Posted on February 12, 2013

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Program Analyst

The Robertson Foundation (the Foundation) is a private, family-led foundation established in 1996 by Julian H. Robertson, Jr. and his wife, Josie. By taking a targeted yet creative approach to philanthropy, Mr. Robertson, the Chairman of Tiger Management L.L.C., and his family seek to have a positive social impact and create a legacy that reflects the family`s values. The Robertson Foundation looks to maximize the impact of its efforts and drive superior results by making large, transformative grants that leverage the Foundation`s resources beyond the immediate funds committed, thereby reorienting the thinking, policies, and approaches of governmental entities and other philanthropic initiatives.

The Foundation currently seeks to make large-scale, high impact grants in four principal areas: education reform, environment, medical research, and religion. Other areas of interest have already and will continue to emerge over time, as the Foundation gains more experience. Cross-cutting principles that inform the work in each area include focusing on leadership, leveraging strategic opportunities, partnering with grant recipients and aligned funders, and developing measurable outcomes with intermediate and long-term impacts. The Foundation’s bias – to respond quickly to society’s most urgent concerns with solutions that yield meaningful results – will remain a priority.

For more information on the Foundation and its work, please access www.robertsonfoundation.org.

Organization Strategy

The Robertson Foundation takes a targeted, businesslike, results-oriented approach that is modeled more closely on private equity investing than on traditional philanthropic grant making. As a result, before the Foundation considers specific grants, its program staff, assisted by relevant experts, regularly conducts a data-driven scan of the area of interest to:

• develop an understanding of the issues that need to be addressed,
• survey the organizations that operate in the area,
• identify approaches being tried in the field and their degrees of success, and
• assess whether significant and measurable results can be achieved by the potential Robertson grant recipient.

Leadership plays an important role in selecting a grant recipient, especially because the Foundation seeks to contribute meaningfully to overall portfolio outcomes by partnering with grant recipients and challenging leadership continually to improve their work and impact. In every grant the Foundation makes, the implementation of the agreed-upon plan is monitored and the corresponding results are reviewed on a regular basis by the Foundation's program staff.

THE POSITION

Program Analyst:

The Program Analyst, reporting directly to the Program Officers, will play a substantive role in the Foundation’s work by assessing research proposals and managing the existing grant portfolio. This is an ideal opportunity for an individual seeking philanthropic exposure and open to learning the Foundation’s funding areas and programmatic goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide research on trends and opportunities in the Foundation’s funding areas in response to requests from program team, President, Executive Director, and trustees
• Assist Program Officers with grantmaking process, which includes working with applicants to prepare proposals and project budgets, as well as helping to analyze project proposals for review by the Program staff and trustees
• Work with Program Officers to review incoming proposals and analyze programmatic and financial information from nonprofit organizations across the program areas
• Assist in monitoring grant portfolios by participating in regular meetings on project management and program evaluations
• Draft reports and correspondence as directed, such a declinations, grant letters, etc.
• Occasionally attend meetings with Program Officers as needed
• Assist Program Officers in preparing evaluations and recommendations for new and renewal grantees
• Determine appropriate response to inquiries from a wide range of constituencies and stakeholders
• Actively assist in maintaining database of all proposals and grants
• Collaborate with colleagues in cooperative approaches to grantmaking
• Administrative responsibilities related to the above and to other areas as needed, such as creating minutes of meetings, tracking grants and financial reports
• Assist in preparation of materials for use in board meetings
• Manage special projects as needed

Professional Qualifications

• B.A. required, analytical studies preferred
• 3-5 years prior work experience with at least one year in the for-profit and/or nonprofit sector either in consulting or direct service
• Demonstrated interest and experience in the nonprofit sector and interest in learning the Foundation’s grant-making approach and areas of interest
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Results-orientation with a respect for data-driven outcomes and comfort with quantitative analytics
• Familiarity with nonprofit organizational structures
• Ability to evaluate and interpret nonprofit financial statements
• High professional standards and expectations
• Experience with and comfort using databases

Personal Characteristics

• Strongly team-oriented, collegial, collaborative
• Willing to work behind the scenes; views success as a product of the team
• Demonstrated passion for the nonprofit sector and the potential impact s/he can make
• Enthusiastic and productive communicator, both orally and in writing
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to use good judgment and problem-solve effectively
• Flexibility, adaptability, and a sense of humor
• Well organized, able to work in a fast-paced environment and self-motivated with a strong work ethic

Salary

The position is full-time; salary is commensurate with experience; includes full benefits package

Application Instructions

If interested, email or send a cover letter and resume to Ruth Brenner at hr@robertsonfoundation.org or 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178.