Position Overview:

The Grant Writer actively collaborates with the three-person Grants Team to secure government, foundation, and corporate grants to meet organizational revenue goals. They help to identify new funding opportunities, strategize on grant asks, and steward funders. They support the successful implementation of organizational projects related to grant funding, including assessing program data and drafting reports. They participate in creating long-term strategic plans for growing grants revenue, applying trends in funding patterns to help build grants projects and proposals that align with the strategic direction of the organization.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Maintain grant writing and reporting portfolio that averages 7 projects per month.

• Assist with management and administration of grants projects including reviewing applications and reports, prospect research, budgeting and planning, tracking, and follow up as needed and as assigned.

• Work closely with leadership and Grants Manager to identify and create strategies and new opportunities for funding and partnerships that align with youth-first, youth-centered program development.

• Work closely with leadership, other departments, and Grants Manager to research and develop grant strategies, narrative content, grant proposals, and project budgets.

• Serve as organizational representative and steward for funder relationships and grant contracts for projects in portfolio.

• Support Development team in reaching revenue and grant goals. May include writing copy and narrative, providing data and program stories, and proofreading fundraising and marketing materials.

• Participate in organizational initiatives. Prioritize youth-centered values and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in grants, fundraising, organizational processes and systems, and relationships (both internal and external to the organization).

Skills, Abilities, and Experience:

• Demonstrated academic or professional experience with persuasive and engaging writing. Successful grant writing experience strongly preferred. Or, equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience, familiarity, and comfort with racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ability to apply a mission-centered, racial equity lens to communications, strategies, and other work. Commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion both personally and professionally.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. Ability to work with a diversity of contacts and constituents both internal and external to the organization including funders, board members, senior leadership staff, other staff across the organization, youth and families, partner organizations, etc. Ability to work well with a large, diverse team.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with a proven track record of meeting deadlines. Ability to plan, organize, and complete multiple, overlapping projects.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and effectively solve problems.

• Detail-orientated. Ability to review materials, proofread, edit, incorporate feedback into written content, and synthesize complex ideas and translate them to clear written information.

• Experience in non-profits and fundraising preferred.

• This position may include in-office work and regular attendance at in-person meetings and events, including meetings with funders. While under COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, most work in this position can be performed remotely.

• This position usually works standard business hours, Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm with some flexibility. Occasional morning, evening, and weekend work may be required for special events and to complete work for deadlines.

• Skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Familiarity with prospect research tools and constituent relationship database (such as Raiser’s Edge) preferred.

Salary Range

$47,000 - $52,000 annually, 40 hours per week. Generous holiday and vacation policy as well as healthcare and 401k benefits.

Position Overview:

Friends of the Children-Portland is a nonprofit that is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by giving youth facing the most obstacles the ability to create a new story. We do this by providing youth in our program with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, who we call a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12 ½ years – no matter what. We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey as a Friend at our Portland and SW Washington Chapter.

At Friends of the Children, we put youth first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views our most vulnerable youth. As a Friend you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, intention, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. Do you want to help nine of our youth discover their limitless potential, by fostering their internal resiliency? Are you ready to help build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities? If so, the impactful role of a Friend might be for you.

Curious to learn more? See the position details below.

Job Description:

A Friend works intensively with a roster of 9-10 youth. The youth may vary in age from K-12^th grade youth. We are currently seeking a mentor to serve as a positive adult role model to 9-10 youth and develop loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each youth. For every youth, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each youth’s strength, talents, and abilities; help ensure physical and emotional well-being; teach life and academic skills; provide enrichment activities; and model responsible behavior.

