Organization Overview

For over 50 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. The Community Foundation is a trusted advisor and navigator helping thousands of individuals, families, businesses, and government partners to identify impactful nonprofits and support the greater good in the communities we call home. As the region’s largest local funder, we have invested $1.7 billion to build equitable, just, and thriving communities across DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. To learn more, visit thecommunityfoundation.org.   

Position Summary
Voices of the Community: DC, Maryland, Virginia (VoicesDMV), is a community listening and engagement initiative to help understand the diverse experiences of the people who live and work in the Greater Washington region. VoicesDMV uplifts community voice and informs investments by The Community Foundation and our partners. 

VoicesDMV consists of:

• Community Insights report – findings from a survey conducted every three years of residents in the region to help us, our partners, and others understand how residents are doing, what challenges they are facing, what their hopes and dreams for      the future are, and how they view important issues including homelessness, safety, economic issues, and much more.
• Community Action Awards – small grants to nonprofits working to make our region more equitable and inclusive by addressing issues and challenges in the Community Insights report.

With the release of the new version of the Community Insights report in May 2024, we are adding the VoicesDMV Fellowship as an additional component to the initiative. The Fellowship will identify individuals deeply rooted in the foundation’s priority areas to facilitate deeper engagement between the foundation and residents and organizations in the priority areas to ensure authentic community voice is at the center of our work. 

Priority areas include:

• Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC
• East County (White Oak, Burtonsville) and Up County (Germantown) in Montgomery County
• Purple Line corridor and Blue Line corridor in Prince George’s County (Langley Park, Chillum, Adelphi, Seat Pleasant, Largo, Suitland, Glenarden, District Heights, and Capitol Heights)
• Bailey’s Crossroads and Route 1 corridor in Northern Virginia

This is a contract position for up to one year. This opportunity is ideal for individuals who are in school, retired, employed full-time or part-time, or not employed. Fellows will receive a stipend of up to $3,000 and IRS Form 1099.

To learn more about VoicesDMV and to access the latest Community Insights Report, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/voicesdmv. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Facilitate deeper engagement between the foundation and residents and organizations their respective priority area to ensure authentic community voice is at the center of our work. This may be done via existing work or by developing and implementing new work; and can be done in the fellow’s individual capacity or the fellow may work through an organization. The work will be self-directed and will not be supervised by the foundation. 
• Participate in the review of Community Action Award grant applications (and other grant opportunities as desired)
• Advise the foundation as it develops, implements, and refines programs and initiatives

Desired Skills and Experience

Candidates must:

• Live in the region and be deeply rooted (via relationships, residence, experience, etc.) in one of the foundation’s priority areas
• Have experience (volunteer or employment) in nonprofits, community service, or social entrepreneurship
• Work collaboratively, maintain confidentiality, be flexible, practice active listening, demonstrate sound judgment, manage time effectively, have self-discipline and initiative, and be able to work with minimal supervision 
• Have outstanding interpersonal skills, the ability to work well with a wide range of individuals, and the ability to interact respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures
• Have a commitment to the foundation’s racial equity and inclusion values
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Understand that this is a hybrid role, with in-person attendance for events and meetings based on a mutually agreed upon schedule; of no more than 20 hours per month.

Compensation

A stipend of up to $3,000.00 based on mutually agreed upon workplan. This is a contract position for up to one year. Fellows will receive IRS Form 1099. Fellows will not be considered employees. Benefits and technology (laptop, email address, software, etc.) will not be provided.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter to the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s online Career Center.  The cover letter should be no more than two pages and include the following:

1. Which priority area(s) you are rooted in and what experiences and relationships do you have there?
2. How would you facilitate deeper engagement between the foundation and residents and organizations in the priority area(s)?
3. What other work or educational commitments do you expect to have during the fellowship?

Finalists will be asked to provide professional or community references and will be subject to a background check.

The Washington Metro region is an incredibly diverse area, and The Greater Washington Community Foundation is devoted to diversity and equity. The Community Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer that provides employment opportunities for all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, age, mental or sensory differing abilities, protected veteran status, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.