Program Associate

ABOUT US

Inatai Foundation is a growing 501(c)(4) philanthropic organization committed to working with communities to shift the balance of power to ensure racial justice and equity across Washington and beyond. We are hiring a Program Associate to join our expanding team.

Cultivating a staff team that embodies the diverse experiences of Washington communities is essential to these aspirations. We strongly and sincerely encourage applications from people of color; individuals who are immigrants, bilingual, and multicultural; d/Deaf people and people with disabilities; members of LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

Visit our About Us page to learn more about our work, approaches, and values. You may also browse our Join Inatai page to understand our hiring process, work culture, and benefits.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Associate, Grantmaking Operations reports to the Program Manager. As a member of the Grantmaking Operations team, this role provides high-level administrative and operational support for grantmakers throughout the organization, ensuring that grantmaking processes are timely, accurate, and well-coordinated. This role supports day-to-day administrative activities, including scheduling, document management, internal and external communications, meeting preparation and follow up, as well as coordination across multiple grant portfolios and funds.

In close partnership with the Program Manager, the grantmaking division, and cross-functional colleagues, the Program Associate supports special projects, internal initiatives, and department-wide efforts that strengthen systems, workflows, and team culture. Through this work, the Program Associate helps ensure that Inatai team members have the tools, information, and operational support needed to build strong relationships with community-based organizations and advance the foundation’s mission to build community power for racial justice and equity across Washington.

This is a full-time, exempt position. Inatai is proud to be a statewide organization, and we know there are talented leaders everywhere in our state. As we grow and learn, we know that we are better partners to communities and more strategic grantmakers when we have team members rooted in place and bringing their lived and learned experiences to our work.

We currently have offices in Seattle and Pasco. Team members connected to an office are expected to work in the office. Team members may be permitted – with supervisor approval – to work remotely up to two days per week. Periodic early morning, evening, and weekend hours will be required, and statewide and regional travel should be expected.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide administrative support for Grantmaking funds
• Provide project coordination support including managing and implementing project plans and internal processes. This includes scheduling, document tracking, drafting agendas, tracking notes and next steps, and ensuring the team meets its grantmaking deadlines.
• Provide administrative support through email and phone correspondence with grantees and grant applicants as needed.
• Implement Grantmaking team culture strategy
• Provide administrative support for on-boarding new team members to the Grantmaking division, as needed and in collaboration with human resources
• Support planning of department and division meetings and retreats
• Provide on-site support for in-person Grantmakers and Grantmaking department retreats, welcoming team members, ensuring set-up and execution goes smoothly.
• Provide administrative support for Internal communications
• Provide administrative support by using our internal communication tools such as Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint to support the Grantmaking division with updates, reminders, and overall information sharing.
• Support the Grantmaking division in logistics planning and on-site management for events.
• Provide project coordination support, including scheduling meetings, notetaking, and tracking deadlines for grantee events.
• Assist with drafting and editing PowerPoint presentations and materials regarding grantee events.
• Manage event emails, phone calls, and respond to questions from attendees.
• Support events on-site or virtually as needed.

Other responsibilities

• Contribute one’s own ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences to the emerging culture of the foundation.
• Assume other responsibilities and explore new opportunities that arise with the evolving needs and aspirations of the foundation.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Work experience

• Minimum required: 2-3 years
• Preferred: 3+ years

Specialized knowledge or technical skills needed

• Project planning, tracking, and follow-through
• Strong administrative and organizational skills
• Event planning/logistics coordination
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Other skills

• Ability to collaborate across multiple teams while managing competing priorities
• Strong attention to detail
• Customer service-orientated
• Ability to problem-solve in stressful situations

Additional qualifications

• A deep commitment to equity and racial justice and strong alignment with our organizational values and 50-Year Vision
• Ability to authentically connect the foundation’s work to lived experiences and local communities