Policy Associate, Clean Transportation

ABOUT U.S. ENERGY FOUNDATION 

U.S. Energy Foundation’s (EF) mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. We envision a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy. We believe a thriving clean energy economy can create sustainable opportunities, spur innovation, and protect our climate—for today and future generations. 

EF supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency while opening doors to greater innovation and productivity—growing the economy with dramatically less pollution. For more than 30 years, EF has supported grantees to help educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of a clean energy economy. Our grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and more. 

At EF, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are top organizational commitments. We are working daily to uproot racism and other forms of oppression and create equitable systems that support people to flourish. We aim to bring humility, transparency, respect, and an appreciation for others’ lived experiences to our interactions with colleagues, grantees, and partners. 

EF’s Fundraising Philosophy 

As EF’s primary clients/partners are our funders and grantees, EF commits to acting as a strategic thought leader for our current and prospective funding partners and the field by:  

1. Collaborating—and co-creating, where feasible and desired—on strategy development, including hosting and/or managing funder collaboratives 

1. Highlighting the opportunity for climate philanthropy to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by climate change 

1. Offering excellent, responsive service by providing proactive, compelling, and timely updates and information  

EF is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and our more than 100 staff members are based in locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions, where they can best serve our programs, partners, operations, and other functions. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Policy Associate’s (PA) primary responsibility is to support the work of the Program Director (PD), Clean Transportation. Serving as “air traffic control” for this program, the PA will arrange meetings with grantees, consultants, and funders; track and co-manage the program budget; review grant proposals; draft reports; and communicate with grantees and funders on a variety of issues. In addition to collaborating and coordinating with other teams and programs, the PA will also have the opportunity to organize convenings with EF partners and grantees and contribute to institutional efforts. 

The PA will work with: 

1. Cross-programmatic teams, including Policy, Strategic Communications, and States and Regions; 

1. Cross-functional teams, including Operations and Strategic Partnerships; and  
2. Grantees, funders, and other external partners. 

EF actively seeks to expand DEI within our organization and through our work. We encourage people of color and candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Grantmaking 

• Lead EF’s grantmaking process as the primary staff member overseeing the full grant cycle, from proposal development and application to compliance review and organizational approval. 

• Under legal guidance, serve as the lead reviewer to ensure all EF/Energy Action Fund grant proposals comply with IRS regulations, including adherence to 501(c)(3) requirements and the exclusion of 501(c)(4) activities. 

• Independently and accurately process proposals, reports, grants, contracts, and invoices/reimbursements in the grants tracking system. 

• Review grant proposals to ensure content is complete, appropriate, and all required documents are