The Carmel Hill Fund is focused on helping young people in New York City, especially those growing up in vulnerable circumstances, become voracious readers who also have the skills, relationships, nurturing environments, and supports to thrive emotionally.
In 1986, The Carmel Hill Fund (CHF) was established and funded by William "Bill" Ruane, a respected investment professional, as a way to address educational inequities and to help young people receive the mental health support they deserve. Mr. Ruane was a hands-on, engaged philanthropist who worked closely with grantee partners, whom he considered to be the experts, to address issues of mutual concern. Each interaction ended with a question about what else he could do to be helpful.
Since his passing in 2005, CHF has strived to carry forward Mr. Ruane's vision and values-based approach to problem-solving by funding programs that encourage social and emotional learning, reading skills and motivation, and mental health supports. In the literacy space, this includes The Carmel Hill Fund Education Program (CHFEP), an initiative co-founded by Mr. Ruane with educators in Harlem to help students become avid readers that, in the past two decades, is being implemented across three cities: Monroe (Louisiana), Denver (Colorado), and New York City (New York).
In 2023, CHF launched a comprehensive, multi-year strategy planning process to maximize the generous resources Mr. Ruane provided to support the Fund's mission and to evolve our approach, systems, policies, and philanthropic model in support of our mission. This process is being led by CHF's newly appointed Executive Director with active support from our Trustees.
As part of the Foundation's new strategic direction, the CHFEP will sunset at the end of the 2024-25 school year and, starting in July 2025, we will focus our efforts fully on grantmaking in support of youth growing up in New York City, promoting literacy and supporting mental health initiatives in systemically marginalized communities.
As we embark on our next chapter as a grantmaker, we will build on our founder and benefactor's legacy to deepen our impact in New York City by deploying more than $20M annually towards achieving our mission.
In mental health, we plan to deploy more than $5M annually in grants to nurture the wellbeing of young New Yorkers by making it easier for them to access high quality mental health supports, both preventive and clinical. In addition to our long-standing investments in research, our grantmaking may include investments in social and emotional learning, mental health workforce development, integration of mental health services in the places young people already frequent (e.g., school, community centers, medical clinics), and advocacy to help ensure personal economic circumstances are not a barrier to accessing care. Current examples include:
The Program Officer, Adolescent Mental Health, will play a pivotal role in designing and executing the foundation's mental health initiatives in New York City. This newly-established position offers an exciting opportunity to identify, co-create and steward the implementation of strategies aimed at nurturing the emotional wellbeing of young New Yorkers. As our point person in the NYC and national mental health community, you will assume leadership of CHF's mental health strategy, developing deep relationships with peers and partners, and will identify, manage, and support all active and potential partnerships. In collaboration across the CHF team and notably the Executive Director, you will source, recommend, and manage multi-year grants and philanthropic partnerships, establish co-funding opportunities with peers, develop and oversee impact measurement strategies, and provide additional support to grantee partners to help them succeed. Where possible, your efforts will be informed by and/or co-created with mental health and youth development practitioners, parents, and young people.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Officer, Adolescent Mental Health will collaborate with the Program Officer, Literacy to support the development and implementation of cross-functional programs and leverage opportunities focused on combating or dismantling systemic barriers. The Program Officers will also collaborate with the Grants Manager to design and implement grantmaking practices that align with the Fund's values and approach.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Program Development & Grantee Partnership
Stakeholder Engagement & Field Building
Organizational Strategy and Leadership
As of July 2025, CHF will be a small, nimble and highly collaborative team supporting NYC youth.
Internally:
Externally:
$180,000 - $205,000
Carmel Hill Fund's compensation philosophy is based on their commitment to equity. Compensation for the role will depend on several factors including qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.
The Carmel Hill Fund offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical; 401(k) with employer contributions; paid time off; and additional optional pre-tax benefits.
On average, you have the opportunity to work remotely 3 days per week, and are required to work from the midtown NYC office 2 days per week. This role will also require regular in-person touch points with external partners, site visits to grantee programs, and engagement in other community events. There are also opportunities to travel outside of NYC to attend professional conferences and observe other promising programs in action.
At our current inflection point, CHF is at the beginning of our organizational equity journey, though our executive leaders bring their own experiences with and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our promise is to champion diversity, build an inclusive culture, and actively participate in the creation of a more equitable world. We can't promise we'll always get it right, but we'll always put our people and our community first, striving for a sense of belonging for all.
The Carmel Hill Fund is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact info@on-ramps.com.
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