A Friend will fully document all youth service efforts and participate in an ongoing reflection, observation, and evaluation process. Friends work directly with each of their youth in both one-on-one and in group settings, and work indirectly collaborating with the other adults in the youth’s life and intentionally planning, culminating in about four hours each week per youth

A Friend must know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

Core Job Accountabilities:

• Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, trusting, and accepting relationship with each youth
• Spend time with each youth; one-on-one, in the classroom, and in group activities
• Collaboratively develop, maintain, and follow a Roadmap Goal Plan or Transition Plan for each youth
• Set realistic expectations and goals based on each youth’s strengths, talents, abilities, and needs
• Teach and model life skills and healthy habits to contribute both to basic development and learning, and to contribute to building positive self-esteem
• Develop a talent/skill/area of interest with each youth to help develop positive self-esteem and experience growing confidence
• Provide enrichment resources and activities which include opportunities for cultural awareness, diversity, and community service
• Contribute to youth acquiring behavioral management skills, tolerance, respect for others, courtesy, and compassion
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers and others involved in each youth’s life
• Reinforce basic academic skills and learning
• Model and promote good problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Participate in the programming and resources available through the organization, effectively utilizing program resources to meet the needs of each youth
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines
• Complete, distribute and collect time summaries, activity journals, short-term plans, expense reports and evaluation materials accurately and in a timely manner
• Attend and actively participate in supervision, team meetings, trainings, and staff functions
• Provide information and support to Development team and related activities as needed
• Fulfill other responsibilities as required

Additional Job Requirements:

• Maintain current driver’s license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification
• Transport youth in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities (we reimburse for mileage)
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check
• Location: This position is based in Portland Metro Area.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to relate to youth and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with youth in varied capacities and settings to help them learn and grow
• Ability to cultivate trusting relationships with caregivers, teachers, and community members
• Ability to develop working knowledge of community, systems and resources of the Portland, Gresham, and SW Washington area
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and communicate appropriately within the workplace
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in planning activities to continually develop youth
• Ability to work independently in diverse environments with limited supervision
• Ability to work as a team player
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment
• Ability to set goals and develop plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each youth
• Ability to complete administrative tasks accurately and on time
• Ability to be physically mobile and meet vehicle driving demands safely while exercising good judgment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management skills
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Office Programs including TEAMS and Efforts to Outcomes database (or other youth database applications)
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress
• Continuous demonstration of a growth mindset and willingness to learn from others
• Demonstrated commitment to equity

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED:

• Associates degree or three years of direct experience in lieu of degree; Bachelor’s degree preferred, plus a minimum of one year of experience working/volunteering with youth.
• Mentoring experience with youth from high-risk environments preferred.
• Bilingual candidates strongly preferred.
• Candidates with strong knowledge of systems that our youth encounter preferred.

Working Hours:

This is a full-time, exempt position. Work hours vary but are generally 10:00am – 7:00pm, Tuesday – Saturday; flexibility is essential.

Due to the nature of a Friend’s role, the work hours are somewhat nontraditional and include late afternoon and evening work. We recognize that each Friend’s daily work schedule will vary due to the uniqueness of the role and the needs of the individual youth being served. Each Friend is expected to consult with their supervisor and exercise appropriate discretion in this regard.

During the school year, the general work week is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday as days off. During the summer, and for spring and winter breaks, many Friends work a standard Monday through Friday work week. The Program requires that you provide direct and indirect service to each of your assigned youth, both in and outside of school, for an average of four hours each week, although how you accomplish that is at your discretion within established Program guidelines.

Hiring Timeline Expectations:

In the ever-changing COVID-19 environment, we have adapted our hiring practices to protect our staff and our prospective candidates. As such the interviews will take place in phone or a video conference. In addition, it is possible that while we are searching for candidates, our three-part interview process may be delayed longer than usual. Rest assured, our recruiters will stay in contact with you constantly through the interview process.

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12 ½ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

SALARY:

Starting annual salary is $42,500 base pay (depending on experience) plus a generous comprehensive benefits package for all our employees.

BENEFITS:

Comprehensive

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL:

Professional

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply through this posting in HiringThing. Thank you for your interest.

The preceding statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Title: Education Equity Team Lead Status: Exempt

Reports To: Associate Director of Youth Engagement and Future Pathways

Basic Function:

The Education Equity Team Lead is responsible for leading the Education Equity work at Friends of the Children Portland. With the support and collaboration of the education team, this position will assess youth experience in the school system and will come up with strategies to remove barriers and improve experience and outcomes for all youth in the program. The Team Lead is a role model and mentor for Friends, acts as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitates effective communication in all directions. The Team Lead must know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function, and must have a demonstrated desire to participate in the management of the organization.

