The Impact Fund is currently recruiting a Grant Program Associate to join our team in Berkeley, CA. This full-time, hybrid position offers a starting salary of at least USD $68,000 per year, based on experience. The Impact Fund seeks candidates passionate about economic, environmental, racial, and social justice, and committed to supporting communities through impact litigation. This role provides an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to meaningful legal and philanthropic work that strengthens public interest initiatives nationwide.
About the Impact Fund
Founded in 1992, the Impact Fund believes that communities should have the tools to protect their rights, livelihoods, and environment through strategic litigation. Our organization provides recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms using impact litigation to address systemic injustice. Over the past three decades, we have awarded over 800 grants totaling more than $10 million, with grant amounts typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Additionally, we offer rapid response grants, including special programs for immigration-related cases.
The Impact Fund not only funds litigation but also actively litigates civil rights cases and offers legal trainings for public interest practitioners. For more information about our work, please visit Impact Fund About Us.
Position Overview
The Grant Program Associate will report to the Grant Program Director and collaborate closely with the Grants and Operations Assistant. This role plays a critical part in monitoring the Impact Fund’s grant portfolio, assisting grantees, supporting application reviews, and providing project-based research and administrative assistance. The position is full-time, non-exempt, and requires hybrid work in Berkeley, CA, with some in-office days on Mondays and Thursdays, while remote work is optional on other weekdays.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Portfolio Management:
- Monitor and track grantee reporting compliance for all open grants.
- Summarize grantee reports for the Grant Program Director and communicate updates to internal stakeholders.
- Contact grantees with lapsed reporting and provide guidance on follow-up actions.
- Track grant closures, draft closing comments, and assist with repayment tracking and documentation.
Grant-Related Communications:
- Draft summaries of new grants, case updates, and outcomes for internal staff, funders, and the public.
- Edit and review blog posts and communications submitted by grantees.
- Share grantee-related media and updates with the Communications team.
- Support panels, conferences, and events recognizing grantee achievements.
Grantmaking Support:
- Meet with applicants to provide guidance on eligibility, criteria, and application timelines.
- Analyze Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and provide recommendations to the Executive Director.
- Assist with drafting grant application deferrals, declines, and revisions to ensure consistency with style guidelines.
- Serve as the project manager for the Board Subcommittee on Grant Policy, including scheduling, research, and meeting support.
Project-Based and Administrative Support:
- Conduct research on legal cases and grant records as needed.
- Support intern supervision and provide guidance on projects.
- Represent the Impact Fund at conferences, workshops, and relevant events.
- Assist with staff-wide initiatives, including the Annual Gala and Class Action Conference.
Qualifications
- Strong commitment to supporting impact litigation and advancing justice for communities.
- Cultural competency and the ability to communicate effectively across diverse groups.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to summarize complex information.
- Highly organized with strong project management skills, able to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
- 2-4 years of relevant full-time experience or a graduate degree in nonprofit service, law, philanthropy, or public policy.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Asana, and other project management or grant tracking tools.
- Occasional local travel within the Bay Area.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with public interest impact litigation.
- Research skills, including legal case analysis and light data assessment.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.
Benefits
- Student loan repayment assistance up to $500/month.
- Paid vacation starting at 15 days/year, increasing to 20 days in year five.
- Two weeks of paid winter office closure, 14 paid holidays, and 10 sick days/year.
- Two months of paid sabbatical every five years.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance with full employee premiums and 50% coverage for dependents (up to $12,500).
- Long-term disability and life insurance with fully subsidized employee premiums.
- Access to a 403b retirement plan with voluntary contributions and employer contributions of 3% after three years.
How to Apply
Applicants should send PDFs of the following to grants@impactfund.org with the subject line: Grant Program Associate – [Your Name]:
- Cover letter demonstrating commitment to social justice and relevant experience.
- Resume.
- Writing sample (e.g., memo, article, or project-based work).
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to submissions received by April 13, 2026. Later stages may require three professional or academic references. The Impact Fund is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Accommodations are available upon request.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
