Job Description
Minds Matter is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success. For more than 25 years, every Minds Matter student has been admitted to a four-year college or university.
Founded in New York City in 1991, Minds Matter is now a national college access program with chapters in 14 cities. Collectively, Minds Matter serves nearly 800 students and engages over 1,700 volunteers in meaningful service. Minds Matter now seeks an enthusiastic, adaptable and driven Program Assistant to join the Minds Matter National team. This unique position will work across chapters to support Minds Matter leaders, students, and alumni.
This is an entry level position. The hourly wage equivalent for this position is between $45,000-$50,000 per year.
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
- Team player who is ready to learn and grow with the organization
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
- Committed, creative and enthusiastic
- Passionate about the Minds Matter mission and serving students from low-income communities
- Personally aligned with Minds Matter’s values of Community, Commitment, and Growth
- Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Summer Program Support
- Manage nationwide summer program partnerships
- Cultivate new and existing relationships with summer program partners
- Negotiate with summer program partners around prices, number of seats and admissions policies for Minds Matter students
- Facilitate information between summer program partners and Minds Matter chapters, including maintaining up-to-date information and resources
- Train, support and collaborate with Summer Program Directors at each chapter
Chapter Alumni Support
- Collaborate with chapters to support student alumni in and out of college
- Research and share best practices in supporting students through college, and work with individual chapters to create alumni programs (as needed)
- Support chapters in the collection and maintenance of alumni records and metrics, including future alumni relations software
- Maintain lines of communication between Minds Matter and program alumni
Chapter Leadership Council Support
- Communicating regularly with chapter leadership to maintain accurate records and provide support (as needed)
- Support Chapter Leadership Council (CLC) program committees
- Aggregate and share chapter curricula and best practices
- Attend CLC meetings (as needed) to provide updates and answer questions
National Operations
- Manage and acknowledge donations to Minds Matter National
- Assist with Minds Matter National fundraising events
- Work with Minds Matter National Board members to coordinate meetings; assist with individual Board member requests
- Support bookkeeping and financial reporting
- Manage communications to chapters, donors and other stakeholders from Minds Matter National
- Work with chapters to create organization-wide annual report
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Able to manage multiple complex tasks
- Able to communicate with others in a warm and helpful manner while simultaneously building credibility and rapport
- Demonstrated ability to connect with a range of stakeholders, including volunteers, universities, donors and others
- Able to respond to requests for assistance in a timely and thorough manner
- Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively
- 1-2 years of experience in education or nonprofit sector preferred
- Previous experience with CRM databases, such as Salesforce, and GSuite preferred
- Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends
In a typical week, the Programs Assistant might hold individual meetings with Summer Program Directors; communicate with university partners around summer program placements; work with the National Board of Directors to prepare for an upcoming fundraising event; research and communicate upcoming deadlines relevant to college financial aid; send thank you letters to National donors; and meet with chapter leaders to codify writing curriculum.