Want to make sure a worthy cause gets the necessary funding? Program officers help decide who will receive their foundation’s money and ensure the recipients use it well. They solicit and accept applications and make recommendations to boards of directors. Program officers analyze the problems the foundation wants to address and decide what kinds of solutions to focus on.
Education Requirements:
Because the program officer has to be well versed in their specific area of responsibility, specialized degrees are common in larger foundations. A program officer specializing in health programs, for example, often has a Master’s or Ph.D. in public health. In smaller foundations, a Bachelor’s degree is often enough to get you in the door as a foundation program assistant.
Job Prospects:
The number of foundation employees has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. You have options other than Program Officer — some foundation staff are chief executive officers, research assistants, computer specialists and financial analysts.
Earning Power:
The average salary for a foundation program officer is approx. $65,000.
