Director of Grants & Arts Equity

Fairness Project; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Arts Alliance invites applications for a Director of Grants to lead the Grants Division and oversee the distribution of roughly $15M in public arts funding annually, under contract with the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of the Arts. The role demands strategic leadership, a focus on equity, and proven ability to build trust with grantees, partners, and civic leaders.

The Director will manage a team, design fair processes, ensure timely payments and reporting, and drive systems

Qualifications

• Five+ years designing and improving operational grant processes.
• Experience in arts philanthropy or cultural nonprofit sectors.
• Strong understanding of equity-driven funding practices and systems thinking.
• Ability to lead teams and manage complex workflows.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain productive, trusted relationships with grantees, partners, and civic leaders.
• Represent HAA in grantee events and community engagements.
• Develop and communicate policies for the grantmaking process.
• Lead the Grants function with vision, collaboration, and ownership.
• Ensure timeliness and fairness in grants administration and payments.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Equity advocacy

Communication

Job description

Houston Arts Alliance invites applications for a Director of Grants to lead the Grants Division and oversee the distribution of roughly $15M in public arts funding annually, under contract with the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of the Arts. The role demands strategic leadership, a focus on equity, and proven ability to build trust with grantees, partners, and civic leaders.

The Director will manage a team, design fair processes, ensure timely payments and reporting, and drive systems