Program Associate Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Program associate roles in California span nonprofit organizations, technology companies, and public sector agencies, with notable hiring in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Organizations like the California Endowment, RAND Corporation, and major university systems regularly seek program associates, and many have sponsored work visas for qualified international candidates in program coordination and policy support functions.
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Get Access To All JobsProgram Associate, Power Pathway
Location: San Francisco, CA
Department: Community Impact
Type: Regular, Full Time, Exempt
Min. Experience: Intermediate Level
The hourly compensation for this position in FY26 is: $ 45.71/hr.
Organizational Result:
All people living in the San Francisco Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and engaged in Civic Life.
SFF Values:
Anti-racism, Boldness, Equity, and being Rooted in Community
Position Summary:
The Program Associate position for the Power Pathway advances and supports the goals/milestones, strategy, grantmaking, research, cross-team collaboration, and communications functions of the San Francisco Foundation (SFF)’s Power Pathway. The Program Associate works most often with the Sr. Director of the Power Pathway, Program Officers, Program Associates, Administrative Assistants and other Community Impact (CI) and SFF Staff to support the development and implementation of the Foundation’s equity agenda, funding strategies, and activities. The position is an individual contributor role supporting key functional activities.
Boundaries
The Program Associate is on the Power Pathway team, which sits in the Community Impact Department and is tasked with developing core strategies for advancing SFF’s racial equity and economic inclusion goals. The position leads and supports a range of activities including: grantmaking, engaging with community partners, advancing team strategies, convening stakeholders, supporting strategic communications and research.
Authority
The Program Associate reports to the Program Officer of the Power Pathway. Under the direction of the Program Officer of Power Pathway, the Program Associate will be tasked with both supporting and spearheading team and department-wide activities. The Program Associate often works with CI staff to strengthen, implement, and advance CI’s grantmaking and programmatic strategies and activities. This position also regularly engages with and represents the CI department to other departments, in internal and external funder working groups, and at grantee convenings.
Role
The Power Pathway leads the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that Bay area residents have a strong political voice and can shape the decisions that impact their lives and communities, specifically by supporting community-based organizations to build the power needed to win governing power.
A successful Program Associate will have a basic understanding of the systemic causes of racial and economic inequity, organizing and power building, and has experience working to improve conditions for BIPOC communities.
The role of the Program Associate is to support the Power Team in the development and implementation of strategic goals, support work with donor and grantee stakeholders, including through grantmaking, representing SFF in community, collaborating with colleagues across the Foundation, and otherwise working to advance SFF’s north star of racial equity and economic inclusion.
- Supports their pathway in project management and development, tracking and implementation of pathway strategies
- Nurtures organizational values and collaborative culture
- Provides coordination and project management support to the implementation of Pathway strategy projects, grantmaking, communications, and other activities
- Provides support on projects and represents the perspective of the Power Pathway with external stakeholders and funder groups and with internal Foundation departments
- Acts as a team lead on special assignments, which may include outreach, meeting planning, communication with constituents or donor services, and managing projects
Tasks
- Build and sustain relationships with grantees, donors, nonprofit partners, public sector allies, and other key stakeholders and ensure timely response to issues and requests.
- Support a portfolio of grantees to complete grant applications and conversational check-ins/grant reports
- Assess grantees and prospective applicants for programmatic alignment and fit
- Serve as application lead and point of contact to assigned grantees, providing reliable and professional customer service to all stakeholders
- Assist in issue area research, engagement and advocacy, particularly on regional issues with deep potential impacts in the Bay Area
- Supports project management
- Coordinate/conduct/support site visits, community meetings, and special convenings
- Participate in SFF working groups, committees, and represent SFF at community events
Competencies & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree is preferred; additional work experience, educational degrees and certificates will be considered
- Minimum of three years of relevant experience. Relevant experience can include progressively responsible work experience in the public or non-profit sectors.
- Deep understanding of the Bay Area, its history, politics, and the realities of the region’s residents – through intellectual, professional, and lived experience – particularly with a clear racial equity lens.
- Professional experience working to advance racial equity and economic inclusion with a strategic focus on organizing and power building
- Experience in applying a racial or economic equity frame in work environments
- Proven record of successfully working independently and collaboratively in teams is required
- Able to create positive, long-term working relationships by demonstrating a commitment to interdependence, consistency, and flexibility.
- Ability to communicate internally with the Foundation staff and externally to diverse audiences.
