Program Officer, Scholarships

Job Title:Program Officer, Scholarships
Reports to:Director of Programming & Grantmaking

Company Vision:

We envision a Pittsburgh Region in which all members of the Black Community are empowered and self-sufficient.

Company Mission:

To assist the Black community in achieving self-sustaining practices, through strategic leadership, collective giving, grantmaking and advocacy.

Created in the format of a Community Foundation, POISE receives funds from a variety of donors. These funds may be unrestricted, and used to support our grantmaking strategy, or donor-directed for specific charitable purposes.

Position Summary:

POISE Foundation is seeking a Program Officer for Scholarships who is smart and innovative and loves building relationships that improve people’s lives. The Program Officer has the exciting opportunity of designing and implementing new scholarship programs. Building relationships with students, schools, fund advisors, committees, and parents is key to success in this role. Additional responsibilities include supervising the Scholarship Associate, maintaining confidentiality, and managing a portfolio of existing scholarship programs.

Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Director of Development to analyze potential new scholarship funds, help donors identify guidelines/criteria, and establish best practices
• Collaborate with Scholarship Fund Advisors to develop and/or update scholarship applications via the online system
• Align with the Scholarship Fund Advisor when developing timelines and key dates for all scholarship applications
• Serve as a primary contact person for Scholarship Fund Advisors on all issues related to application completion, timeline, key dates, and committee engagement
• Assess and proactively cultivate partnerships in line with the Foundation’s interests and priorities
• Represent the Foundation within the nonprofit, philanthropic, and broader community

Scholarship Administration

• Serve as the Foundation expert on all scholarship fund descriptions and eligibility criteria
• Works with the Director of Grantmaking to ensure new and existing scholarships remain compliant with HR4 standards and IRS regulations
• Serve as the first line of contact for telephone and electronic communication with students, parents, academic institutions, and other inquiries
• Analyze applications, Student Aid Reports, and transcripts to determine eligibility for scholarship funds
• Ensure proper disbursement and accounting of funds
• Prepare instructions and applications for all scholarship funds
• Prepare documents for posting to the website
• Prepare all correspondence to applicants regarding scholarship award status.
• Oversee and maintain all scholarship data in the online system
• Maintain schedule of deadlines to ensure tasks are done in a timely and efficient manner
• Work with the Distribution Committee to select scholarship recipients and attend committee meetings
• Attend Board of Trustees meetings

Community Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with external scholarship constituents, including school districts and other local scholarship providers.
• Coach and counsel constituents on scholarship guidelines and/or reporting and other requirements
• Develop and implement a plan for vigorous outreach to guidance counselors, principals, community organizations, and other pertinent individuals to encourage and ensure a robust and diverse applicant pool for scholarship funds
• Develop and implement a system to ensure all scholarship funds are receiving applications and that schools and community partners have clear guidelines on all deadlines
• Conduct annual review of scholarships that do not receive applicants and devise ways to increase applications
• Prepare and distribute brochures and information packets on scholarship funds
• Schedule, conduct, and participate in seminars and career fairs to increase the visibility of the Foundation’s scholarship programs

Essential Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent in a related field
• 3 - 5 years experience, preferably with donor relations or project management
• Experience using scholarship management, database records, or similar software programs
• Embodies good project management, problem-solving, and decision quality in a timely manner
• Ability to successfully multitask and prioritize effectively
• Able to work evenings and weekends occasionally
• Effective relationship-building skills and ability to collaborate in a team-oriented environment
• An innovative person who seeks out new possibilities and continuously learns
• Ability to maintain community and professional affiliations to enhance growth and knowledge in higher education and philanthropy
• Takes time to understand details to ensure effective oral/written communications
• Proven ability to work with diverse audiences as well as working knowledge of community needs and initiatives as it relates to the Black community in Allegheny County and across the country
• MS Microsoft Office proficiency
• Flexible in meeting changing demands
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Please confirm your salary expectations.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Program/Project Management: 3 years (Required)
• Nonprofit management: 1 year (Preferred)
• Scholarship management: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: Remote