Crankstart
POSITION DESCRIPTION: Program Officer—Environment & Basic Science
SAN FRANCISCO, CA January 20, 2026
aBOUT cRANKSTART
Crankstart is a San Francisco-based family foundation devoted to bolstering the foundations of a just society — wider access to better education, jobs with prospects for advancement, housing security, social welfare, and the protection of civil rights. Crankstart also supports the arts, basic science, and efforts to mitigate climate change. In 2025, we made over $250m in grants, with about 60% supporting efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Culturally, Crankstart operates with the efficiency of a lean team, while maintaining the rigor and professionalism of a much larger organization. We value curiosity, humility, excellence, and action.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Crankstart is hiring a Program Officer to support the Foundation’s national and international Environment and national Basic Science philanthropy. Approximately 75% of the position will be focused on the Environment.
The Program Officer will manage active grants and relationships with grantee leaders, and research and recommend environment and basic science efforts and associated grants. The Program Officer will work with Crankstart’s Program Director, Democracy and Environment, and Vice President of Programs to monitor, shape, and create multiple grant portfolios focused on mitigating climate change through a variety of strategies. The Program Officer will prepare grant recommendations, evaluate outcomes, discuss strategy, and maintain a strong learning network (including nonprofits, grassroots groups, public officials, funders, and researchers).
In 2026, Crankstart anticipates that Environment grants will be approximately $20-$25 million, and Basic Science grants will total approximately $15-$20 million. The majority of the Environment grantmaking will focus on mitigating climate change through a variety of strategies. The Basic Science grantmaking will support innovative scientific biomedical research and critical scientific projects whose federal funding was cut.
The ideal candidate should have at least eight years of relevant professional experience, including six to eight years of direct experience advancing climate change solutions. Candidates should have a sophisticated grasp of how campaigns that weave together research, litigation, policy advocacy, development of new technologies, organizing, coalition building, and strategic communications can advance system change, and how to evaluate such campaigns to determine their likelihood of success. Candidates should also have a nuanced understanding of the root causes of climate change and the range of efforts underway to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, increase nature-based carbon sequestration and other forms of carbon dioxide capture, and research geoengineering solutions for possible use should they be necessary. Candidates should also be able to identify where philanthropic investment can be most catalytic in basic science research.
responsibilities
Strategy Development and Alignment (45%)
Identify, analyze, and monitor campaigns that advance Crankstart’s climate change priorities and excite Crankstart’s board.
Identify opportunities for Crankstart to support groundbreaking basic science research while also recognizing the need to support existing basic science research suffering from federal budget cuts.
Drive alignment across portfolios by proactively surfacing needs, insights, and trends across the environment ecosystem that may impact grantmaking strategy and practice.
Independently organize, allocate, and distribute resources within a portfolio in response to emerging needs or opportunities.
Grantmaking and Relationship Management (40%)
Manage active grants and relationships with grantee leaders, including evaluating reports, advising on grant renewal decisions, and making recommendations for renewed funding.
Coordinate and facilitate conversations with prospective and current grantees to learn more about their work and issues in the field.
Write and present funding recommendations to the team and to the Board, answering key questions about why Crankstart should support particular efforts to slow climate change as opposed to others.
Communicate funding decisions to prospective, current, and past grantees with authenticity and diplomacy.
Plan and coordinate check-ins with grantees and other key partners (e.g., peer funders, local elected officials) through email, site visits, meetings, and calls to understand their needs and identify patterns across portfolios.
When opportunities to partner with new organizations arise, identify and research nonprofit and community organizations that could be strong grantees aligned with Crankstart's funding priorities.
Scope and drive special grant projects in collaboration with other program team members at Crankstart.
Team Operations (15%)
Use and provide feedback on operational systems, processes, and tools that support team norms and efficient grantmaking.
QUALIFICATIONS
Have eight or more years of relevant, professional experience, with at least six to eight years of direct professional experience advancing climate change solutions.
Have a sophisticated grasp of how campaigns that weave together research, litigation, policy advocacy, development of new technologies, organizing, coalition building, and strategic communications can advance systems change; and how to evaluate such campaigns to determine their likelihood of success.
Possess a nuanced understanding of the root causes of climate change and the range of efforts underway to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, capture carbon dioxide, and research geoengineering solutions for possible use should they be necessary.
Have a passion for protecting the Earth’s ecosystems and an understanding of how basic science research can advance our collective well-being.
Have a track record of excellent project management skills and experience working on complex, long-term projects that involve a diverse range of stakeholders and types of people, both internal and external to an organization.
Be a strategic thinker who does not shy away from prioritization.
Have excellent verbal and written communication skills with a focus on being able to synthesize complex concepts, information, and a strong point of view to make decisions.
Proactive in seeking clarity, then self-directed in execution.
Be hungry to make a difference and recognize that both big and small tasks add value.
Be able to thrive in a dynamic, startup environment; able to shift gears quickly to adapt to changing priorities and enjoy doing a little bit of everything.
Able to build genuine, productive, and trusting relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders and partners.
Location
This is a full-time, hybrid role located in the San Francisco Bay Area. A remote option will not be considered. Candidates must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco) and be able to travel to San Francisco three times a week.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
At Crankstart, we use a leveling framework to ensure fairness in promotions and compensation. The compensation range for this position is $165,000 - $180,000. We offer exceptional employee benefits, including 100% health premium coverage for employees and their dependents, fully covered dental and vision plans, a 15% employer contribution to a 401(k) plan, generous vacation and paid holidays, an Employee Giving Alignment Program, and more.
eQUAL OPPORTUNITY sTATEMENT
Crankstart is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. Crankstart also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees in any of these protected categories.
TO APPLY
Martha Montag Brown & Associates, LLC has been retained to conduct this search. Interested and qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume and a targeted cover letter describing their interest, relevant qualifications, experience, and expertise via the candidate application portal. All correspondence will remain confidential. Questions about the search and application process should be directed to search@marthamontagbrown.com.
