Overview
Senior Associate Jobs in Bainbridge Island, WA at Sound Philanthropy
Title: Senior Associate
Company: Sound Philanthropy
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Position Overview
Sound Philanthropy seeks a full-time Associate to join our growing team. The Associate serves as the primary owner of administrative operations (including office management and internal workflow coordination), grant processing, scheduling logistics, and data integrity across Sound Philanthropy’s systems. This role is responsible for execution and coordination, not project ownership of client strategies. Ideal candidates will have a strong sense of pride and ownership in the administrative tasks and functions that contribute to the success of the team’s internal and external workflows.
The Associate keeps a finger on the pulse of Sound Philanthropy’s operational and administrative needs, proactively stepping in to ensure workflows and client experiences are smooth. Success in this role is about managing priorities, being resourceful, and approaching every task with confidence, competence and good humor. Excellent communication and collaboration are paramount, along with the ability to analyze situations and exercise sound judgment in determining appropriate and efficient courses of action.
This role is based in Bainbridge Island, WA, and requires 2-3 days per week in-office at our Bainbridge headquarters. Additional in-person requirements may include client meetings, primarily in the greater Seattle area.
Essential Job Functions
The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. The amount of time performing each function may vary day-to-day. All duties shall be performed efficiently and professionally in accordance with applicable labor agreements and the Sound Philanthropy Employee Handbook and under the direct supervision of a designated supervisor.
Grant Operations
· Support client grantmaking including executing all grantmaking operations from approval to disbursement; ensure a prompt and seamless experience for team and clients and easy access to grant tracking and data
General Administrative Support
· Schedule a high volume of meetings and navigate complex calendars; manage and communicate all logistics, calendar coordination, material distribution, and details for a seamless experience for participants
· Provide professional and responsive communication with clients primarily related to logistics, scheduling, and administrative coordination
· Support budget/expense tracking, bill pay, reimbursements, and streamline tracking systems with contract book-keepers
· Update and maintain a system of organized electronic files, documents, and records (shared and internal) for Sound Philanthropy Team members, all clients and approved contractors
· Responsible for data integrity, entry, maintenance, and reporting accuracy across CRM and grants management systems
Internal Operations
· Primary team member responding to requests for general administrative tasks; addressing these promptly and professionally
· Office Management of two office spaces, including supplies, technology needs, general upkeep and cleanliness
· Serve as point of contact and coordinator for outside vendors and subscriptions
· Support bookkeepers with HR functions such as reporting and benefits administration
· Support CEO and CSO with administrative tasks and scheduling as requested
· Support Senior Associate with meeting prep, systems improvements and audits, and other duties as requested
Other Duties and Responsibilities
All Sound Philanthropy employees are expected to abide by Sound Philanthropy policies, procedures, performance expectations, and applicable state and federal guidelines. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. The above items are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of essential functions, responsibilities, duties, and requirements for personnel in this position. Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and Sound Philanthropy.
Qualifications
· 3+ years of administrative, operations, or grants management experience
· Experience managing complex scheduling and logistics across multiple stakeholders
· Strong MS Office Suite skills (especially Excel)
· Experience working with CRM or database systems (required)
· Experience supporting financial tracking, reimbursements, or bookkeeping processes (preferred)
· Experience with Mondays.com (preferred)
· Experience working with Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) families and individuals (preferred)
· Experience working in diverse communities and across social, racial, economic and cultural differences (preferred)
Attributes
Sound Philanthropy is a small, intimate environment in the start-up phase. Our team is successful and high-functioning because we’re all willing to do whatever task is needed to get it done. Shared values are also very important to the culture and success of our team. The following personal attributes are crucial to being successful at our firm:
· Believes in a client-centric approach, seeking to understand each client’s values, objectives, and expectations
· Is an empathetic communicator, able to align their style to the sensibilities and language of the target audience
· Commits to accuracy and a keen eye for details
· Is a natural self-starter with the ability to work autonomously and with teams in person and virtual settings
· Is generally positive, optimistic and can adapt to an ever-changing environment
· Values learning and has a strong sense of curiosity about people and the world
· Has a high degree of integrity: it is crucially important that team members build and maintain trust—internally with colleagues and externally with partners and clients
· Is collaborative yet independent: someone who is collaborative and has experience flexibly supporting and leading teams, while also being able to work independently and be resourceful and accountable
Working Conditions and Site
· Work is generally sedentary and performed in an office environment.
· Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, or walk for various lengths of time throughout the day.
· Frequent near vision use for reading and computer tasks.
· Some travel may be required to attend meetings and seminars; occasional (rare) evening and weekend work.
· Ability to transport self/others/supplies comfortably and efficiently as needed.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, hybrid position with a base salary of $55,000-$65,000 per year. Sound Philanthropy provides employees with four weeks (20 days) of paid time off (PTO) to use for vacation, illness or injury, and personal business, combining traditional vacation and sick leave plans into one flexible, paid-time-off policy. In addition, Sound Philanthropy offers 10 paid days off for Company Holidays: an employee’s choice floating holiday/birthday, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
We also offer an employee healthcare and dental plan covering 100% of employee premiums and an employer-match contribution to a 401k retirement plan. Other benefits include employer-paid professional development opportunities and a monthly transportation stipend.
Application Instructions
To apply, please submit a resume and a one-page cover letter to [email protected] with “Associate-Operations” in the subject line.
The cover letter should address why you believe you’d excel at this work and why you’re interested in working for Sound Philanthropy.
While Sound Philanthropy is open to individuals from various locations applying to join our team, please note that we are unable to pay for relocation expenses, and all applicants must already be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of application to be considered for this position. We will review applications as they are received and look forward to hearing from you. Sound Philanthropy is a woman-owned Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce. LGBTQ+ and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply donors and foundations to maximize their impact and transform communities through collective giving. With over 50 years of combined experience, Spur Philanthropy manages funds across diverse sectors, including education, arts and culture, health and human services, and conservation. Guided by a mission to amplify philanthropic giving, the organization provides personalized roadmaps to help clients align their giving with their values and create meaningful social impact. By fostering connections and celebrating achievements, Spur Philanthropy empowers its clients to turn vision into action and build thriving communities.
Qualifications
- Strong communication, writing, and proofreading skills to effectively convey ideas and prepare professional documentation.
- Excellent organizational, project management, and multitasking abilities to prioritize and manage multiple client accounts and initiatives.
- Understanding of philanthropy, fundraising, and community development, with experience in sectors like education, arts, health, or conservation considered a plus.
- Proficiency in technology tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, database management systems, and online communication platforms.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, ability to work independently, and a commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with clients and partners.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Administration, or equivalent experience.
