About Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support, both through collaborative grantmaking and other efforts, a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories.

Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Current donor collaboratives include:

Piper Fund. Connects and resources grassroots organizations dedicated to protecting our democracy and envisioning reforms to make it more inclusive and representative. We break down silos to support community-led coalitions and help build dynamic movements that produce powerful change.

The Rights, Faith & Democracy Collaborative (RFDC). Educates and mobilizes philanthropy to raise and target desperately needed resources to diverse coalitions of state-based activists and organizations committed to realizing full inclusion and justice for those harmed by this wave of religious extremism.

The RISE Together Fund (RTF) + RISE Together Action Fund (RTAF). Supports cutting-edge Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (BAMEMSA) field-led work. RTF bolsters its national grantmaking with programming, field building, and technical assistance to build and expand the capacity of the BAMEMSA movement toward racial, gender, and queer justice and a fully inclusive and representative democracy.

Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives that play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

To date, Proteus Fund and its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, the Proteus Action League (PAL), have distributed $250 million in grants and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level.

Proteus operates and pursues its work based on a set of values synergistic with our vision and mission:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Integrity and professionalism;
• Transparency and accountability; and
• Respect and humility

Please visit www.proteusfund.org/ for more information about Proteus Fund’s history, impact, and leadership.

The Solidarity Collaborative

Solidarity—defined here as a genuine, sublime belief in a shared destiny, actively demonstrated through word and action—is central to realizing an inclusive, just democracy in the United States. 

The newly launched Solidarity Collaborative will support jointly developed racial solidarity projects led by leading social justice organizations in the US. While philanthropy has expanded support to racial justice and organizing work in Black, Latinx, Native, AAPI, Muslim, Jewish, Arab, and South Asian communities, minimal attention is paid to the vital work of solidarity between and among communities. The Collaborative believes that it is in these in-between spaces where a high quality inclusive, representative democracy is more fully realized. 

The primary objectives of the Solidarity Collaborative are to build authentic and ultimately action-oriented relationships centered on solidarity between and among racial justice leaders; promote and support, via grant making and programming, meaningful solidarity between and among racial justice leaders and organizations; and continue a learning path with philanthropy to understand what resources and scale are necessary for impactful solidarity.

Please visit https://www.proteusfund.org/solidarity-collaborative/ for more information about the recent launch of The Solidarity Collaborative.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to Amardeep Singh, Proteus Fund’s Vice President of Programs, the first-ever Solidarity Collaborative Director will serve as a champion of the Collaborative’s vision and lead activities to meet its primary objectives. The Solidarity Collaborative Director is charged with developing, running, growing, and fundraising for the Collaborative. The Collaborative’s Director will run the convenings focused on building stronger working relationships grounded firmly in solidarity, the Collaborative’s grant making, donor learning opportunities, as well as field and solidarity network building.

The Director will work with funding partners, both foundations and individual donors, to organize philanthropy in support of the Collaborative’s vision and objectives and to grow the Collaborative’s funding. They will work most closely with the Vice President of Programs and consultants to support the execution of convenings, trainings, grantmaking, and other projects in support of the Solidarity Collaborative’s objectives. They will also play a leadership role more generally within Proteus Fund as part of a team of fellow Program Directors, and as part of a larger 16-person Program Team at Proteus. The Director regularly works with all of the departments and units at Proteus Fund, including Grants Management, Donor Services, Partnership, Finance and Operations, and People and Culture.  

This is a unique opportunity for a trail-blazing leader in philanthropy, who brings an organizing and movement building orientation and strong skill set for developing inclusive, intersectional relationships and movements. 

Proteus Fund welcomes everyone to our team. We strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, LGBTQ, women and gender nonconforming, and people with disabilities.

Areas of Leadership

Passion for Proteus Fund’s Mission and Subject-Matter Expertise: Social and Racial Justice; Movement Building and Activism

• Serve as a subject matter expert on the principles and actions that define solidarity as distinguished from allyship – with grounding and experience in racial and social justice and movement building towards a representative, inclusive democracy in the United States
• Ground the Solidarity Collaborative in the mission and vision of  Proteus Fund as a social justice-focused philanthropy and its partner organizations
• Envision, design, and lead trainings/dialogues and set broader program strategy that are rooted in and leverage the definitions and concepts of social and racial justice to realize how authentic solidarity works
• Demonstrate authenticity and openness to embracing radical candor, strong collaboration, and active listening
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team that is diverse and inclusive with accountability and responsibility; collaborative approach to working with colleagues and a commitment to relationship building

Program Strategy, Design, and Facilitation

• Design, implement, and lead facilitation of solidarity field convenings and trainings, ongoing donor meetings and briefings, and a network of advocates dedicated to advancing solidarity as a value and strategy
• Envision and lead other programming and technical assistance opportunities to further the Solidarity Collaborative’s impact, including the development of narratives to promote solidarity across communities and a rapid response policy table
• Represent the Collaborative and issues related to its work in various settings through public speaking, panel moderation, attending conferences and meetings, publishing thought pieces, etc. 
• Oversee the Collaborative’s annual program and budget planning process with the Proteus Fund VPP, CFO and other key Proteus Fund staff
• Build and maintain expertise on the substance, dynamics, and priorities within the emerging field of solidarity-building 

