About the Foundation

The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 private philanthropic foundations in the United States and the only one focused exclusively on expanding opportunities for people with low income in American cities. With an endowment of approximately $4 billion and a staff of over 100 employees, the foundation deploys grants and social investments across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development. The foundation’s state-of-the-art headquarters maintains an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting systems. The foundation also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.

Why You Will Love Working Here

• Purpose-Driven Work: Every day, your skills will help advance equity and human progress.
• Growth & Learning: We champion ongoing development, creativity, and authentic collaboration.
• Inclusive Culture: Equity and respect are at the heart of everything we do.
• Competitive Rewards: Transparent pay, robust benefits, and a commitment to salary equity.

What You Will Do

The Associate Program Officer will support the work of the national Arts & Culture program team to evaluate grant applications, manage and monitor several grants, and assist with select bodies of work associated with the program’s strategic priorities.

The Arts & Culture program strategy seeks to position culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities. The program strategy exclusively supports equitable and creative approaches to community development and planning that fully integrate art, cultural strategy and community-engaged design. The program pursues this strategy through three focus areas:

• Creative Strategies in Place
• People Mobilizing for Change
• Cross-Sector Partnerships

The Arts & Culture program does not manage or oversee arts funding in metro Detroit. The portfolio focuses on national arts and culture, excluding Detroit, MI.

All Kresge programs and practices share the goals of expanding equity and opportunity, decreasing poverty, and increasing social and economic mobility in America’s cities.

Primary Responsibilities

Supports the national arts & culture program strategy:

• Contributes to the program’s strategy development and implementation outside of the Detroit arts portfolio.
• Shares collective responsibility for achieving the program’s strategic objectives.
• Demonstrates curiosity about philanthropy and begins connecting program activities to mission and grantee needs.
• Supports the creation of strategy documents such as board materials, board advisory committee materials, and working group materials.
• Obtains, maintains, and shares knowledge of the current thinking in field both externally and internally at Kresge.

Performs project & program management:

• Works with members of the team to develop grantee engagement activities such as cohort and initiative trainings, research projects, and knowledge exchange.
• Oversees the program’s initiative and grantee services platforms including:
• Organizing strategic objectives and associated work plans for grantee convenings and related engagement efforts.
• Assisting in the coordination of logistics for convenings and meetings.
• Coordinating content for team newsletter and external communications.
• Maintaining positive working relationships with key partners.
• Supporting processes for external requests for proposals and open calls for grant applications including RFP development, publication, review and communications.
• Conducts grant reviews and serves as point of contact for grantees:
• Manages a portfolio of select grants across the country including cohorts, initiatives and place-based work in cities. 
• Performs end-to-end grant review responsibilities for a combination of sourced and unsolicited applications.
• Supports the approval and non-approval processes.
• Develops knowledge of program-related investment (PRI) and innovative capital tools to achieve program objectives.
• Builds and maintains strong professional relationships that support an effective and equitable grantmaking process.

Contributes to research, evaluation and learning:

• Works with team members and the Managing Director to develop grant outcomes and evaluation criteria for one's own grants; reviews reports and interprets results for the broader team.
• Conducts site visits and participates in professional development opportunities.
• Conducts research and contributes to initiative development within the team.
• Supports data collection and analysis and shares findings based on the team’s learning priorities.

Performs other duties to support foundation and program objectives:

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to the foundation’s mission and values in daily interactions.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to pragmatically championing equitable and creative approaches to community development and planning.
• Works collaboratively - actively supporting and encouraging all members within the team and across teams.
• Represents the foundation publicly, sharing program approaches and grant making outcomes.
• Participates in funder and cross-sector collaboratives to achieve program objectives as necessary.
• Serves as liaison to other Kresge departments.
• Participates in internal working groups.
• Conducts other duties and special projects as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree is preferred.
• Three years of relevant work experience as a grant maker, arts administrator, or project manager in the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated interest in the public, nonprofit, civic or social sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously master a diverse workload and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively develop and manage strong and productive working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Previous experience synthesizing large amounts of information and the ability to execute on strategies. 
• Demonstrated leadership potential.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and verbal skills.
• Strong social skills and experience working on and across teams, functions or sectors. 
• Demonstrated maturity and good judgment.
• Ability to take the initiative, work independently and with a team, make sound decisions and craft support for recommendations.
• Must be willing to travel extensively. Local, regional and national travel requirements vary by quarter and depends on priorities and budget. Current team members average 1-2 trips per month, with each trip lasting 1-3 days.

Salary

This position is full-time. The starting salary for this position begins at $117,025.00 per year. Individual offers will be based on the candidate's years of experience and our practice of upholding salary equity within the foundation.

Some of the benefits include

• Health, dental, vision and life insurance
• Paid time off
• Half day Fridays
• 401k with employer matching
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life, accident and disability insurance
• Comprehensive relocation package for qualified candidates

Ready to Apply

The application deadline for this position is midnight EST on April 8, 2026. Please send your resume and a cover letter telling us why you are excited about this role and how your skills and experience make a great fit.

This position is located in Troy, Michigan and currently has a hybrid schedule. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the standard in-office days, however, there may be times when you will have to adjust the days based on work needs.

Location Requirement

This position is based in the Detroit, MI metro area and is not eligible for remote work. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the area upon hire.

Kresge is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The Kresge Foundation participates in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the United States. For more information on E-Verify and to know your rights please click here.