Community Impact Strategist: Grants & Partnerships

Burns & McDonnell; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell Foundation is seeking a Community Relations Strategist to manage grant-giving and volunteer programs, evaluate requests, and build partnerships that turn company know-how into community impact.

You will work cross-functionally with HR, Marketing and regional offices, lead end-to-end programs, report on outcomes, and continuously improve processes to make giving easier for team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field.
• 4 years of relevant experience in corporate philanthropy, community relations, nonprofit programs, grant-making, or volunteer program management.
• Strong project management with ability to run multiple programs and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to groups and leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365; comfortable learning new systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day administration of the Foundation's grant-giving and volunteer programs, including intake, tracking, reporting, and team member communications.
• Review and evaluate internal and external requests for philanthropic support against the Foundation's strategic priorities and corporate guidelines.
• Identify and develop partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations that align with Foundation priorities, prioritizing opportunities for shared, measurable impact.
• Design and coordinate team member engagement opportunities that draw on employees' skills and interests, and track participation to inform future programming.
• Serve as an internal ambassador for Foundation programs: answer questions, present to teams and leadership, and drive awareness of giving and volunteer offerings.
• Track program data and prepare regular reporting on grants awarded, volunteer hours, participation rates, and partnership outcomes.
• Continuously improve program processes, systems, and tools, recommending changes that make giving and volunteering easier for team members.
• Partner with HR, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Communications, and regional offices to align messaging and amplify Foundation initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all company policies and standards.

Skills

Grant management

Volunteer programs

Partnership development

Data reporting

Project management

Public speaking

Communication

Microsoft 365

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Marketing/Public Administration/Nonprofit Management or related field

4 years of relevant experience

Tools

Office 365

Job description

Description

About the Role

The Burns & McDonnell Foundation invests in the communities where our team members live and work, with a focus on inspiring young people to think big about their futures. The Community Relations Strategist helps shape and deliver that work, managing our grant-giving and volunteer programs, evaluating philanthropic requests, and building partnerships that turn Burns & McDonnell know-how into community impact.

This role suits someone who is equally comfortable stewarding a program end to end and stepping back to ask how it could work better.

What You'll Do

• Manage the day-to-day administration of the Foundation's grant-giving and volunteer programs, including intake, tracking, reporting, and team member communications.

• Review and evaluate internal and external requests for philanthropic support against the Foundation's strategic priorities and corporate guidelines.

• Identify and develop partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations that align with Foundation priorities, prioritizing opportunities for shared, measurable impact.

• Design and coordinate team member engagement opportunities that draw on employees' skills and interests, and track participation to inform future programming.

• Serve as an internal ambassador for Foundation programs: answer questions, present to teams and leadership, and drive awareness of giving and volunteer offerings.

• Track program data and prepare regular reporting on grants awarded, volunteer hours, participation rates, and partnership outcomes.

• Continuously improve program processes, systems, and tools, recommending changes that make giving and volunteering easier for team members.

• Partner with HR, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Communications, and regional offices to align messaging and amplify Foundation initiatives.

• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all company policies and standards.

Qualifications

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field, and 4 years of relevant experience.

• Experience in corporate philanthropy, community relations, nonprofit programs, grant-making, or volunteer program management.

• Demonstrated project management skills: ability to run multiple programs and deadlines at once with attention to detail.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to groups and leadership.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and comfort learning new systems.

Preferred

• Experience with grant or volunteer management platforms.

• Experience with data tracking and reporting on program outcomes.

• Familiarity with youth education, STEM outreach, or workforce development programs.

• Event planning experience.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job Marketing/Communications

Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: No

Req ID: 265035

Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-MJ #COR N/A