Overview: The Cleveland Foundation (the Foundation) has a three-county footprint which includes Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties. The Foundation has identified an opportunity to enhance the strategic grantmaking approach utilized in those communities. To capitalize on this opportunity, the Foundation is seeking a Strategy Fellow who will focus on designing and supporting learning in those communities to inform Foundation investments, functioning as a convener for exploratory opportunities like lakeshore investments, ensure integration of the Lake Geauga Fund Advisory Committee, and ensure needed information and prospects for fundraising are shared.

Lake & Geauga County Learning Process

While issues across the Foundation’s entire footprint are often similar, they manifest differently and therefore solutions differ across urban, suburban, and rural geographic contexts. The Cleveland Foundation has an opportunity to re-engage the Lake and Geauga County communities through a holistic learning process that will inform grantmaking via the Foundation and the Lake Geauga Fund.

• Design and implement a learning journey for Cleveland Foundation leadership, staff, and the Lake Geauga Fund’s Advisory Committee.
• Conduct or facilitate an Environmental Scan to assess the current community landscape.
• Perform SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Organize listening sessions to gather insights from the community.
• Leverage both qualitative and quantitative community-based information to inform decision-making.
• Utilize external data support as needed to enhance analysis and learning.

External data support may be available. 

Key Initiatives

In collaboration with the Executive Office and Community Philanthropy, support the exploration, convening, and resourcing of identified transformative opportunities for Lake and Geauga counties.

• Join Foundation and Community Philanthropy leadership in community meetings.
• Integrate the exploration of opportunities into the learning process.
• Design convening strategies for specific projects.
• Explore opportunities such as: Lakefront development, Business development, and Capital projects

Other potential initiatives

Lake Geauga Fund Advisory Committee 

One of the ways the Cleveland Foundation invests in the Lake and Geauga communities is through the Lake Geauga Fund. This fund, advised by a 7-person committee, is charged with stewarding grants to worthy nonprofits meeting articulated needs that align with the Cleveland Foundation’s Impact Agenda. The Lake Geauga Fund will not complete any grantmaking in 2024 and this role will:

• Ensure stakeholder engagement is prioritized throughout the learning process.
• Integrate stakeholder input into the design of learning initiatives.
• Foster ongoing support from stakeholders for the learning journey.
• Continuously communicate with stakeholders to gather feedback and insights.

Fundraising

There are no fundraising duties within this role as it will coordinate closely with the Philanthropic Strategy Growth Officer focused on leading Community Philanthropy’s fundraising approach. Coordination may include:

• Sharing potential funding opportunities with stakeholders.
• Providing data from the learning process to enhance fundraising requests.
• Ensure alignment among team members and stakeholders.
• Maintain open communication to discuss progress and challenges.
• Allocate resources effectively to support initiatives.

Essential Qualification, Credentials, and Technical Skills:

• Relevant degree and experience in strategic planning, community engagement, or grantmaking.
• Understanding of grantmaking processes and the ability to enhance strategic approaches in diverse communities.
• Ability to conduct environmental scans, SWOT analyses, and organize community listening sessions.
• Proficient in leveraging qualitative and quantitative data for informed decision-making.
• Experience working with community stakeholders and fostering collaborative relationships.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities to effectively share insights and updates with stakeholders.
• Capability to design and implement learning journeys and convening strategies for various initiatives.
• Knowledge of fundraising processes, with a focus on supporting rather than leading fundraising efforts.
• Ability to work in urban, suburban, and rural contexts, adapting strategies as needed for diverse community needs.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including leadership and advisory committees.
• Ability to work in a face-paced and iterative working environment.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: 

The ability to carry out our mission and to foster our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion can best be pursued if our workforce, grantees, donors, partners, and governing body are inclusive of individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.

We believe that diversity encompasses, but is not limited to, age, color, education, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental abilities or characteristics, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and/or other characteristics that make an individual unique.

The Cleveland Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunities for all. The ability to carry out our mission and to foster our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion can best be pursued if our workforce, grantees, donors, partners, and governing body are inclusive of individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.

PAY AND BENEFITS: 

The Cleveland Foundation prioritizes pay equity and competitive pay rates for individuals across all positions. This position pays between $50,000 – $60,000.

The foundation offers an exceptional benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, identity theft, and life and disability coverage, a comprehensive wellness program, an employee assistance program, a fully vested 403(b) retirement plan, ten paid holidays, and, for non-exempt positions, 10 days of vacation and 12 sick days, prorated the first year of service based on the date of hire.

The Fellow could have access to relocation assistance and reimbursement (if eligible) and will be included in professional development opportunities as part of the Public Service Fellowship program.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY:  Please submit your resume and cover letter as soon as possible. This posting will remain active until the position is filled. We regret that we cannot respond personally to each applicant.

Note: Our flexible workplace policy provides one day of remote work per week.

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