Development - Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• With support, develop and execute the Collaborative’s ongoing annual fundraising plans to maintain its financial viability and continued impact, including providing written and verbal evaluations and reports on grantmaking and other programmatic work to Solidarity Collaborative donors
• Play a leadership role in fundraising efforts, including executing high level donor meetings, as well as other development-oriented speaking and presentation opportunities 
• Together with the Proteus Fund’s partnership staff, develop and execute strategy for donor cultivation and related events, including gatherings of prospective donors, funder briefings, etc. to spotlight the Collaborative’s work, impact, and growth
• Attend relevant convenings of the philanthropic community to develop and strengthen relationships with potential philanthropic partners, and to educate and engage the larger funding community about the importance of explicit solidarity work and the impact of the Solidarity Collaborative

Grantmaking and Relationship-Building

• Create a grantmaking program to achieve the goals and objectives of the Collaborative, including an initial grants program for racial justice organizations’ associated solidarity field convenings organized by the Collaborative
• With support from the Grants Management unit, manage entire grant process from inquiry and application through to grant awards and post-award communications with grantees
• Evaluate proposals, including budgets, supporting materials and viability and impact of proposed work, including funding recommendations to the Collaborative’s donor partners, Proteus Fund President and Board for regular docket and rapid response grants
• Consider the needs of the field and grantees, provide information and resources, and host grantee convenings focused on building authentic solidarity
• Educate and advise aligned funders to help inform them about needs and investments in the emerging solidarity field they might consider supporting

Key Qualifications

• Commitment to the vision and mission of Proteus Fund as a progressive social justice organization, demonstrated through: work history; a degree in public policy, public administration, or social science; and/or experience in philanthropy, advocacy, and progressive social justice
• More than five years of experience working in a relevant, similarly aligned nonprofit organization; philanthropy experience a plus, but not required
• Demonstrated knowledge of movements to promote and advance a representative democracy in the United States and democratic institutions, including knowledge of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice
• Track record of development experience and enthusiasm for working with foundations and high net worth donors
• Proven ability to design and facilitate learning and relationship building opportunities for and across others
• Senior level management experience, including collaboration with other senior level leaders, overseeing external consultants, and supervising staff
• Strong written, verbal, and related presentation and advocacy communication skills, including the ability to listen deeply, with an orientation of humility, and a record of uplifting individuals and partners with whom you are working
• High professional, performance, and ethical standards 
• Energized by problem-solving with an attention to detail and a high degree of personal organization
• Financial acumen and understanding of program budget creation and management, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other applications of similar complexity

Compensation, Benefits & Location

This role is budgeted for $140,000 - $155,000. Salary is one part of the total compensation that Proteus Fund provides to employees. Monetary compensation is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: geographic location, skill set level, number of years of previous/applicable experience, and Proteus Fund's commitment to ensuring pay equity within the organization as a part of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). The recruiting team will share more details regarding salary based on the factors noted above. Additional benefits information will also be shared with candidates who advance to later stages in the selection process in support of total compensation consideration.  

Proteus Fund is committed to ensuring that its employees are supported holistically, from compensation, benefits, and resources to an enriching work environment and collaborative culture. Proteus Fund leads the market in a number of its offerings, including a sector-leading retirement plan contribution and robust benefits package. Medical and dental benefits for employees and eligible dependents are available on the first day of work. 

• Retirement savings account (401k) with an organization contribution of 10% of annual salary
• Three weeks paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
• 15 sick days per year
• Three personal days per year
• 15 paid holidays
• Professional development initiatives
• Life insurance
• Paid Family Leave, short-term, and long-term disability

This is a full-time, exempt, U.S. based hybrid position. The person in the Director role is ideally located in the New York City area and can commit to being in Proteus Fund’s offices at least three days a week, or someone based in the Northeast (i.e., within the Washington DC to Boston corridor) and willing to travel frequently. Regardless of location, the role requires travel 3-4 days at a time, every 1-2 months, to New York City or other parts of the country for team, Board, donor and Collaborative meetings, retreats, and conferences. 

Proteus Fund believes that one of the greatest strengths of an organization is the rich diversity of its staff and Board and is committed to providing equal employment and promotional opportunities based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under the law. Proteus Fund’s policies and practices are to reflect Proteus Fund’s commitment to nondiscrimination in all areas of employment.

Proteus Fund is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Proteus will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please  contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 413-256-0349, option 3. Additionally, throughout this document, use of the pronoun “they” is intended to be inclusive of humans who identify as non-binary, as well as those of gender expansive identities and experiences.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Please note, to maintain and safeguard staff's health, well-being, and safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated, including the initial vaccine series and boosters, prior to their employment and adhere to the regular upkeep of COVID-19 vaccination requirements as per CDC recommendations while employed. Proof of the CDC-recommended level of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus Fund.