We're Hiring!

At the Oishei Foundation, we believe that community power-building is systems change. That belief shapes how we partner, how we invest, and how we show up alongside communities, starting on the East Side of Buffalo.

Over the past year, we’ve been reimagining our approach to community impact, creating a new Community Impact department at the Foundation. This team is responsible for building relationships, for strengthening how we partner with community-based organizations and leaders, and for directing resources into the community in a way that reflects the realities, wisdom, and aspirations of residents.  As this work continues to take shape, we have expanded the team by creating new roles that align directly with our strategic framework—seven interconnected focus areas that guide our investments, partnerships, and long-term vision for equitable systems change.

We’re excited to announce two new opportunities to join our Community Impact team. While each role focuses on different aspects of the work, they are united by a shared commitment to trust, partnership, and lasting change.

Community Impact Program Director, Organizational Power

This senior-level role leads our work in the Organizational Power focus area, supporting nonprofit and grassroots organizations as they strengthen their infrastructure, increase their influence, and build power that is sustainable and rooted in community. The ideal candidate is a seasoned systems thinker and strategist who understands how leadership development, narrative change, fundraising, and network-building all contribute to durable, equitable change.

This is a great fit for someone who’s worked across community development, nonprofit growth, philanthropy, or social justice—and is ready to bring that experience into a collaborative, values-driven team focused on shifting systems.

Read the candidate profile. 

Community Impact Program Director, Joy, Restoration, & Resilience / Individual Power

This mid-career leadership role stewards two of our most relational focus areas: Joy, Restoration, & Resilience and Individual Power. It centers community well-being, healing, creativity, and lived experience, and prioritizes investments that restore and uplift individual and collective capacity. The person in this role will be deeply engaged with grassroots leaders and trusted organizations on Buffalo’s East Side.

We’re looking for someone who knows the community well, values trust-based relationships, and is passionate about shifting power to those most proximate to the issues.

Read the candidate profile. 

Our Search Process

To guide a thoughtful, inclusive and mission-aligned process, the Foundation has engaged Perrin Associates, a respected executive search firm with deep experience supporting philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Perrin Associates brings an approach rooted in equity and relationship-building, and a strong understanding of leadership in mission-driven environments. 

Over the coming months, Perrin Associates will lead a comprehensive search that prioritizes transparency, community voice, and equitable evaluation. The process will include:

• Application submission (details below) through perrinassociatesrecruitment@gmail.com
• Preliminary screenings with Perrin Associates & the Oishei Foundation team
• First-round interviews with Perrin Associates & the Oishei Foundation team 
• Second-round interviews with the Oishei Foundation Community Impact Team and leadership
• Final selection

Finalists will participate in in-depth discussions focused on leadership, collaboration, and role-specific scenarios. 

Additional details, timelines, and candidate expectations will be shared as the process moves forward. 

Join Our Team

The Foundation welcomes applicants who are passionate about advancing racial equity, strengthening philanthropic partnerships, and building a more just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region. Recognizing that no candidate will possess every listed qualification, the Foundation values lived experience as an essential element of strong leadership and encourages individuals who align with the mission to apply. 

To apply, submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and sharing what the East Side means to you to perrinassociatesrecruitment@gmail.com.  Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. 

Applications will be accepted until January 30, 2026.