Core Education Equity Team Lead Job Accountabilities:

• Serve assigned youth as appropriate (4-6 youth) in the capacity of a Friend, as outlined in the Friend job description.

• May supervise Friends

• Supervise the Bilingual Education Program Coordinator.

• Brings in the equity filter to all educational initiatives and meetings to ensure perspectives are heard and all stakeholders are included in decisions.

• Build relationships with school administrators and staff to work towards influencing systemic change for youth and families.

• Build relationships with youth who are not engaged in Youth Engagement Activities to help provide support, opportunities for engagement and additional connection within the program.

• Intentionally connect with youth and mentor pairs where the mentor does not reflect a similar identity to the youth being served to determine opportunities for improved culturally responsive mentoring and advocacy

• Serves as a support and resource for staff who have had or may encounter negative experiences in the education system due to their identity.

• Serves as the liaison with MESD and other data collections to ensure they receive our school access forms and we have access to regular data collection from MESD.

• Responsible for developing and leading trainings for staff supporting skill development related to educational advocacy and supporting youth at navigating barriers within the education system (i.e., IEP support).

• Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues and inspire and motivate team members. Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional. Act as a resource for Friends by providing support, guidance, direction and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.

• Ensure compliance with and accountability to the organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee Manual and Friends Handbook. Contribute to the development of any of these as required. Demonstrate support of organizational decisions in a constructive and effective manner.

• May be responsible for managing the performance of Friends who report to them, including completing and conducting annual and semi-annual performance appraisals. Hold Friends accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, quality, intentionality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative responsibilities. Have continuing performance discussions to provide feedback and to ensure that goals and objectives are being fulfilled. Provide continuous constructive feedback and coaching as necessary, and work with HR and the Program Leadership Team to resolve issues as needed. Manage any required performance improvement activities.

• When applicable, know and understand the needs and issues of each child served by Friends on assigned team. Meet with each team member one-on-one each month, and review Roadmaps and Transition Plans for each child on a monthly basis. Develop knowledge of academic performance for each child, and assist in setting realistic goals for the children. Assure that each Friend has helped develop a specific area of interest or talent for each child.

• When applicable, interact with each child on the rosters of the Friends they supervise at least twice a year by going out with the child and their respective Friend, or by observing Friends with their children during activities or outings. Provide constructive feedback to the Friend on an ongoing basis.

• When applicable, lead and facilitate effective, Team Meetings ensuring focus on child and Friend successes, setbacks, issues, concerns and ideas. Create a safe and comfortable team environment so Friends feel supported and open to discuss child and work issues. Also must ensure focus on the communication of organizational information or issues to team, and to solicit feedback from team.

• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures. Raise and resolve issues appropriately. Advocate for Friends, representing the best interests of your team and children, doing so in an appropriate and timely manner. Understand, implement and support organizational policies and procedures.

• When applicable, solicit and obtain feedback from a minimum of two parents of children on your team per month. Document and maintain all feedback and include in Quarterly report.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Work with the Program Leadership Team to define and coordinate monthly Program trainings. Carry out all associated responsibilities as assigned

• Assist with research, develop and implementation of best practice programming to serve current and future needs of the organization as required

• Effectively cultivate and nurture external relationships: develop trusting, supportive relationships with families and caregivers of the children on your team and build relationships with our partner schools to allow for effective program implementation and sustainability

• Understand and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function

• When applicable, contacts caregivers of youth who have 12 hours or less service on their team.

• Other projects or tasks as considered necessary

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same;

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.

• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors;

• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results;

• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our Program children.