- Well-organized, self-starting, and independent with the ability to multi-task, set priorities, track projects, and meet deadlines
- Project management skills and experience with complex, multi-stakeholder efforts
- Experience collaborating on projects across teams and stakeholders, including experience planning meetings and facilitating meetings and events from start to finish
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems resourcefully
- Strong active listening, oral, and written communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;
- Demonstrated abilities to build successful relationships with local leaders and organizations; engage people from diverse backgrounds; and synthesize and articulate (orally and in writing) a wide breadth of information to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing data-analysis in decision-making
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and equity
- Active listening, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Desire for continued growth and development
- Learns quickly in new environments
- Ability to engage with diverse staff and external stakeholders
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
- Intermediate to advanced computer/software skills, including Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Teams), Salesforce, and Zoom.
- Familiarity with AI preferred
- Ability to learn, navigate and manage online platforms, including Fluxx, Qlik sense, and Smartsheet
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
Compensation: The San Francisco Foundation offers a very competitive total compensation package including base compensation in alignment with our organizational budget size and rich medical and fringe benefits offerings. This position pays $45.71 per pay hour. You may read more about our compensation philosophy and benefits on the career page.
Remote Work Policy: The Foundation has adopted a long-term hybrid in-person and remote work policy. Dedicated to its employee health and safety, The Foundation will continue to make decisions in accordance with San Francisco County and California mandates. Employees must reside or plan to relocate to the Bay Area if hired.
Requesting Accommodations: The Foundation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Foundation will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@sff.org.
The San Francisco Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.
Program Associate, Power Pathway
Location: San Francisco, CA
Department: Community Impact
Type: Regular, Full Time, Exempt
Min. Experience: Intermediate Level
The hourly compensation for this position in FY26 is: $ 45.71/hr.
Organizational Result:
All people living in the San Francisco Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and engaged in Civic Life.
SFF Values:
Anti-racism, Boldness, Equity, and being Rooted in Community
Position Summary:
The Program Associate position for the Power Pathway advances and supports the goals/milestones, strategy, grantmaking, research, cross-team collaboration, and communications functions of the San Francisco Foundation (SFF)’s Power Pathway. The Program Associate works most often with the Sr. Director of the Power Pathway, Program Officers, Program Associates, Administrative Assistants and other Community Impact (CI) and SFF Staff to support the development and implementation of the Foundation’s equity agenda, funding strategies, and activities. The position is an individual contributor role supporting key functional activities.
Boundaries
The Program Associate is on the Power Pathway team, which sits in the Community Impact Department and is tasked with developing core strategies for advancing SFF’s racial equity and economic inclusion goals. The position leads and supports a range of activities including: grantmaking, engaging with community partners, advancing team strategies, convening stakeholders, supporting strategic communications and research.
Authority
The Program Associate reports to the Program Officer of the Power Pathway. Under the direction of the Program Officer of Power Pathway, the Program Associate will be tasked with both supporting and spearheading team and department-wide activities. The Program Associate often works with CI staff to strengthen, implement, and advance CI’s grantmaking and programmatic strategies and activities. This position also regularly engages with and represents the CI department to other departments, in internal and external funder working groups, and at grantee convenings.
Role
The Power Pathway leads the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that Bay area residents have a strong political voice and can shape the decisions that impact their lives and communities, specifically by supporting community-based organizations to build the power needed to win governing power.
A successful Program Associate will have a basic understanding of the systemic causes of racial and economic inequity, organizing and power building, and has experience working to improve conditions for BIPOC communities.
The role of the Program Associate is to support the Power Team in the development and implementation of strategic goals, support work with donor and grantee stakeholders, including through grantmaking, representing SFF in community, collaborating with colleagues across the Foundation, and otherwise working to advance SFF’s north star of racial equity and economic inclusion.
- Supports their pathway in project management and development, tracking and implementation of pathway strategies
- Nurtures organizational values and collaborative culture
- Provides coordination and project management support to the implementation of Pathway strategy projects, grantmaking, communications, and other activities
- Provides support on projects and represents the perspective of the Power Pathway with external stakeholders and funder groups and with internal Foundation departments
- Acts as a team lead on special assignments, which may include outreach, meeting planning, communication with constituents or donor services, and managing projects
Tasks
- Build and sustain relationships with grantees, donors, nonprofit partners, public sector allies, and other key stakeholders and ensure timely response to issues and requests.
