Join the CEP Team
Careers at CEP
The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) seeks to influence foundations and major donors to be more effective.
Core Values of Employment
We are looking for people who believe in the potential of data and feedback to improve the effectiveness of individual and institutional donors as well as, through our YouthTruth initiative, school systems.
Our Commitment
Our diverse and talented staff work hard and are committed to excellence in pursuit of impact. We prize our distinctive culture, which puts people first, values diversity, authentic and open communication, and mission-focus, and emphasizes a supportive, caring, and collegial environment.
CEP’s Culture
In 2016, a cross-organizational task force at CEP, with input from full staff, crafted a working document articulating CEP’s culture. This document represents what we believe to be CEP’s culture today and the culture we intend to foster going forward.
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People
Our people are our greatest asset. We are a group of high performers doing high-quality, meaningful work with a commitment to excellence.
- We hold ourselves to high standards; accountable to ourselves and to our teams
- We take initiative and solve problems, independently and together
- We set up our operations and policies so that we can consistently do our best work
- We take responsibility for our individual learning and growth, and have access to (financial and non-financial) resources and support so we can learn and grow, whether at CEP or in moving on to other opportunities
Authentic and Open Communication
We thoughtfully and respectfully say what we mean and we mean what we say.
- We deliver candid, open, and honest communication, especially in moments of change
- We seek to be transparent and as inclusive as possible in our decision-making process, and we are transparent about when we can (and can’t) be transparent
- We believe that giving in-person feedback with good intentions is how we learn and improve
Diversity
We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
- We believe that diversity of thoughts, experiences, backgrounds, personalities, and identities helps us think bigger and better, and we practice respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own
Voice
All of us have an important and valued voice, and we believe that great ideas come from across the entire organization.
- Our ideas might not “win” but our culture empowers us to share our opinions and perspectives, including when they are dissenting or unpopular
- We are thoughtful, attentive listeners
Focused on Our Mission
We have a passionate commitment to the missions of CEP and YouthTruth.
- We believe in our missions and we walk our own talk of effectiveness and improvement
Big Goals and Clear Roles
Stemming from our passion about our mission, and our commitment to excellence and high-quality work, we set ambitious, lofty — and achievable — goals for ourselves and our teams and set ourselves up for success.
- We have clarity about our roles and how they inform our goals and impact, across teams and across the organization
- We have appropriate decision-making authority over our work
Learning to Improve
In our effort to be impactful and effective, we are always learning, changing, and improving. That means we take calculated risks, make mistakes along the way, and take the time to learn from them.
- How we can get better is an ongoing conversation across all levels and functions of the organization
- We are curious and engaged; we ask lots of questions
- We are committed to innovation, creativity, and professional development
- Sharing and discussing different points of view enriches us and makes us smarter
Hard Work, Not Overwork
We value hard work and productivity just as much as we value a flexible workplace that allows us all to have a life.
- We believe that busy doesn’t mean better, and we don’t glorify grueling hours
- We approach tasks and responsibilities with rigor to produce impactful and quality work
Supportive, Caring, and Collegial Environment
We have a culture of genuine care, concern and mutual respect in a positive environment that builds honesty and trust; one in which we share successes and responsibilities.
- We have a culture of teamwork and personal accountability
- We help each other, pitch in, and lend a hand and a listening ear when needed (whether personal or professional)
- We cooperate and collaborate, independently and in teams
- We celebrate our contributions and successes
Fun!
We’re a group of friendly folks that enjoy each other’s company.
- We value coming together informally for lunches, snacking, games and events
Join Our Team
We are looking for the brightest minds and collaborative thinkers.
Coordinator, Programming and External Relations
Location: Cambridge, MA
Data Systems Engineer
Location: Cambridge, MA
Analyst, YouthTruth
Location: San Francisco, CA
Director of Technology
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan
We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, where all feel welcomed to be authentic and contribute fully.
Demographics
As part of our commitment to openness and transparency, CEP shares data about the demographics of our staff and board.
CEP News
Vox: Are we actually in the middle of a generosity crisis?
Did you donate to charity in the past, but no longer do so? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. For the second year in a row, the philanthropy research foundation Giving USA reported that fewer Americans are donating to nonprofits than they...
New York Times: Effective Altruism Is Flawed. But What’s the Alternative?
You don’t hear so much about effective altruism now that one of its most famous exponents, Sam Bankman-Fried, was found guilty of stealing $8 billion from customers of his cryptocurrency exchange. (This spring, at age 32, he was sentenced to 25 years in...
Alliance Magazine: Most grantmakers don’t seem to know if they are effective
Is your foundation any good? I don’t mean: is it big, or does it give away a lot, or does it run an efficient process, or do the grantees achieve much. Rather, I mean: are you any good at being a foundation? Are you effective? Are you good at finding work that will...