Leadership role
Chief Program Officer
Directs the programs and services through which a nonprofit carries out its mission.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO or COO. Authority covers all mission programs and their staff, often across several sites.
Core responsibilities
- Sets program strategy and service models
- Supervises program directors and managers
- Manages program budgets and government or foundation grant deliverables
- Leads outcome measurement and reporting to funders
- Keeps programs in line with licensing, accreditation or contract standards
- Works with development staff on grant proposals
How it differs
The VP of Programs and Director of Programs lead programs at a lower level. The COO usually oversees programs plus support functions, while the Chief Program Officer covers programs only.
By organization size
In mid-sized organizations the role may run programs directly. In large multi-service agencies it leads a layer of vice presidents or regional directors.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Chief Program Officer; Chief Programs Officer; Chief Programming Officer; Chief Prog Officer; Chief Program Office; Chief Prog.