Senior Community Leadership Officer - Health Equity- This position will demonstrate command of the field and serve as a subject matter expert in health, driving the development and implementation of grantmaking strategies that align with the Indianapolis Foundation’s mission and Equity Imperative 2030 plan.
About us:
The Indianapolis Foundation was one of the very first community foundations in the United States. It was created by Fletcher Savings and Trust Company president Evans Woolen and two other banks in 1916, received its first gift in 1920, and made its first grant in 1924. In the years and decades that followed, the Indianapolis Foundation became a force for good in the community as it sought to achieve the goal articulated by its first executive director, Eugene Foster: “To help in making Indianapolis not the biggest city, but rather, the best city in the land.”
In 1997, the Indianapolis Foundation partnered with Hamilton County Community Foundation, then known as the Legacy Fund, to form Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Central Indiana Community Foundation, the Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana are a $1 billion collective of philanthropic organizations committed to making Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential – no matter place, race or identity. Our values include anti-racism, authentic relationships, inclusivity, leadership, effectiveness and sustainability.?
What We’re Looking For:
The Senior Community Leadership Officer (SCLO) of Health Equity provides accomplished leadership of this priority to achieve measurable outcomes for residents and the communities the Indianapolis Foundation serves. This position will demonstrate command of the field and serve as a subject matter expert in health, driving the development and implementation of grantmaking strategies that align with the Indianapolis Foundation’s mission and Equity Imperative 2030 plan. This role will blend deep expertise in health with responsibilities in community leadership, coalition building, resource generation, and convening community stakeholders around critical issues. The ideal candidate will possess a robust understanding of the landscape in health, including the social impediments to health and promoting social connection, healthcare disparities, positive alternatives for youth to reduce the likelihood of involvement in violence, and youth mental health; and demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills including facilitating difficult conversations to align interests among diverse stakeholders, and a proven ability to mobilize resources and foster collaboration in these critical areas. The SCLO is a member of a collaborative team including other community leadership officers, partnerships and development, and learning and evaluation.
Responsibilities:
Civic Leadership:
- Act as a key leader and spokesperson for the Indianapolis Foundation in the community, representing the organization at events, meetings, and conferences.
- Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to promote collaboration and shared goals.
- Identify and support advocacy for policy changes and initiatives that address systemic challenges within the community, leveraging expertise and mobilizing community to support advocacy efforts.
Subject Matter Expertise:
- Serve as the organization’s primary expert in health, providing insights and guidance to inform program development, grantmaking, and community leadership strategies.
- Stay abreast of trends, research, and best practices within the area of health, sharing knowledge with staff, grantees, donors, external stakeholders and community partners.
- Understand the relationship between physical and mental health, and community safety, economic opportunity, and racial equity.
- Conduct assessments and analysis to identify community needs and opportunities for impactful interventions in each of these areas.
Grantmaking Strategy:
- Develop a clear and compelling theory of change and logic model to achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes in health equity and well-being. Lead the design and execution of grantmaking strategies based on that theory of change and logic model that effectively address issues of social impediments and social connection, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, community priorities and the Indianapolis Foundation’s Equity Imperative 2030 Strategic Plan.
- Support the bi-annual grant application process, including proposal evaluation, funding recommendations, grantee reporting, and reporting and documentation of outcomes, ensuring alignment and compliance with the Indianapolis Foundation’s priorities and policies.
- Develop and manage budgets for grantmaking initiatives related to health, ensuring effective allocation of resources.
Coalition Building:
- Facilitate the formation, operation, and strengthening of high performing coalitions involving diverse stakeholders to address common challenges and leverage collective resources to support the Indianapolis Foundation’s strategies related to Health Equity.
- Organize and lead convenings, discussions, and workshops that bring together community members, organizations, and experts to identify solutions to pressing issues.
- Present workshops to donors and co-investment partners to secure additional funding for the grant strategies being implemented.
- Support coalition partners in developing strategies and action plans that foster collaboration and shared ownership of community initiatives that align with the Indianapolis Foundation’s Health Equity strategies.
Resource Development Support:
- In working together with the Vice President of Grantmaking and Chief Partnerships and Development Officer, this individual will support the identification of and engagement of donors and potential funders to support initiatives within the issue area.
- In collaboration with the Indianapolis Foundation’s development office, craft compelling funding proposals and presentations that clearly articulate the impact of programs and the importance of community investment.
- Collaborate with the Indianapolis Foundation’s development team to implement strategies that expand the organization’s resource base.
Program Evaluation and Learning:
- In partnership with the Indianapolis Foundation’s Director of Evaluation & Learning, establish key metrics and data collection, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of funded programs, using data and feedback to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
- Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations that highlight the impact of grantmaking activities and share insights with stakeholders, co-investment partners, and donors.
Other duties as assigned
Required Skills and Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, public health, medicine and wellness, community health, nonprofit management); Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in program management, grantmaking, fundraising, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in issues specific to health.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, demonstrating cultural competence and sensitivity to community dynamics.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, with a passion for community service and a commitment to racial equity and justice.
What You Get:
- $80,000 salary plus generous benefits, including:
- Employer-provided health, dental, vision
- percent employer discretionary 403b contribution
- Potential for an annual bonus, based on organizational and individual performance
- 10.5 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth
- Flexible, hybrid work arrangement - Work from home on Mondays and Fridays
- Homebase–Newly renovated office space conveniently located downtown, just steps from Mass Ave.
- An opportunity to do meaningful, results-driven work with a passionate, diverse team, supporting organizations that are committed to building and maintaining a strong, equitable and supportive culture for our team of changemakers.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT:
Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana are equal opportunity employers that seek to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and to support their retention and advancement. Justice is one of our core values, and we are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.
Our mission is to mobilize people, ideas and investments to make Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter place, race or identity.
Racism deeply impacts the well-being of our communities, compounding existing disparities and creating intersectional barriers. We strive to name and address these barriers through community engagement and assessment, relevant and effective policy creation, and organizational accountability methods. We support initiatives that address all forms of oppression, however, maintaining an explicit focus on race is essential to advancing equity across our communities. Improving outcomes for people of color will improve outcomes for everyone.