About Alta Futures
Alta Futures invests in bold ideas in unexpected places—overlooked opportunities that equip the next generation to flourish on a healthy planet, within a strong civil society, and as part of thriving communities. We use a full philanthropic toolkit, including grants, C4 giving, and impact investing, to accelerate meaningful progress.
Operating within a dynamic family office platform, Alta Futures brings a startup mindset to philanthropy. Unconstrained by traditional models, we experiment with new ways to drive impact—co-creating with grantees, standing up new collaboratives, and cross-pollinating expertise across sectors. Our approach is nimble, creative, deeply relational, and grounded in learning by doing.
Alta Futures is currently leading a national funder collaborative focused on boys and men (learn more) and supports a range of democracy- and community-focused efforts across the U.S. and Chicago. With a 20-year spenddown commitment and an ambitious roadmap ahead, we are building a small, high-trust team that values curiosity, adaptability, and shared ownership.
For more information about Alta Futures, please visit our website.
The Opportunity
Alta Futures is seeking a highly curious, versatile, and thoughtful generalist who is excited to contribute to and help shape strategy across a small, entrepreneurial organization. This individual will report to the Founder & Principal.
Rather than a traditional “portfolio owner” role, this team member will contribute to Alta Futures’ democracy work while also helping design, test, and support emerging initiatives such as funder collaboratives, cohorts, and other experimental approaches to driving impact. The Democracy pillar will be a meaningful area of focus, but it is not the sole identity of the role.
The right candidate brings strong analytical thinking, comfort with ambiguity, and a desire to learn by doing. They are energized by rolling up their sleeves with grantee partners, thinking across issue areas, and contributing wherever needed to advance the organization’s mission.
As a small team of five, Alta Futures operates with porous roles and shared ownership. No one works in a silo, and no one is expected to have all the answers. This role will evolve alongside the organization and is ideal for someone excited to grow with it.
What You’ll Do
Strategy & Thought Leadership
- Contribute to and help shape Alta Futures’ democracy strategy through research, synthesis, and strategic insight, in close partnership with senior leadership.
- Track relevant developments across philanthropy, policy, civic life, and culture, translating learnings into clear, actionable insights.
- Support cross-portfolio learning agendas that inform grantmaking and emerging initiatives.
- Contribute strategic thinking to the exploration of new opportunities and special initiatives aligned with Alta Futures’ values.
Emerging Strategies & Execution
- Help design, launch, and support emerging initiatives such as funder collaboratives, cohorts, fellowships, and pilot programs.
- Work hands-on with grantee partners to identify opportunities to drive impact beyond capital, including connections, experimentation, and collaboration.
- Support efforts to bring additional funders, partners, and collaborators into Alta Futures-led initiatives.
Grantmaking & Partner Engagement
- Support sourcing, assessment, and stewardship of grantee partners, with an emphasis on trust-based relationships.
- Contribute to grantmaking processes and learning practices that prioritize insight, adaptation, and impact over compliance.
- Assist in identifying opportunities to deploy flexible capital (e.g., C4) where advocacy, field-building, or narrative work can advance strategic objectives.
Cross-Team Contribution & Operations
- Work closely with the Founder and Chief of Staff as a thought partner across democracy, community, and emerging strategies.
- In partnership with the Chief of Staff who leads Alta Futures’ community strategy, contribute strategic thinking, research, and execution support to community-related work.
- Support planning, coordination, and follow-through across multiple workstreams in a fast-moving environment.
- Participate actively in team meetings, planning sessions, and organizational learning.
Who You Are
Experience & Background
- 5+ years demonstrated interest in impact, and professional experience in consulting, philanthropy, public policy, impact investing, corporate social impact, nonprofits, research, or adjacent fields.
- Prior philanthropy experience is not required.
- Experience in consulting or similarly structured, problem-solving environments is a plus.
- Exposure to democracy, civic life, or community issues through professional experience, volunteering, coursework, or lived experience.
How You Think & Work
- Highly curious, with a strong desire to understand how systems, institutions, and incentives interact.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and excited by roles that evolve over time.
- Able to think strategically while also executing thoughtfully and reliably.
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to ask good questions and identify patterns.
Relationships & Judgment
- Early evidence of strong relationship-building skills, including empathy, reliability, and respect for differing perspectives.
- Sound judgment and discretion, with an understanding that trust is central to effective philanthropy.
- Comfortable collaborating across differences and aligning stakeholders around shared goals.
Values Alignment
You demonstrate and foster Alta Futures’ core values:
- Curiosity – There is always something new to learn.
- Humility – We’re not the smartest people in the room.
- Excellence – We aim high and do the work to get there.
- Pragmatism – A plan turns possibility into reality.
- Joy – Work worth doing, done well, makes life better.
Compensation, Benefits, & Work Environment
The salary range for this role is $170,000-$200,000 with a generous benefits package that includes top-tier health coverage, a matching 401(k), and a fitness and wellness stipend.
Alta Futures is based in Chicago, IL. This is a Chicago-based role with an in-office expectation of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays when not otherwise traveling. Travel is expected (~30%).
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan. To express interest in this role, please fill out our Talent Profile. If selected to proceed following an introductory conversation, candidates will be asked to complete a questionnaire in lieu of a statement of interest.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Alta Futures is the philanthropic entity of OnDean Management LLC, the family office of Jessica and Andrew Sieja. OnDean is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages expressions of interest from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.