POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Program Officer of Arts & Culture is a member of the Foundation’s Community
Impact team, reporting to the Director of Community Impact. The Senior Program Officer of Arts & Culture (SPO) will lead the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Arts & Culture Initiative (ACI) at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. The vision of the ACI is “a healthy and coordinated arts & culture ecosystem that is rooted in the collective good of the sector and the people it serves.”
ACI Values:
- To leverage what’s existing to its fullest extent before starting something new
- To be guided by community voice, identity, and representation in all implementation stages
- To be nimble and flexible in responding to the evolving needs of the arts sector
- To operate from a strengths-based approach that invites shared responsibility and active participation from all stakeholders
The work of the SPO is to realize the ACI Vision and Values through Grantmaking and Resource Coordination. Grantmaking includes managing the annual ACI grant process and supporting other aligned grant opportunities at the Community Foundation. Resource Coordination includes active participation and, as appropriate, leadership in sector-wide initiatives including Fund for the Arts, managing the ACI Workshop Series, developing and maintaining strong relationships with intermediary organizations, and maintaining a strong knowledge of relevant community issues. In addition to being strategic and organized, the SPO possesses strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build bridges within the sector and beyond. A successful SPO should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, excellent at relationship-building, and eager to identify creative and thoughtful ways to continue strengthening the sector. The SPO should be motivated by the important mission-driven work of the Community Foundation and must maintain exceptional standards of ethics and confidentiality.
To better understand the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJF) arts & culture investment
and the evolution of the ACI, please refer to this webpage.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Seeing the annual ACI grant processes through from beginning to end, working with the in-house Communications team to ensure arts organizations are aware of the opportunity, and reporting for RCWJRF Arts & Culture Initiative funds. This includes managing the Designated Culturals process and the small to mid-size grantmaking process.
- Ensuring all activities of the ACI are cohesive and aligned with the ACI Vision and Values. Activities include, but are not limited to:
– Managing and leveraging resource coordination and capacity-building opportunities for the arts & culture sector, including the ACI Workshop Series, building strategic funder and intermediary partnerships
– Actively participating in sector-wide building opportunities including Fund for the Arts, City of Buffalo Arts & Culture Strike Team, ongoing cultural planning initiatives, Buffalo State Cultural Hub
– Managing and evolving the Capacity-Building cohort program based on grantee feedback, with support from external consultants
– Developing strong, collaborative relationships with arts & culture funders and beyond - Modeling intentional philanthropic practices and values in accordance with Community Foundation strategic sharpening
- Supporting other aligned grant programs at the Community Foundation
OTHER JOB DUTIES:
- Work with Communications team to develop and deliver key messages that reflect the Arts & Culture Initiative vision and values, and the Community Foundation and the RCWJF brand and brand promises
- Manage relevant contracts and budgets
- Identify and implement annual evaluation
- All other duties, as assigned
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
- None
TRAVEL
- Primarily within the 8 counties of WNY and Monroe – relationship-building with stakeholders across this region is paramount to the success of the SPO and ACI
- Additional travel may be required for job training and professional development
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE/EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated domain expertise and ability to lead strategy development and collaboration
- Minimum seven years of progressively more responsible experience in philanthropy or arts and cultural field
- Proven program development and project management experience, prioritizing multiple projects within tight deadlines
- Extensive knowledge of the nonprofit sector, in particular, the arts & culture sector and experience participating in community coalitions
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons of diverse backgrounds and organizations throughout the Western New York community
- Experience in communicating in a persuasive, credible manner, in person, in digital settings, and in writing and presentations
- Strong analytical, evaluative, and managerial skills
- Computer proficiency in all Microsoft components
- Technology skills and the ability to apply software knowledge
- Demonstrate consistent quality
Commitment to the team effort of the Community Foundation
Salary Range: $79,000 – $82,000
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:
For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Community foundations are designed to grow and evolve as our community’s needs change, and new positions are regularly created as a result. As the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo continues to grow, we’re looking for talented people who want to use their abilities to make a lasting difference. If that is you, then please send a cover letter explaining your interest in this position and what you would bring to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
Click the link below to apply via our applicant tracking system. Applications may also be
received by U.S. Postal Service if an electronic medium is not available. No calls please.
Application Deadline: [Friday July 10, 2026] We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. As such, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is committed to providing a work environment that is free of all forms of unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation.