Program Associate

Date Posted	October 16, 2025
Industry	Other
Specialty	Not Specified
Remote / Telecommute	Hybrid
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$85,000 – $100,000

Description:

Program Associate

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

Fundamental Philanthropy, Inc. (FPI) is a boutique philanthropic and political consultancy based in Los Angeles. For more than a decade, the firm has worked with individuals, families, and organizations to help them use their resources (financial and otherwise) to drive social change. Our expertise lies in: developing grant making strategies, staffing foundation operations, mapping new trends, collaborating with thought leaders, and devising creative solutions to complex problems. Current key clients include: The Hearthland Foundation (Hearthland), the Righteous Persons Foundation (RPF), The Vera R. Campbell Foundation (VCF), and the Rosenzweig-Coopersmith Foundation (RCF).

Fundamental believes philanthropy is both a process and practice. We understand that it requires time, learning, partnership, intention, and invention to create new possibilities. We center equity in how we work and what we do. We engage staff and stakeholders with differing identities and experiences. We understand community is not a monolith but an ever-evolving constellation of practitioners, organizations, and neighbors who together can address problems and envision creative solutions.

ABOUT OUR TEAM: 

At Fundamental, we seek colleagues who are: 

• Passionate about working for a company and clients that are committed to doing good in the world. You align with our creative principles and want to build a shared democracy that works for all.
• Comfortable working in a nimble, fast paced environment with developing and changing needs. You enjoy reviewing and making sense of a high volume of complex, sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. You are adaptive and able to work in an organization that is iterative and growing. 
• Deeply relational and excel in collaborating with multiple stakeholders. You love being part of a team, are a bridge builder, with low ego. You are kind and have the capacity to imagine how the world looks to others and to build bonds of trust even in difficult circumstances. 
• Solutions oriented. You approach your work with an asset-based frame focusing on strengths and opportunities not only problems or limitations. 
• Genuinely curious. You ask questions, listen deeply and see yourself as a life-long learner.
• Highly creative. You value artistry, beauty, and imagination as deeply human needs and not a luxury.

ABOUT THE ROLE: 

In a time of significant growth for the firm and The Hearthland Foundation, Fundamental is adding a Program Associate to support the Bridge-Building & Journalism program areas. Our bridge-building portfolio invests in projects combatting polarization and bringing people together across lines of difference to solve problems collaboratively. We believe that bridging divides is essential to social progress. Our journalism portfolio, which fits into the foundation's broader focus on narrative change, centers solutions journalism, local journalism, and efforts to make news and newsrooms more representative of this country. 

The Program Associate will work closely with and report to Shayna Triebwasser, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, serving as a key partner in implementing program strategies and managing grantee relationships. The Program Associate will be responsible for vetting grantee partners, monitoring budgets, coordinating grants, and cultivating relationships with external partners, grantees, and other funders. Candidates should be energized by untangling complex programmatic work and bringing clarity and structure to creative ideas.

While this role may have touchpoints across other client accounts, it will be heavily focused on The Hearthland Foundation, a private foundation founded in 2019 to make grants and co-create projects that help build a shared democracy; tell a generative narrative about this country; and foster a culture of accompaniment.

JOB DUTIES: 

Reporting to the Senior Philanthropic Advisor, this role’s duties include: 

Grantmaking and Program Coordination:

·       Support senior leadership in evaluating proposals and the applicant’s organizational capacity to achieve proposed objectives.

·       Conduct programmatic and financial vetting of potential grantee partners, gathering additional information and resolving questions independently.

·       Research potential new grant partners. 

·       Support the grant making process, including providing guidance to grant seekers on requests and general information inquiries, communicating directly with grantees.

·       Build relationships with key grantees and partners and steward those relationships with care.

·       Draft and prepare grant recommendation memos, framing letters, notification emails, board meeting presentations, research briefs and other materials for Foundation meetings and convenings as requested by the Senior Philanthropic Advisor.

·       Review and synthesize grantee reports for senior staff, organizing information and drafting progress reports. 

·       Conduct research, provide analysis, and build issue-area expertise related to bridge-building and journalism. 

·       Maintain an active and accurate calendar of all grant life cycle touchpoints, notifying the Senior Philanthropic Advisor of upcoming communications needs.

·       Manage active grants, including regular check-ins with grantees to notify them of approvals, assess progress, and/or flag deadlines.

·       Manage and track program area budgets, working closely with the Operations & Grants Management team to ensure accuracy, fulfill reporting requirements, and monitor payments. 

·       Nurture a wide network of contacts and partnerships within the field, acting as a representative of the organization at key events, meetings, and conferences.

·       Document and file key communications, reports, and narratives.

