Foundation Program Manager

Commerce Bancshares, Inc; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Kansas City is seeking a Foundation Program Manager to manage relationships with nonprofits, conduct due diligence on grant proposals, and provide funding recommendations. This role requires strong analytical and communication skills, with a focus on community impact and collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and significant experience in the nonprofit sector.

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid vacation

Paid personal time

Career development

Education assistance

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in a related field required.
• Ability to independently lead a project and communicate with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the relationship manager for a portfolio of nonprofits.
• Conduct due diligence of potential grantees and analyze nonprofit financials.
• Write concise funding recommendations for foundation committees.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Relationship-building

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

About Working at Commerce

Building a career here is more than just steps on a ladder. It’s about helping people find financial safety and success, helping businesses thrive, and making sure people and their money are taken care of. And our commitment doesn’t stop there. Our culture is about our people, the ones in our communities and the ones that work with us.

Here, you’ll find opportunities to grow and learn, to connect with others, and build relationships with the people around you. You’ll have the space and resources to grow into the best version of yourself. Because our number one investment is you.

Creating an award-winning culture doesn't come easy. And after 160 years, we know Commerce Bank is only at its best when our people are. If this sounds interesting to you, keep reading and let’s talk.

Compensation Range

Annual Salary: $80,000.00 - $94,500.00 (Amount based on relevant experience, skills, and competencies.)

Commerce Bank serves as corporate trustee for several Kansas City-based foundations, including the William T. Kemper Foundation, the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, and the Oppenstein Brothers Foundation. The Charitable Trusts & Foundations (CT&F) office administers the grantmaking for these and a few other funds that make grants primarily in the Kansas City metro area. CT&F supports decision making for several contributions committees that direct or inform the giving for certain foundations.

• The William T. Kemper Foundation makes a positive and enduring impact on the quality of life in the community by thoughtfully supporting projects and organizations that catalyze new capabilities and approaches or support meaningful growth of proven models. The Foundation provides project-based and capacity building grants primarily to educational, civic, and arts organizations.

• The Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts supports organizations that generate programming of high artistic quality. This includes performing arts agencies, museums, and organizations that build arts access and support individuals creating art.

• The Oppenstein Brothers Foundation focuses on serving low-income populations via social welfare, education, health services, civic and community, and access to the arts.

About This Job

The main purpose of this job is to make grant recommendations that align with each foundation’s strategy (The William T. Kemper Foundation, The Richard J. Stern Foundation, and The Oppenstein Brothers Foundation).

Essential Functions

• Serve as the relationship manager for a portfolio of nonprofits. This includes understanding the needs of each nonprofit and how those align with the funding priorities of each foundation or helping identify alternative resources to address those needs; reviewing the progress of grants, projects, and programs; and collaborating even when a project is off track.

• Conduct due diligence of potential grantees, including synthesizing complex information quickly to assess grant proposals, analyze nonprofit financials (audits, 990s and budgets), and incorporate site visits and conversations with other relevant stakeholders. Be equipped to address questions about a nonprofit’s outcomes, financial sustainability, business model, and its role in the broader local ecosystem.

• Write concise, well-reasoned funding recommendations for foundation committees. Present verbal summaries and be prepared to address deep questions on the proposal and related issues.

• Build collaborative and trusting relationships with nonprofits, foundation committee members, and other community members. Engage professionally and confidently with nonprofit executives, board members, programmatic and fundraising staff. Clearly and thoughtfully communicate foundation reasoning, including decisions to award or decline funding.

• Represent the Foundations in philanthropic, civic, and nonprofit forums

• Develop expertise around issues within assigned portfolio, cultivate networks relevant to those areas, and succinctly keep other stakeholders abreast of important developments

• Proactively identify solutions or next steps to help address community challenges identified by the foundations’ Contributions Committees. Leverage expertise to ensure that proposed programs and projects can be effectively executed by nonprofit partners.

• Complete grant monitoring and reporting, including the review of progress reports, maintenance of regular communication with grantees, and ongoing site visits

• Embrace a continuous improvement mindset by identifying ways to refine processes and collaborating with teammates

• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• A deep curiosity and commitment to continuous learning. Analytical mindset, always seeking to understand how organizations work—what drives their impact, what gaps exist, and where potential for growth lies. Ability to quickly develop a comprehensive understanding of a nonprofit organization and provide insights on how to optimize their operations and our funding for maximum efficiency and impact.

• Comfort with understanding and interpreting nonprofit financials (audits, 990s and budgets).

• Confidence to make tough but necessary decisions. Exemplify the empathy and tact to effectively communicate those decisions.

• Ability to independently lead a project, source resources and clearly communicate with stakeholders and incorporate their direction. Can distill complex challenges and ideas into actionable steps.

• Strong relationship-building skills with a diverse range of partners of varying seniority. You lead with understanding and integrity and favor a collaborative focus on results over getting personal credit.

• Knowledge of Kansas City’s civic, philanthropic, and nonprofit landscape. Familiarity with Kansas City neighborhoods and populations that nonprofits frequently work with. An interest in performing and/or visual arts is preferred.

• Flexibility to represent varying philanthropic strategies and committee objectives.

• Excellent communication skills, including well-honed verbal and writing abilities (in both formal and spontaneous settings), strong research and synthesis skills, and compelling presentation capabilities.

• Collaborative team player with great interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license and meet Commerce Bank’s driving record criteria; ongoing employment may be contingent upon meeting all driving requirements

• Motivated and organized self-starter with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities

• Inquisitive, agile, and strong team player with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to remain adaptable and resilient to all situations with an optimistic outlook and cast a positive shadow that is aligned with our culture and Core Values

• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required

• 5+ years experience in a related field required

• 2+ years of direct experience with business functions of an organization (resource allocation, budgeting, governance, or people dynamics) preferred

For this position, Commerce Bank will review your motor vehicle driving record. If you express interest in and are considered for this position, you’ll be asked to authorize our review of that record.

***For individuals applying, assigned and/or hired to work in areas with pay transparency requirements, Commerce is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for some roles. This compensation range is for the Foundation Program Manager and contemplates a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to location, skill sets, education, relevant experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable differentials (geographic, bilingual, or shift) that could be associated with the position or where it is filled. At Commerce, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each situation. A reasonable estimate of the current base pay is $80,000 to $ 94,500 annually.

The candidate selected for this position may be eligible for the following employment benefits: employer sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), life insurance, paid vacation, and paid personal time. In addition, we offer career development, education assistance, and voluntary supplemental benefits. Click here to learn more.

Location: 1000 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Time Type:

Full time