Senior Program Associate

Rural Climate Partnership, Heartland Fund

About Rural Climate Partnership 

The Rural Climate Partnership (RCP) is a funding collaborative energizing philanthropic support for working people, small businesses, and family farmers who are the drivers of rural-led climate solutions. RCP is part of the Heartland Fund alongside its sister projects, Rural Democracy and Resource Rural. Through grantmaking, narrative change, and capacity support, RCP deploys funding to help rural people realize climate solutions like clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and electrification & efficiency.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Sr. Program Associate will support our rural climate grantmaking and capacity building to a growing network of nonprofit grantees across the U.S., helping to deploy about $10M annually. The Sr. Program Associate will be supervised by the RCP Program Officers and will work alongside the RCP team to support grantmaking, build the capacity of our grantee network, collect learning and success stories, and coordinate with key staff. 

The RCP team takes pride in building an organizational culture rooted in learning, collaboration, racial justice, and a deep commitment to our mission. All staff are expected to provide leadership and vision to advance our mission, vision, and core strategies.

Grantmaking Process & Data Tracking

• Support grantee prospecting and contribute to regular grantee check-in conversations

• Collect grantee documentation and coordinate subgrant applications in close coordination with the Grants & Operations Manager and the RCP Program Officers 

• Track reporting deadlines and help gather necessary grantee reporting materials

• Keep grantee records and data organized and up-to-date; support a smooth transition to a new Grant Management System (GMS)

• Assist in tracking learning and evaluation metrics that inform our strategy and deepen the network’s impact

Grantee Engagement & Capacity Building 

• Track and compile grantee updates, including project successes, funding awards, events, news, and stories from grantee emails, newsletters, social media, and direct conversations

• Identify and share relevant grantee updates with the Communications Manager for inclusion on RCP’s social media, website, and in other relevant RCP communications

• Curate, draft, and help design content for regular grantee and funder newsletters, including funding opportunities, capacity-building opportunities, events, and RCP program updates 

• Support the distribution & analysis of the annual grantee summer survey to gather feedback and track priorities and needs across the RCP grantee network 

• Regularly update grantee pages on the RCP website & in the running docket history 

Internal Coordination & Special Projects

• Provide operational support for team initiatives, trainings, trips, and events that help further RCP’s mission. 

• Assist with data management needs, including funder reporting and tracking strategic priorities

• Maintain the rural climate job board with up-to-date rural climate job opportunities

• Maintain the RCP events calendar, tracking key RCP events, partner-hosted gatherings, and other relevant convenings

• Coordinate ad hoc data collection for specific projects or reporting needs

Ǫualifications

We realize that great candidates may not have everything on this list. If you believe you would be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply!

Rural Climate Partnership is seeking a strategic and ambitious team member who is excited to work in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and creative environment. We're looking for someone who brings professionalism, initiative, and independence, while also being deeply collaborative and team-oriented. The right candidate will demonstrate:

Essential Experience, Skills & Characteristics

• An understanding of and passion for rural/small-town America derived from either lived, professional, and/or volunteer experience

• 2-4 years of professional experience in a nonprofit, issue campaign, intermediary funder, and/or foundation setting, working on projects with varied deadlines and deliverables

• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and fluency with equity and anti-racist practices

• Ability to listen deeply, hold space for different perspectives, and work with people from a variety of political, cultural, and social backgrounds

• Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate an organization’s mission and impact

• Excellent relationship management skills with diverse communities and a service orientation in grantee-partner relationships

• Experience working independently and collaboratively, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively with exceptional attention to detail

• Entrepreneurial and resourceful, a proactive and creative problem-solver

• Show initiative to fill gaps and support a small and growing team

• Experience working with databases, project management software, and/or CRMs

• Willingness to travel for work-related events, including annual team retreats for Heartland Fund and Rural Climate Partnership 

Ideal Experience, Skills & Characteristics

• Experience working to advance clean energy, regenerative agriculture, climate-related policy, or environmental justice

• Experience working in an all-virtual, fast-paced, and creative environment

• Professional working proficiency of a second language that is spoken in rural America

Compensation, Benefits & Culture 

Salary Structure 

This is a full-time, exempt position. Expected compensation will be based on skills and relevant experience, with a starting salary range of $78,000 - $85,000.

Benefits Structure 

The comprehensive benefits package includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in a 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for fitness and remote working benefits. 

Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment. All employees of Windward are required to complete timesheets.

Work Environment 

The organization is virtual, and the position will work remotely from their home within the United States. There is frequent work travel (every 2-3 months). We offer a flexible work schedule, recognizing that employees have lives outside of work. 

Heartland Fund is a project of Windward Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Windward Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential.

Windward Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Windward participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.

How to Apply

Hiring Timeline 

Applications will be reviewed and considered as they are received. A limited number of screening calls and interview spots will be filled starting in May 2025, with a desired start date in June 2025. As we are anticipating a large pool of candidates, early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Application Process 

In your cover letter, please describe why this role feels like the right fit for you at this moment in your career, your connection to rural people and places, and the relevant skills and experiences you’d bring to our rural climate work. Generic cover letters that do not include the above-requested information will likely not be considered.

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Heartland Fund is pleased to be partnering with Clover Search Works on this search.  For questions about this opportunity, please reach out to Julie Edsforth at julie@cloversearchworks.com.