start Timeframe

We seek to have someone in place by August 2021.

Compensation

This is a full-time (40 hours) exempt position offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

To Apply

All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit your resume along with a cover letter expressing why you think you would be a good fit for this position to jobs@kataly.org. Combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF file. Both the PDF file name and subject line of your email should be in the format "YOUR NAME - EJRC Program Officer Application." In the autoresponder email you receive confirming we have received your application, there will be a link to a form that you will need to fill out to complete your application. If you do not receive the confirmation email, send an email to jobs@kataly.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority consideration given to early applicants. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2021.

Learn more about Kataly at www.katalyfoundation.org