• Ability to relate to peers, subordinates, and other members of the management team, and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them;

• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children;

• Ability to work as a team player, as well as the ability to lead a team;

• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment, and ability to manage others in doing the same;

• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same;

• Ability to assist others in setting goals and developing plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each child;

• Ability to hold others accountable in all aspects of required performance, including completing administrative tasks accurately and on time;

• Ability to cultivate relationships with children, families, school personnel, organizational supporters and community partners;

• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and ETO or other database applications;

• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

Composition of Work:

Position is comprised of time committed to the Education Equity Team Lead role and time serving assigned youth as Friend. Time spent in each role will vary with specific circumstances on a week-to-week basis.

Education and Experience Required:

Minimum of Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred, plus five years of experience working/volunteering with children, including at least 18 months in the role of a Friend. Previous supervisory experience desirable.

The Marketing & Communications Coordinator provides brand leadership and assists with establishing and executing the overall strategy for marketing, communications and online fundraising efforts. They oversee the development and delivery of compelling messages and content to the community, measure performance, and enrich the position and awareness of Friends of the Children–Portland.

Working under the guidance of the Chief Development Officer and Associate Director of Development, the Major Gifts Officer assists in the design, development, and implementation of our major gift program.

The Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for managing and cultivating relationships with existing major gift prospects, as well as identifying new prospects. An ability to empathize with donors and clearly communicate our organization’s mission is key. You will be expected to energize team members, persuade prospects and reach fundraising goals and managing portfolio prospects from Qualification to Stewardship.

The HR and Operations Assistant is a newly restructured role that is responsible for providing administrative support for the areas of Human Resources as well as for various operational processes, including front office support and processing semi-monthly payroll. This position also provides administrative support for the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, including supporting the following board committees: 401k, Finance/HR/IT, and the Building Committee.

This position is also leveraged to support initiatives of the Administration Leadership Team.

The Recruiting and HR Manager is a newly restructured role that is responsible for the ongoing recruiting efforts of the organization, as well as supporting and executing HR and Equity initiatives. Embedding diversity, equity and inclusivity strategy and initiatives into HR is a key to the organization’s next steps in our DEI journey. This work has the full support of the executive leadership team and the board.

This position is key in promoting the company’s mission, culture and values to all employees. Reporting to the Sr. Director, HR and Equity, this position engages internally and builds strong relationships with community partners, ensuring that the organization can attract, hire, and retain the best talent so we may deliver on our mission.

The Sr. Director, HR & Equity is a newly restructured role that is responsible for managing the HR functions of the organization and leading organizational equity initiatives. Embedding diversity, equity and inclusivity strategy and initiatives into HR is a key to the organization’s next steps in our DEI journey. This work has the full support of the executive leadership team and the board.

The Sr. Director, HR & Equity is responsible for planning and directing all aspects of Friends of the Children – Portland’s human resources policies, objectives, and initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Finance and Operations Officer and accountable to the entire executive leadership team, this position ensures that human resources programs support the organization's stated values and help achieve its mission, vision, and goals.

The Sr. Director, HR & Equity positively influences decisions to improve organizational culture and supports the leadership team to create an inclusive, professional culture in which all employees embrace our core values and embody our Core Assets. This position enhances organizational effectiveness by acting as an internal consultant and coach to all employees and managers on an individual, team, and/or organization-wide basis.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly skilled, relational Manager who is excited to join our team, support our staff and walk alongside the youth and families we serve! If you love to build on the strengths and develop growth areas of employees who are driven by heart and compassion, this is the job for you! We need you to thrive in an ever-changing environment, live, walk and talk equity and have a commitment to personal and professional growth for yourself and the team you will supervise. Sound good? We think so!

The Direct Service Training Manager is experienced in devising our Program training strategy, oversee its implementation and assess its outcomes. You will identify training and development needs and drive suitable training initiative. The Direct Service Training Manager is responsible for supervising, guiding and supporting Friends. The Direct Service Training Manager is a role model and mentor for Friends, acts as a team facilitator and organizational motivator, and facilitates effective communication in all directions. The Direct Service Training Manager is responsible for supporting the Associate Director of Program Employee Development with hiring, onboarding of All New Friends and supervision of the Friends on their team. A Program Manager must know, understand, honor and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles, be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function, and must have a demonstrated desire to positively participate in the management of the organization.