Senior Program Officer, Founder Initiatives

About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation: A renowned entrepreneur and co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur M. Blank is now recognized for his values-based Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) and as one of America’s leading philanthropists through The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. All his industry-leading businesses, including the foundation operate on six core values: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example and Give Back to Others. After 27 years and almost $1 billion in giving as of March 2023, the foundation has committed to significantly escalating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10 years. This milestone coincides with deeper participation among the next generation of Blank family members on the board and in advisory capacities, partnering around their shared core beliefs, including the Jewish value of tikkun olam (“heal and repair the world”) and seeking a fuller realization of American ideals. The Board is embarking on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new collective areas of giving, which include Youth Development, with a focus on workforce development; Atlanta’s historic Westside, with a focus on affordable housing and economic mobility; Democracy, that is now developing the strategic focus; and Environment, with a focus on renewable energy and land conservation. Across these portfolios, the Blank Family Foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence. In addition to the collective areas of giving, the Blank Family Foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of Founder-led initiatives, including a newly developed focus on Mental Health and Well-Being, and the six Associate-Led Giving Committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses. About the Founder’s Initiative work and team: The foundation oversees a large portfolio of Founder initiatives projects, programs, and grants. These efforts include due diligence, execution, and evaluation of Arthur Blank’s discretionary and legacy grants, the six Associate-Led Giving Committees, West Creek Ranch, Base Camp and Challenge Course programming in Montana, and sponsorships. The Founder Initiatives team is based in both Atlanta and Montana. Efforts to engage the youngest generation of Arthur Blank’s children also fall under the Founder Initiatives area of work. The intention and aspiration of the founder initiatives work is to build on Arthur Blank’s standing commitment to Georgia and Montana organizations and communities, to ensure that resources are invested so that people can thrive and live a fulfilled life. This is an exciting moment to be part of the Founder Initiatives team given the growth in foundation grantmaking. Consistent with the values and interests of Arthur M. Blank, the Senior Program Officer will be a key member of the Founder Initiatives team developing grants and overseeing projects that align with our founder’s interests and passions. The Senior Program Officer will report to the Managing Director of Founder Initiatives and will be part of a nine-person team that focuses on grantmaking, programming and other philanthropic activities to support key nonprofit partners. Senior Program Officer, Founder Initiatives Key Responsibilities: The Senior Program Officer, Founder Initiatives will work closely with the Managing Director to guide and direct the team and will execute responsibilities in three primary areas: grantmaking, portfolio management and operations; research, monitoring and results tracking; and communications and external relations: Grantmaking, portfolio management and operations: Work in tandem with the Managing Director, Founder Initiatives to develop and design founder grants that give expression to the interests of Arthur M. Blank. Serve as a lead partner contact, providing ongoing monitoring and results tracking for the portfolio of Founder Initiatives grantees, through the full lifecycle of the grant from inception to completion. Draft memos, grant analysis and recommendations (GARs), and summary reports. Manage a portfolio of existing Founder Initiative grants, be a resource and thought partner for our nonprofit partners and identify potential new investment opportunities. Lead the BFOB Diversity and Inclusion Fund, one of the Associate-Led Giving Committees, supporting its grantmaking and community engagement efforts. Support BFOB Diversity and Inclusion Fund Committee set grantmaking strategy and develop grant opportunities for committee consideration, including setting-up information sessions with potential grantees, providing relevant organization information to Committee, and serving as liaison between Committee and nonprofit community. Support the development of monthly Founder Initiatives update meeting materials with clear agenda setting that presents considerations and recommendations for discussion. Understand and monitor grant budgets and ensure compliance with foundation practices and protocols, including appropriate programmatic and financial due diligence. Support the tracking of Founder Initiatives’ projects in development, as well as direct the work needed to bring ideas and concepts to fruition. Develop and leverage relationships with internal finance and grants management team to create responsible fiscal and grantmaking practices for founder grants. Collaborate with foundation colleagues and other program staff across the organization to ensure broad understanding of founder priorities and grants. Develop relationships across the Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) to ensure strong knowledge, connections, and alignment where appropriate with foundation priorities. Research, Monitoring and Results Tracking: Conduct research and remain abreast of current news and philanthropic strategies related to grant making opportunities of interest. Collaborate with the Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy team on programs and grants to review evidence and data, ensure alignment with purpose and work with Managing Director to share summary of progress with Founder. Work with the Effective Philanthropy team to develop new grantmaking opportunity areas, and develop and refine measurement to track results of grants as appropriate. Communications and External Relations: Collaborate with the Communications team to share portfolio and grantee progress and relevant trends in grantee impact. Work with Communications team on storytelling to amplify Founder Initiatives grants for greater impact. Build internal and external relationships with a variety of stakeholders including colleagues, nonprofit grantees, other funders, and community leaders and residents. Represent the foundation in external meetings and conferences and liaising with other philanthropies and government agencies. Spearhead learning from the fields we work in and bridge connections to other family foundations and leaders in philanthropy. Candidate profile: The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following ability, skills, and attributes: Support and promote a growing culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Lead with curiosity and an inquisitive spirit and commitment to continuous learning. Lead with a commitment to excellence Demonstrate a passion for philanthropy and supporting individuals, organizations, and communities to thrive. Demonstrate nimbleness to adapt to a dynamic team and workplace, as well as agility to respond to an entrepreneurial founder with varying interests and passions. Possess a balance of intellectual and emotional intelligence. