Employment Opportunties
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation Data and Learning Fellow
Location: Olean, NY
Salary: $52,000
Fellowship Duration: 2 years
Reports to: Executive Director
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) is seeking a Data and Learning Fellow. CRCF is a public 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the Cattaraugus County, NY, region. Grants from the foundation support many areas including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service and youth development.
Position Summary: The Data and Learning Fellow will play a key role in helping our foundation use data to guide decision-making, evaluate impact, and communicate effectively with our stakeholders, internally and externally – including our board and staff, our donors, grantees and the community we serve. This is a full-time, two-year fellowship ideal for early-career professionals passionate about community development, data analytics, and nonprofit strategy and interested in a purpose-driven position.
Working closely with our program staff, executive director, grant allocations committee, and board of directors, the Fellow will lead data collection, analysis, and reporting initiatives that help us better understand community needs and the effectiveness of our work. The fellow will also play a key role in our Cattaraugus County Nonprofit Hub – working with our nonprofit community to listen and learn and collect qualitative data about their work.
Key Responsibilities:
· Collect and analyze data on community needs to inform grantmaking priorities and decisions. This may include working with existing data sets such as census data, community needs assessment data from other agencies, public assistance data, etc.
· From those data sets and data collected by the fellow, the fellow will be responsible for creating reports and dashboards that will be used both internally and externally.
· Collaborate with program staff to evaluate outcomes and assess the impact of funded initiatives – including developing grant reporting standards and a process for evaluating outcomes.
· Generate internal reports on fundraising, revenue, expenses, and overall financial health.
· Support strategic planning by tracking progress toward organizational goals.
· Develop and maintain data systems to support learning and continuous improvement.
· Serve as a thought partner in identifying new ways to use data in service of community impact.
About the Fellowship Cohort:
The Rural Philanthropy Fellows Cohort is comprised of 15 fellows - 12 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Rural Philanthropy Fellows and 3 Herrick Foundation Philanthropy Fellows. Each two-year Fellowship offers a professional a unique opportunity to make meaningful contributions to either Michigan or New York philanthropy and the larger philanthropic community. This candidate could be an emerging or established leader who is passionate about entering the field of philanthropy and having an impact. Through grant support made by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Herrick Foundation, the Fellows will support and be employed by the community foundations to support their rural-focused efforts.
How the Fellows Benefit as a Member of the Cohort:
Beyond direct job experience, the Fellow will also benefit from being part of a larger cohort of Rural Philanthropy Fellows. The cohort will receive ongoing support from a group of philanthropic practice experts via the New York Funder Alliance (NYFA) for:
• Development of skills and knowledge, supported by the Fellowship Cohort learning opportunities and an individualized professional development budget.
• Tailored 1:1 networking support to explore potential career paths post-fellowship across the philanthropic sector and adjacent fields.
The Fellow will also benefit from attendance at local and national stakeholder meetings and conferences.
Contact:
For more information about the Rural Philanthropy Fellows Cohort, please contact Carrie Pickett Erway, with CPE Consulting, LLC, Program Manager at [email protected]
Qualifications:
· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in data analysis, public policy, nonprofit management, marketing or a related field.
· Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with experience working with quantitative and qualitative data.
· Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or similar).
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex information clearly.
· Passion for community-based work and a strong commitment to purpose and mission driven work.
· Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines independently.
· Familiarity with nonprofit operations, strategic planning, or community development is a plus.
Schedule:
· 35-40 hrs/week, Monday – Friday
· Work outside of these hours may occasionally be required.
Compensation and Benefits
· Annual salary in the $52,000
· Medical insurance coverage
· Life insurance
· Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave
· Short-term leave availability
· Retirement plan contribution
· Potential for occasional remote work
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and a brief writing sample (preferably a report or data analysis summary) to [email protected] by Nov. 30. We anticipate making a selection by Dec. 19 for an anticipated start date of Jan. 5.
About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information about the foundation visit www.rcwjrf.org.
