Portfolio Analyst

ABOUT THE ROLE:
Strategic Capital is the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation’s grantmaking function. We fund nonprofits and civil society organizations using data science and AI to advance social good.

Portfolio Analysts help ensure that philanthropic resources are allocated effectively and with impact. They conduct research and analysis to identify and evaluate high-potential grant partners, perform due diligence through desk research, interviews, and financial reviews, and prepare materials to support final grant decisions. Analysts also monitor trends across the data and AI for good ecosystem, distill insights from existing grants, and contribute to learning that informs future investments. 
This position reports to the Director of Strategic Capital and offers an opportunity to shape how PJMF deploys capital to accelerate responsible and equitable technology solutions worldwide.

• Strategy Development
  • Develop and maintain a working understanding of PJMF’s grantmaking focus areas and the role of data and AI solutions within them.
  • Complete field sensing and landscape analyses that help PJMF stay abreast of new developments, opportunities, and shifts in the fields of AI and data science, and how they can be applied to drive social good.
  • Produce portfolio strategy retrospectives that synthesize outcomes, lessons, and directional insights from grant activity to inform future priorities.
  • Support the generation, validation, and refinement of strategic hypotheses and learning questions that guide PJMF’s philanthropic investments and deepen understanding of the field.
• Grant Portfolio Development
  • Conduct research and outreach, and lead early-stage conversations, to identify nonprofit and civil society organizations whose work aligns with PJMF’s strategy and may be a fit for grant funding.
  • Prepare clear, evidence-based recommendation materials to support funding decisions.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration and shared learning across grantees, portfolios, and adjacent fields to enhance collective impact.
• Team Collaboration
  • Provide flexible, project-based support as we build systems and team practices that enable effective, efficient, and high-impact grantmaking.
  • Summarize learnings from grant reports and external sources into insights that contribute to the Foundation’s broader work in convening and thought leadership.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Experience. 3+ years of relevant work experience in a role requiring rapid learning and sound judgment, such as consulting, business analysis, strategy, or investing. Comfort with data and AI topics is a plus, but curiosity and the ability to get up to speed quickly matter more than any specific sector background.
• Fast and Nimble Learner. Prepares thoroughly for conversations and brings enough fluency to ask sharp questions without needing to be a subject-matter expert.  
• AI Fluency. Uses AI tools regularly to accelerate research, analysis, and synthesis, and brings sound judgment about when to trust, verify, or set aside their outputs. Understands the basics of how these systems work well enough to engage credibly with grantees building or deploying AI.
• Team-oriented Independence. Pair an ability and desire to work independently with a willingness to check in with leadership and/or teammates on a variable cadence depending on the specifics of a project and its context.  
• Clear Synthesis and Communication. Critically assess how an opportunity aligns with organizational strategy and turns that analysis into a clear, well-reasoned recommendation that identifies open questions and areas for further learning. Communicate outputs from research, analysis, and other activities in a clear, concise, and structured manner.  
• Relationship Management. Be a thoughtful, responsible representative of the Foundation and remain mindful of power dynamics when interacting with external stakeholders. Proactively identify potential issues or roadblocks in external relationships and follow team norms when addressing them.
• Curiosity. Naturally curious and energized by learning new things, with a habit of following that curiosity wherever it leads.
• Commitment to Equity. Consistently seek to include the perspectives of underrepresented voices when assessing a potential course of action.

WHAT WE OFFER: 
We offer a comprehensive benefits package with a whole person support approach including: 

• Health Insurance: Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, spouses/domestic partners, and dependents. HSA/FSA plans, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Long-term Rewards: 401(k) retirement plan with generous matching up to 6% of annual pay, plus an additional discretionary match at the end of the year
• Time Off: Flexible PTO Policy, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, and paid holiday breaks
• Remote Work Environment: Ability to work 100% remotely, but not alone - with mature, socially minded professionals who care about each other as much as the work, and we connect in person at least once a year to collaborate and create together
• Wellness Support: Access to Ginger+, Active and Fit Gym membership discount, and SmartSpend Plus, along with financial well-being providers
• Parental Leave: Up to 6 months of gender-neutral paid leave for parents and caregivers when they have a new addition to their families
• Learning & Development: Company reimbursement policy, allowing employees to explore development opportunities such as peer learning, internal trainings, and external activities or conferences; savings on student loans (available via insurance provider)
• Philanthropic Matching Gift Program: Opportunity for team members to support vulnerable communities, reflecting PJMF’s commitment to social impact