Description

The Jewish Heritage Fund (JHF) is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven leader to oversee our Jewish Life grantmaking portfolio. The Program Officer will guide strategy, steward community relationships, and manage the full lifecycle of investments that strengthen Jewish life in Louisville. This is an opportunity to shape high-impact, mission-aligned grantmaking within a collaborative, thoughtful, and community-responsive foundation.

The Program Officer leads strategy, grantmaking, and partnerships that advance JHF’s long-term goals for a vibrant, connected, and resilient Jewish community. This position manages the complete grantmaking lifecycle—from developing strategy and cultivating proposals to conducting due diligence, monitoring impact, and supporting grantees. The Program Officer works closely with the President/CEO, staff, trustees, and community partners to ensure JHF investments are effective, aligned, and forward-thinking.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Lead strategy, planning, and execution for a multi-million-dollar Jewish Life grantmaking portfolio.
• Translate organizational goals into clear priorities, evaluation metrics, and learning strategies.
• Identify community needs, gaps, and opportunities—and explore potential responses, including new initiatives, partnerships, or RFPs.
• Analyze and synthesize trends, data, and community insights to inform internal and Board-level decision-making.

Grantmaking & Due Diligence

• Review, screen, and assess all proposals, LOIs, and inquiries in the Jewish Life portfolio.
• Support grant seekers through coaching, feedback, and strategic guidance to strengthen proposal quality and alignment.
• Conduct due diligence in partnership with Finance/Grants Administration; examine budgets, organizational capacity, charitable status, and mission fit.
• Prepare clear written analyses and recommendations for the Jewish Life Committee and Board of Trustees.
• Monitor grant performance and provide timely reports on progress, impact, and learning.

Community Partnerships & Relationship-Building

• Build strong, trust-based relationships with leaders, organizations, and stakeholders across the Jewish community.
• Serve as a connector—supporting collaboration, shared learning, and collective impact among grantees and partners.
• Represent JHF at meetings, site visits, convenings, working groups, and public events.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with the President/CEO and colleagues to ensure alignment across JHF’s programs and processes.
• Strengthen internal systems, workflows, and communication to enhance efficiency and clarity.
• Support Board and committee preparation, including materials, reporting, and logistics.

Innovation, Learning & Professional Development

• Stay current on trends in philanthropy, Jewish communal life, and fields relevant to the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to refine strategy, strengthen evaluation practices, and evolve JHF’s approach to community partnership.
• Contribute to special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience in a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in grantmaking, program management, community partnership work, or related roles.
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships and work collaboratively with diverse partners.
• Exceptional communication skills—written, verbal, and facilitation.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and make informed recommendations.
• Knowledge of Jewish communal systems, organizations, and cultural context is strongly preferred