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.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT:
- 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
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
PJMF participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Skills Required
- 3+ years of relevant work experience in consulting, business analysis, strategy, investing, or a comparable role requiring rapid learning and sound judgment.
- Ability to rapidly learn new subject areas and ask informed, sharp questions.
- Regular use of AI tools for research, analysis, and synthesis, with sound judgment about verifying outputs.
- Basic understanding of how AI systems work and ability to engage credibly with organizations building or deploying AI.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with leadership and teammates.
- Strong research, analytical, synthesis, and written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to evaluate opportunities against organizational strategy and produce clear, evidence-based recommendations.
- Relationship management skills and awareness of power dynamics when engaging external stakeholders.
- Curiosity and commitment to including perspectives from underrepresented voices.
- Comfort with data and AI topics.
Patrick J McGovern Foundation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Patrick J McGovern Foundation and has not been reviewed or approved by Patrick J McGovern Foundation.
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Healthcare Strength — Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision extend to spouses/domestic partners and dependents, with HSA/FSA options and employer-paid life and disability. Wellness resources such as Headspace, Gympass, and Ginger are also highlighted.
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Parental & Family Support — Up to six months of gender‑neutral paid parental leave is highlighted.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with matching up to 6% of pay plus an additional discretionary year‑end match is emphasized.
Patrick J McGovern Foundation Insights
What We Do
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector. We carry forward the vision of our founder, Patrick J. McGovern, who believed technology could transform the world for the better. Known for saying, "The best is yet to come," Patrick recognized early the potential of democratizing information technology and neuroscience knowledge to improve lives. Today, rapid advancements in AI and data science are realizing his vision, offering new opportunities to solve global challenges like climate change, health disparities, and more. AI and data science hold the promise of a better future, and the Foundation invests in their development for social good. We believe there is a fierce urgency to act now by harnessing these tools to shape a world that is equitable and just. To achieve this, we must create ethical frameworks, innovate bold AI applications, and foster collaboration across sectors. The Foundation plays a pivotal role as a convener, collaborator, and co-creator, partnering with leaders who share our vision for using AI and data to address pressing challenges. We are committed to building a future where the benefits of these technologies are shared by all. Our mission is clear: leverage AI and data science for good, driven by Patrick J. McGovern’s enduring optimism and belief in technology’s power to improve the human condition.
Why Work With Us
At the PJMF every team member has a unique and meaningful role. It’s inspiring to be part of an organization that genuinely cares and is committed to making a positive impact in the world. We are remote-first, actively listen to team feedback, and prioritize creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
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