Reporting to the Chief of Programs, the Director of Grants Management within the Grantmaking and Capacity
Building (GCB) Department will advance the Foundation’s overall strategies and goals through effective grants management across all of the foundation’s grantmaking programs, initiatives, and donor-advised funds. The Director of Grants Management will have the opportunity to: 1) review and refine Foundation’s grants management processes for all of Ms. Foundation’s grantmaking cycles, practices, and systems; 2) collaboratively advise the GCB team on grantmaking strategies and grants management 3) oversee the integration of our grantmaking systems, process, and functions with Ms. Foundation’s Finance and Operations department so that the foundation is leveraging technology and people’s skillsets for streamlining day-to-day operations and 4.) provide thought partnership to the Executive Team on piloting systems of knowledge management, data analysis, and metrics for GCB and Advancement department to support powerful storytelling and impact narratives backed by data.
We are seeking a director with a stellar record of equity-centered, trust-based, values-driven grantmaking practice, people-centered collaboration, and change management experience. The ideal candidate will be passionate about systems and processes improvement, knowledge and learning, data management, and documentation. The Director of Grants Management will manage a Grants Administrator and maintain a strong working relationship with the entire GCB team. This position will also serve as a connector between various departments including: the Office of the President; Finance and Operations; and Advancement (Communications and Development). The Director of Grants Management will collaborate across the Foundation to share knowledge and learning, conduct training and capacity building on grant management systems and processes, and identify and implement improvements to fully support the Foundation’s dynamic grantmaking, narrative change, and philanthropic advocacy work.
Ms. Foundation funds intersectional, feminist, movement building and organizing work led by and for women, girls and nonbinary people of color. We continually strive to improve our work through collaborative learning and reflection. Ms. Foundation is strongly grantee-centered and relationship-driven and is interested in finding ways to further adopt trust-based and care-based philanthropic practices. In fiscal year 2024, Ms. Foundation awarded $6.5M to over 180 grants across programs. It is anticipated that the volume and award amount will be similar in FY25.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
The Director of Grants Management will lead the implementation of systems, processes, and procedures aimed at cultivating trust and partnerships, enhancing efficiency, and elevating the overall effectiveness of our Grants Management Team to support our overall grantmaking operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Oversee, enhance, and streamline the end-to-end process and workflow of grants, from sourcing to the online application process, due diligence review and compliance, approval, grant agreement generation, payment, reporting, and grant closure.
- Oversee the management and integrity of Blackbaud Grantmaking, the Foundation’s grants management system and various modules, such as the Reviewer Portal, Budget Tracking Module, and Blueprint; and stay informed about new developments and capabilities related to Blackbaud Grantmaking.
- Collaborate closely with the Grants Administrator and Finance & Operations staff to optimize grant payment processes through the integration of systems including Blackbaud Grantmaking and Financial Edge NXT, and other integration opportunities to proactively enhance operational efficiency.
- Lead on projects aimed at improving existing grantmaking systems, including the creation of a comprehensive Grants Management policies and procedures guide, and overseeing the establishment and adherence to the Foundation’s grantmaking calendar and internal timelines.
- Participate actively in grantmaking affinity groups and grants management networks such as Peak Grantmaking; contribute Ms. Foundation’s grants data to affinity group databases and stay abreast on the latest developments in grant management best practices and technologies, identifying opportunities to build innovative, sustainable tools, and services that proactively benefit the Foundation.
- Play a key role in designing and conducting staff onboarding and ongoing training related to grantmaking, policies and procedures, due diligence, compliance, and the grants management database.
- Establish and maintain a strong working relationship with the Grants Administrator and Program Associates to foster seamless collaboration on grantmaking cycles.
- Mentor, guide, and purposefully develop the Grants Administrator professionally, whose work is effectively aligned and integrated for successful attainment of Foundation-wide and GCB goals.
- Partner with the Grants Administrator to provide guidance and support to Ms. Foundation’s GCB staff on grantmaking issues and challenges that may be presented by a grantee or applicant, such as fiscal sponsorship, organization status, legal requirements, and other inquiries. Work with other Ms. Foundation departments and/or external legal counsel on grantmaking issues, as necessary.
Across the Foundation/Inter-departmentally:
- Be the organization’s expert on data reporting and analysis out of Blackbaud Grantmaking; support Grants Administrator on analytics best practices; provide functional leadership in the design of systems for collecting, classifying, and storing grants data and analysis while developing standards and tools to ensure data accuracy and usage.
- Monitor operations and process performance for the Foundation’s Grants Management by collecting and assessing qualitative and quantitative metrics; build feedback mechanisms to ensure early detection of issues and adjust grants management service, training, and communications.
- Partner with colleagues within GCB and across the Foundation departments including Advancement, Office of the President, and Finance and Operations to create and maintain a robust set of data analytics and metrics that provides timely and relevant data to stakeholders across the Foundation and facilitates crossfunctional and cross discipline knowledge, learning, storytelling and narrative impact opportunities.
- Actively contribute to Ms. Foundation’s ongoing strategic learning and knowledge building, particularly supporting how the foundation tells the story of its work and influence in grantmaking, movement building, and philanthropic advocacy.
QUALIFICATIONS
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Technical and Functional Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and/or minimum of 8+ years of grants management experience with extensive understanding of grants processes and related financial and compliance issues.
- Strong knowledge and experience with Blackbaud Grantmaking, or other grants management system highly preferred, with a record for improving and enhancing existing technologies and developing innovative solutions.
- Expertise in social justice philanthropy and intermediary foundations similar in scope and reach to the Ms. Foundation.
- At least 5 years of staff management experience, including a proven record in staff development.
- Familiarity with tax rules governing public foundations and public charities; 501(c)(4) compliance welcomed, but not required.
- Strong financial acumen, particularly around organizational and project budgets and financial sustainability of grant-seeking organizations.
Skills and Competencies
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) and administrator-level database skills; comfort with utilizing technology and an ability to learn new applications quickly.
- Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and organizational skills. Proven project management skills, and proficient at meeting deadlines.
- Strong creative and technical troubleshooting skills and the ability to anticipate team needs with excellent attention to details and follow-through.
- Experience leading during times of organizational transitions, demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate during periods of change.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically, both written and orally, and bridge understanding, across a range of internal and external constituents.
- Ability to both work collaboratively and independently, manage multiple projects, while being a committed team player.
Institutional and Values Alignment
- Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision toward racial and gender justice, supporting grassroots leaders and uplifting the leadership of women, girls and nonbinary people of color.
- Demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s values of integrity, trust and respect, interconnectedness, and social justice – throughout internal and external communications and relationships.
- Ability to build strong and collegial working relationships with colleagues, grantees, donors, potential funders, and institutional partners.
- A strong sense of teamwork, humor, flexibility, curiosity, and willingness to learn from mistakes.
- Able to exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality with critical and sensitive information.