- Support a portfolio of grantees to complete grant applications and conversational check-ins/grant reports
- Assess grantees and prospective applicants for programmatic alignment and fit
- Serve as application lead and point of contact to assigned grantees, providing reliable and professional customer service to all stakeholders
- Assist in issue area research, engagement and advocacy, particularly on regional issues with deep potential impacts in the Bay Area
- Supports project management
- Coordinate/conduct/support site visits, community meetings, and special convenings
- Participate in SFF working groups, committees, and represent SFF at community events
Competencies & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree is preferred; additional work experience, educational degrees and certificates will be considered
- Minimum of three years of relevant experience. Relevant experience can include progressively responsible work experience in the public or non-profit sectors.
- Deep understanding of the Bay Area, its history, politics, and the realities of the region’s residents – through intellectual, professional, and lived experience – particularly with a clear racial equity lens.
- Professional experience working to advance racial equity and economic inclusion with a strategic focus on organizing and power building
- Experience in applying a racial or economic equity frame in work environments
- Proven record of successfully working independently and collaboratively in teams is required
- Able to create positive, long-term working relationships by demonstrating a commitment to interdependence, consistency, and flexibility.
- Ability to communicate internally with the Foundation staff and externally to diverse audiences.
- Well-organized, self-starting, and independent with the ability to multi-task, set priorities, track projects, and meet deadlines
- Project management skills and experience with complex, multi-stakeholder efforts
- Experience collaborating on projects across teams and stakeholders, including experience planning meetings and facilitating meetings and events from start to finish
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems resourcefully
- Strong active listening, oral, and written communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;
- Demonstrated abilities to build successful relationships with local leaders and organizations; engage people from diverse backgrounds; and synthesize and articulate (orally and in writing) a wide breadth of information to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing data-analysis in decision-making
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and equity
- Active listening, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Desire for continued growth and development
- Learns quickly in new environments
- Ability to engage with diverse staff and external stakeholders
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
- Intermediate to advanced computer/software skills, including Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Teams), Salesforce, and Zoom.
- Familiarity with AI preferred
- Ability to learn, navigate and manage online platforms, including Fluxx, Qlik sense, and Smartsheet
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
Compensation: The San Francisco Foundation offers a very competitive total compensation package including base compensation in alignment with our organizational budget size and rich medical and fringe benefits offerings. This position pays $45.71 per pay hour. You may read more about our compensation philosophy and benefits on the career page.
Remote Work Policy: The Foundation has adopted a long-term hybrid in-person and remote work policy. Dedicated to its employee health and safety, The Foundation will continue to make decisions in accordance with San Francisco County and California mandates. Employees must reside or plan to relocate to the Bay Area if hired.
Requesting Accommodations: The Foundation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Foundation will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@sff.org.
The San Francisco Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.
Program Associate Job Roles in California
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Search Program Associate Jobs in CaliforniaProgram Associate Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for program associates in California?
Nonprofits, research institutions, and technology companies are among the most active sponsors for program associate roles in California. Organizations such as RAND Corporation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Salesforce, and major UC system campuses have histories of sponsoring work visas for program and policy staff. Government contractors and international NGOs with California offices also sponsor program associates, particularly for roles requiring specialized research or program management expertise.
Which visa types are most common for program associate roles in California?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa for program associates in California when the role requires a specific bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as public policy, social work, international relations, or a technical discipline. Some research-focused positions at universities qualify under J-1 visa exchange visitor status. Candidates with extraordinary achievement in their field may also be considered for O-1 visa classification, though this is less common for early-career program associate positions.
Which cities in California have the most program associate sponsorship jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento concentrate the majority of program associate sponsorship opportunities in California. Los Angeles is home to large foundations, entertainment-sector social impact teams, and public health organizations. San Francisco and the broader Bay Area host technology company social responsibility programs and policy-focused nonprofits. Sacramento, as the state capital, has a concentration of government-adjacent nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and policy research firms that hire program associates.
How to find program associate visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search for program associate roles in California without manually screening each posting. You can narrow results to California-based employers who have indicated sponsorship willingness for program associate positions across nonprofit, technology, research, and public sector organizations. Reviewing the active listings on Migrate Mate regularly is the most direct way to track new openings as they appear.
Are there state-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for program associates in California?
California employers must meet Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements when sponsoring H-1B workers, and prevailing wages in metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles are typically higher than national averages for comparable program associate roles. California's large nonprofit sector and strong university research infrastructure create more sponsorship-eligible positions than most other states. The UC and CSU systems also provide institutional familiarity with immigration processes, which can make sponsorship more accessible at university-affiliated program offices.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored program associate jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.