SAM & BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION – HEAD OF ISRAEL GRANTS

About the Foundation

The Sam and Bella Sebba Charitable Foundation (SBSCF) is a grant-making family foundation which seeks to promote a more humane society by promoting social justice and protecting human rights.  Currently, we award grants of £3.5m annually, half in Israel and half in the UK. The charity was initially established by Samuel Sebba in 1967. The Sebba family is actively involved in the Foundation and make up the majority in our grant committees and trustees.  Further details can be found on our website: www.sebbafoundation.org.

In Israel, we fund youth-at-risk, shared society, disability, environment, social justice, and human rights.  We place emphasis on encouraging equality and social justice for minority groups including Arab rights in Israel and the occupied territories.

About the Role

The Foundation is looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about human rights and social justice and strongly aligns with the values of the Foundation. You will be the sole employee in Israel and have overall responsibility for our Israel grant portfolio and its budget.  This includes developing our grant-making objectives in partnership with the Israel Grant Committee (IGC comprises 6 members who are all actively involved), managing and overseeing the whole grant cycle and developing and managing relationships with our grant partners and Israel’s philanthropic sector.  You will work closely with the Israel Grant Committee members. This includes developing written grant recommendations, presenting strategic opportunities, supporting budget-making processes, and providing the necessary information and insights to aid their decision-making.

You will work closely with, and be managed by the Foundation’s CEO (based in London).  You will mainly be working autonomously and remotely but will interact with the UK team and regularly make visits to the charities we support and other relevant partners.  The UK team is comprised of a CEO, UK grant manager, grant support officer, administrator, and a freelance accountant.

This is a part-time 75%, permanent position, which is predominantly home-based but does require regular attendance at meetings across Israel, an annual trip to London and occasional flexible hours. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including those from a minority or marginalised background and those with lived experience of the issues we support.  The closing date for applying is 15 October 2024.

Responsibilities

1.To provide strategic guidance and support to the Israel Grant Committee (IGC):

• Make grant recommendations (new and renewal grants) to the Israel Grant Committee which align with their strategy and objectives.
• Review granting areas and propose new ideas, strategies and interventions to the Israel Grant Committee.
• Ensure the committee is kept informed on key sector insights and learning, charities and partners within the sectors we support to aid decision-making.
• Prepare and track the Israel grant programme budget.
• Prepare the agenda and papers for committee meetings in collaboration with the committee chair.
• Actively engage Israel Grant Committee members, and to a lesser extent, international trustees in our grant-making and the thematic areas we support through sharing relevant material and arranging charity visits and connections with relevant partners.

2. Oversee the full granting process from identifying new grantees to assessing grant outcomes:

• Identify new potential grantees organisations that align with the strategies, criteria and areas of interest of the Israel Grant Committee and wider Foundation.
• Assess grant applications, undertake due diligence, write up grant recommendations (in English) for the Israel Grant Committee and Trustees, including specific outcomes for each grant and an assessment of its likely effectiveness and impact.
• Monitor and evaluate grants through written reports, participation in meetings and visiting relevant programmes.
• Provide consultation, networks and advice to grantees and engage them in capacity building processes including monitoring, evaluation and learning, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding practices

3. External Representation and Impactful Partnership Development:

• Participate in philanthropic networks that share research, new strategies and good practice
• Identify opportunities to develop impactful partnerships including co-funding with other Foundations, joining larger pooled funds and coalitions.
• Represent the Foundation in steering committees of partnerships approved by IGC.

4. Acting as the Israel representative in wider operations of the Foundation:

• Work with the Foundation CEO in the UK to improve operations, strengthen strategy and ensure compliance with UK charity law.
• Support the UK team and consultant accountant on issues relating to Israel grants.
• Prepare written reports for trustee meetings (reviewed by CEO), attend trustee meetings (in UK and Israel) and respond to trustee and CEO queries in relation to grantees and our work in Israel.
• Under the direction of the CEO, contribute to Foundation-wide initiatives including strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of grants, development of an annual impact report and creating learning opportunities for trustees and grantees.

Education

Degree level or above (or equivalent experience)

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience in and understanding of grant giving in the charity sector including undertaking due diligence
• Extensive experience (8+ years) in and familiarity with the charity sector in Israel, with strong networks (ideally both charities and philanthropists/foundations)
• Experience of working and co-operating with an active Board of Trustees and/or governing committees

Desirable

• Deep knowledge of at least one of the issue areas we support
• Experience developing strategies (e.g. organisational, programmatic, advocacy) and in supporting organisations to do so
• A strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation
• An understanding of and experience in organisational and ecosystem development and models of creating social change
• Experience in supporting grantees to build their capacity

Skills and attributes

• A strong commitment to our values
• Highly effective communication skills, both written and oral in both English and Hebrew
• Strategic thinking and related skills including planning, decision-making, problem-solving and an ability to navigate and manage difficult conversations and opposing views
• Ability to build trust, credibility and confidence with the CEO, Israel Grant Committee, trustees, UK staff team and wider family
• Understanding the sensitivity of the ‘hands-on’ nature of our family involvement
• Ability to work effectively autonomously and remotely while maintaining good relationships with the UK-based team, Israel grants committee and trustees.
• An analytic thinking style with attention to detail and sound numerate skills (including a general understanding of charity accounts)
• Energy, enthusiasm and imagination
• A high level of integrity, commitment and honesty
• Resilience and capacity to fulfil a demanding role
• Workable knowledge of computer systems including use of Microsoft Office, Sharepoint and Zoom (basic knowledge of Salesforce desirable)
• Willingness to travel to the UK annually, to travel across Israel for relevant meetings and for working occasional out of office hours

How to Apply

Please send the following to:

sebba@medulla.co.il

1. A curriculum vitae (CV) in English
2. A short (2 minute) video in which you briefly describe a philanthropy-related impact you’ve contributed towards and explain why it excited you and what impact it left on you.
3. Salary expectations

******Please be aware that the recruitment process for the position and the interviews will be conducted only in English***

Only suitable inquiries will receive a response.