Strategy, Impact, and Learning Associate (contract position)

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 600 organizations advancing climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

• Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

• Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world. 

• Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org. 

Department Summary

The Strategy, Impact, and Learning (SIL) team drives strategic planning and initiatives, supports monitoring and evaluation activities, and facilitates continuous learning across ClimateWorks. We work to develop strategies that address the pressing challenges of climate change while simultaneously assessing impact and developing a compelling narrative around our progress and that of our partners. Our approach to learning is collaborative, equitable, and proactive. We aim to support teams as they learn and adapt strategies ​​and to support climate philanthropy as we collectively seek to end the climate crisis.

The Strategy, Impact and Learning Associate will report to the Director of Strategy, Impact and Learning during this one-year contract position.

Job Summary

In this position, the Associate reports to the Director of SIL, Janine Saunders, and collaborates closely with key departments and staff. In doing so, the Associate will be supporting an in-house strategy function that facilitates internal collaboration and processes necessary to drive effective strategy and deliver outstanding results across the organization as well as the broader climate philanthropy ecosystem. Success for this position will mean that CWF’s strategies create measurable, sustainable change in the climate sector and that CWF continues to be a best-in-class learning organization that can expertly respond to emerging opportunities and challenges in the field.

Essential Tasks  

Strategy Development Support

• In collaboration with the Director and SIL team, support an integrated ClimateWorks strategy development process for organization-wide efforts, including, but not limited to, ClimateWorks’ strategic planning efforts which are slated to begin in 2024.
• Support an agile, inclusive, and results-oriented strategy support function that enables CWF’s programs and services to create smart, robust, iterative, and effective strategies.
• Draft materials and communicate