Project Management:

·       Steward and manage program-related projects and initiatives from start to finish. 

·       Manage competing timelines and priorities while ensuring projects are moving forward, keeping the Program Team’s goals and objectives in mind. 

·       Assume responsibility for special projects from the Senior Philanthropic Advisor, as assigned.

Administration:

·       Work with the Senior Philanthropic Advisor to schedule grantee meetings, advising on prioritization and cross-program needs.

·       Participate in grantee meetings, including taking notes and disseminating information, as needed.

This role may include other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: 

·       At least 6+ years of professional experience with increasing responsibility working in any of the following fields: journalism, media, arts, non-profit, advocacy, government and/or politics. Experience in marketing, communications, or storytelling is a plus.

·       Experience in one or more of the following areas: movement building, community organizing, social justice campaigns, policy development or advocacy, program management, and/or initiative management. 

·       Basic understanding of programs, philanthropic giving, and grantmaking strategies, with ideally at least 2 years of experience working in programs at a philanthropic organization.

·       Ideally some experience working with journalists, storytellers, or creative people who use their vision to shape narratives and social change movements. Strong instincts for visual and strategic storytelling.

·       Exceptional verbal and written communicator in English. Can demonstrate compelling storytelling abilities and the summarization of complex information.

·       Superb project management and organizational skills; processes information quickly and translates thought-leadership into logistical implementation. Ends the week organized and ready for what’s next.

·       Quick and eager learner who enjoys reading, listening, and learning from diverse sources, a true “culture vulture.”

·       Experience managing and tracking a budget.

·       High level of interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at multiple levels, across internal teams, and with various partners, communities, audiences, and stakeholders—particularly across intersecting identities such as race, class, age, and geography.

·       Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential or sensitive situations and matters, as well as proven diplomatic, problem-solving capabilities. 

·       Proficient with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel), and comfortable working on a Mac. 

·       Basic experience using—or willingness to learn—shared document platforms (such as Dropbox), office communication platforms (such as Slack), project management tools (such as Notion), presentation and design platforms (such as Adobe Acrobat and Miro), virtual communication platforms (such as Zoom), and donor databases (such as Salesforce).

This combination of experiences and skills is ideal to be successful in this role, but we do not require or expect to find a candidate with everything. If you possess many of these experiences and skills, we invite you to apply. We value candidates with a range of backgrounds and abilities, and recognize that everyone brings a unique professional and lived experience into the workplace. In all of the job function areas, reasonable accommodations are available, as needed. 

FPI is an equal opportunity employer. FPI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, FPI complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

LOCATION & HOURS: 

This is a full-time position, based in the Los Angeles, CA-area.

Fundamental is currently working via a hybrid model (three days in-person, two remote). Our offices are located in Culver City, CA. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am – 6pm PT, with core operating hours effective between 10am-4pm PT. 

In addition, the Program Associate should anticipate some work hours that shift and may be asked to support program convenings or field events in the evening or weekend. Travel is anticipated to comprise approximately 10% of this role (with flexibility). 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $85,000 – $100,000. This is a full-time, exempt position.  

We care deeply about our team and ensuring folks remain healthy and focused on their wellbeing so they can bring their whole selves to work.

Our compensation package includes:

·       100% employee coverage for medical, dental, vision and life insurance

·       401k plan after one year of service (no match needed; minimum 7% employer contribution)

·       All major holidays observed, and floating holidays available   

·       Paid weeklong summer and winter breaks (office closure)

·       Paid vacation / personal time off 

·       Paid sick, mental health, and wellness time off 

·       Paid parental leave (starting at 12 weeks)

·       Paid sabbatical (two months, following seven years of service)

·       Professional development budget 

·       Hybrid schedule 

·       Organizational flexibility for asynchronous work and caretaking responsibilities

HOW TO APPLY: 

Deadline: Rolling, through November 7, 2025.

Interested candidates should submit a résumé and a letter of interest detailing relevant experience as a professional. In your letter, please also include a brief statement on your specific interest(s) in working with the Program Team, Fundamental, and Hearthland.

Verge Agency, Inc. is exclusively managing this search. Please submit all application materials to Lise Ragbir and Julia Hendrickson at community@weareverge.org. 

Please note that no telephone calls are accepted. All inquiries, including any assistance or accommodation requirements due to a disability should be emailed to Verge. 

INTERVIEW PROCESS: 

Qualified candidates will be contacted for an initial screening conversation with Verge. Those candidates who advance through the interview process should expect approximately three to four rounds of interviews. A brief assessment may be requested from candidates as part of the process. Reference checks will be conducted at the conclusion of the process for two finalists. Interviews will take place virtually and in-person in Los Angeles, CA.