Summary

The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. The Foundation operates one of the world’s top five websites and has global reach and impact. At the core of the projects are volunteers who curate the knowledge that the world has come to rely on. The Community Resources team is the primary funding function of the Wikimedia Foundation ensuring that we support the Affiliates and volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Movement by offering institutional and individual funding to help achieve the Movement’s goals. To support the movement’s commitment to Knowledge Equity, the team prioritizes proactive outreach to communities that structures of power and privilege have left out. The Senior Program Officer will implement the regional funding programs serving Wikimedian communities in Northern & Western Europe.

Roles and Responsibilities

Funding Strategy & Portfolio Management

Implement Community Resources grantmaking strategy considering community needs, movement trends, geopolitical and cultural context.
Analyze regional/global patterns to shape funding priorities.
Design program activities for significant impact.
Manage and monitor regional grant portfolio for alignment with strategy and impact goals.
Lead annual grant planning including identifying grantees, reviewing proposals, co-developing funding rationales.
Conduct organizational assessments (financial and narrative).
Collaborate across Foundation teams.
Represent Foundation internally and externally as regional ambassador.

Committee Development

Build, onboard, develop regional funding committees aligned with needs/opportunities.
Set agendas and facilitate inclusive funding deliberations.
Synthesize committee feedback into funding recommendations.
Provide constructive feedback to applicants/grantees.

Community & Funding Partner Management

Build trust-based relationships with communities, grantees, applicants; act as primary liaison.
Understand community needs/dynamics; support conflict resolution.
Support institutional strengthening of grantee partners; connect them with best practices/resources.
Design/support convenings for learning among partners/community/ecosystem.
Engage regional philanthropic spaces/leaders to strengthen grantee support.

Evaluation and Learning

Review grantee progress via conversations, reports, site visits; share insights.
Review/approve grant reports; follow-up as needed.
Identify trends/gaps/opportunities from data to inform strategy/priorities/resource allocation.
Share learnings with colleagues, committees, movement partners.

Skills and Experience

Solid knowledge of trust-based philanthropy or community-based grantmaking
Experience in participatory decision-making structures
Experience in international grantmaking
Experience in nonprofit capacity building (funder/consultant/leader)
Strong strategic/analytical skills; creative problem-solving
Excellent organizational skills; ability to prioritize/manage multiple priorities/deadlines
Ability to create constructive partnerships with Wikimedia community/stakeholders/fund-seekers
Skills in facilitating volunteer communities; negotiating free-thinking communities dynamics
Open/transparent communication style; ability to engage publicly non-polarizingly
Experience managing complex projects/stakeholders
Willingness for frequent interactions across time zones globally
Proven English proficiency (written/spoken/public speaking)
Commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity
Global perspective with significant international living/working experience
May require 1–3 international trips per year when possible

Additional Desired Qualifications

Experience working with online communities/free knowledge movement
Passion for or experience contributing to Wikipedia/Wikimedia projects
Proficiency in another language besides English is a plus