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and work collaboratively with stakeholders. Be adept at multi-tasking, prioritizing, and balancing changing priorities with minimal direction. Possess excellent communication in writing and verbal skills. Demonstrate proficient research and analytical skills. Demonstrate the ability to work independently balanced with the ability to work on a team. Possess excellent organizational, planning and time-management skills. Welcome feedback and be committed to learning and growing. Demonstrate record of building bridges across sectors to strengthen and scale innovation. Model leadership for colleagues across the foundation’s program staff. Model positive energy and can-do attitude. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree or equivalent experience is a plus. 7 years of experience and expertise in philanthropy and/or nonprofit leadership, with understanding of grantmaking best practices and knowledge of the philanthropic landscape/sector. Preference for candidates with direct experience in family philanthropy and/or experience working with high-net worth individuals. Project management skills and experience a plus. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint. Experience with CyberGrants a plus. Keenly discreet and respectful when handling private and confidential matters. Working Conditions: This position is in Georgia and is an in-person role at the Arthur M. Blank Family Office. Works primarily in a business office but will be required to frequently travel to meetings offsite and occasionally beyond Atlanta, Georgia. Use of computer requires hand/wrist motion and visual focus. Occasionally lifting items weighing 5 – 20 lbs. Salary and Benefits: The Foundation offers a highly competitive and comprehensive salary and package of benefits. To Apply: Please visit our website to complete our online application. The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from diverse backgrounds and identities are encouraged to apply. Please note that the Foundation has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees. As a condition of employment, employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved or as otherwise required by law. APPENDIX: FOUNDATION GIVING AND OPERATIONS AREAS Communications The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s communications team helps shape the foundation’s next chapter of giving. Working with the foundation President and all program areas, this team develops and executes communication strategies to advance the foundation's mission. Initiatives include digital media, public relations and content development, among others. Effective Philanthropy The Effective Philanthropy team provides internal advisory services to all programmatic and founder-led initiatives. The Effective Philanthropy team’s core business will be to design and support teams with tools, guidance and structures for program strategy, monitoring, learning and evaluation; promote a dynamic culture of learning, rigor, and reflection; and collaborate within the Blank Family Foundation, across the Blank Family of Businesses and with peers and experts outside the organization to recognize and realize synergies and opportunities for impact. Democracy The Democracy team is now developing a strategy that will focus on solutions that help to achieve a free, fair and equitable democracy in our country for all people. Environment The Environment team will focus on solutions that accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and its positive impact on people’s lives. The team will focus initially on expanding access to clean energy in regional energy markets in the Intermountain West and Southeast. The team also works on conservation in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Founder Initiatives In addition to the collective areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of Founder initiatives grants and projects. These efforts include diligence, execution, and evaluation of the foundation’s Founder discretionary and legacy grants, the six Associate-Led Giving Committees, West Creek Ranch, Base Camp and Challenge Course programming in Montana, and sponsorships. The Founder Initiatives team is based in both Atlanta and Montana. Efforts to engage the youngest generation of Arthur Blank’s children also fall under the Founder Initiatives area of work. Mental Health & Well-Being The purpose of the Mental Health and Well-Being Team is to contribute to the mission of the foundation by developing and implementing strategies that address the mental health and well-being crisis in our country. Through the mental health and well-being grants program, the foundation provides resources to grantees that enhance the lives of those who are disconnected from support they need to live a life filled with a sense of both belonging and purpose. Westside Atlanta The foundation has an enduring commitment to Atlanta’s historic West Side, specifically the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. The Westside Atlanta team aims to create a vibrant community where legacy residents in both neighborhoods have tools and resources that support choice, enhance their economic mobility and allow them to collectively thrive. Youth Development The Youth Development team will expand opportunities for young people ages 14-24 who live in high poverty, low economic mobility areas in Georgia and Montana, by supporting access to career pathways, social emotional learning and addressing systems that create barriers to both. AMB Sports & Entertainment is part of the Blank Family of Businesses comprised of the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons, Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AMBSE Ventures, and PGA TOUR Superstore. Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football club and member of the National Football League (NFL). The team’s headquarters and practice facility are located on a 50-acre site in Flowery Branch, Georgia. The Falcons’ NFL expansion franchise was awarded in 1965 and acquired by current owner Arthur M. Blank in 2002. Under Blank’s leadership, the Falcons have become one of the League’s premier teams on and off the field, playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information, visit www.atlantafalcons.com, and follow @AtlantaFalcons. Mercedes-Benz Stadium Opened in August 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a world-class sports and entertainment venue in downtown Atlanta and home to the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. The multi-purpose stadium was named the 2019 Sports Facility of the Year and is host to major sports and entertainment events, including the 2026 World Cup, the 2018 and 2025 College Football Playoff National Championships, the 2018 MLS Cup, and Super Bowl LIII. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the first professional sports stadium in North America to achieve LEED Platinum Certification and the first stadium worldwide to achieve TRUE Platinum Certification for zero waste by the United States Green Building Council. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is proud to be collaborating with naming rights partner Mercedes-Benz and twelve founding partners including Coca-Cola, Equifax, The Home Depot, Novelis, SCANA Energy, Truist, IBM, Georgia Power, American Family Insurance, Global Payments, and Ticketmaster. To learn more about Mercedes-Benz Stadium visit www.mercedesbenzstadium.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Atlanta United Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.