Grants Program Manager (MP)

EPIP; Twin Cities (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a passionate organization dedicated to social justice and women's empowerment. This role offers the chance to lead the Grants program, fostering relationships with grantees and driving impactful change in communities. You'll manage the application process, support grantees through capacity building, and represent the organization at public events. Ideal for those with a strong background in nonprofit management and a commitment to social equity. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that uplift marginalized voices and promote sustainable development. If you're ready to make a difference, this role is for you.

Benefits

Health benefits

Vacation benefits

Simple IRA with 3% match

Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit management and program roles is essential.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the strategic direction and evaluation of the Grants program.
• Oversee application processes and maintain grantee relationships.
• Develop communications and outreach strategies for the program.

Skills

Nonprofit management

Grant writing

Community outreach

Public speaking

Database management

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Calendar

DonorPerfect

Constant Contact

InDesign

WordPress

Job description

Mary's Pence is inspired by social justice and feminist values. Believing we are each called to make the world a better place, we support women in the Americas through both social and economic development. Learn more about Mary’s Pence at www.maryspence.org, and see our annual report at https://www.maryspence.org/about/financials/.

About Mary’s Pence

Mary's Pence provides funding to women’s organizations working on social justice issues in North America and Central America. We support cis women, trans women, and non-binary people working on long-term systemic change through social and economic development. Our commitment to justice motivates our work. Over 85% of our funding comes from individual donors across the country.

You’ll love Mary’s Pence if you -

• Care about improving the lives of cis women, trans women, and non-binary people and their communities
• Understand that the world is intersectional, and racism is prevalent
• Know social justice means changing cultures and systems for long-term systemic change
• Want to work with others to take action to improve women’s lives!

Our annual budget is approximately $500,000; the majority of our funding comes from individual donors from across the country. We were recently honored to receive the following recognitions:

• 2017 Winner of the Responsive Philanthropy Award / Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
• 2019 Winner of the Grant Maker of the Year Award / Grant Professionals Association

Mary’s Pence has a staff of 7 – 4 locally and 3 in Central America / Mexico. This position works closely with the Executive Director, the Development and Communications Manager, and the Grants Committee, composed of staff, board members, and volunteers.

The Mary’s Pence Grants Program

Mary’s Pence has given project grants to small grassroots organizations for the entirety of our 30 years. The current geographic focus of the Mary’s Pence Grants program is the United States and Canada, and our work in Central America and Mexico happens through our ESPERA community-lending program.

The Mary’s Pence Grants program funds projects that are:

• Women led - improving the lives of cis women, trans women, non-binary people and their communities
• Community centered – emerging from a need identified within the community.
• Focused on social justice values – the values of human dignity and the common good.
• Working for long-term sustainable social change - addressing underlying causes of injustice.

Our grants are $5000 and we work with about 20 grantees each year; organizations can receive up to 3 grants over time. Grantees have budgets under $200,000. We support each grantee by providing capacity building, networking, and collaboration opportunities.

Role and Responsibilities

This role will be responsible for the strategic direction, growth, evaluation, and management of the Mary’s Pence Grants program. It will also manage the twice-yearly application and selection process, relationship with grantees, and public/community relations for this program.

This position will manage the following:

• Records and reporting for the program, including providing reports and analysis of the Mary’s Pence Grants program to board and staff.
• Application and selection process
  • Outreach to prospective grantees, including hosting teleconferences for prospective applicants.
  • Receive and prescreen applications for eligibility and prepare documents for the Grants Committee. Seek and request additional information when appropriate.
  • Facilitate the selection process with the committee.
  • Manage communication process to grants recipients and declined applications.
• Grantee relationships and capacity building.
  • Serve as grantees' main point of contact.
  • Connect with all grantees to understand their project, goals, and their needs. Analyze themes and needs across and propose appropriate support.
    • Make connections between grantees when useful
    • Connect grantees with capacity building information and resources from the broader Mary’s Pence community.
    • Provide technical assistance when requested by grantees.
  • Develop and implement grantee convenings, both through teleconference calls and face-to-face events.
  • Identify ways to create visibility for our grantees including outreach to donors, visibility through local events with board and donors, and participation in conferences including leading workshops highlighting their work.
• Communications related to the Grants program
  • Writing articles and supplying content to our communication avenues – website, eNews, newsletters, and social media. Involve volunteers and interns in communications.
  • Represent Mary’s Pence at public events.
• Create and maintain relationships with the broader foundation and philanthropy community
  • Partner with the Executive Director in outreach to the broader foundation community interested in women and social justice, including potential partners, donors, and collaborators.
  • Keep up to date on best practices and trends in the philanthropy community.

The ideal candidate will bring a passion for social justice and women’s issues, and for developing relationships and supporting capacity building within small nonprofits. Experience in nonprofit management including experience in small nonprofit settings is very useful.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in a nonprofit management or program role.
  • Experience or exposure to multiple aspects of managing small nonprofits (program, fundraising, administration, board membership, partnership cultivation).
  • Ability to connect with and support grantees, including assessing their needs, identifying resources and opportunities, and providing coaching.
• Strong written, face-to-face interaction, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to give difficult feedback respectfully.
• Knowledge of the world of philanthropy and the grant-making sector.
• Demonstrated experience of inclusion of diverse and marginalized voices.
• Computers and technology
  • Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Calendar.
  • Experience with database management tools (Grants files are in DonorPerfect).
  • Experience with Constant Contact (group email platform), InDesign, and WordPress is helpful.
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree or commensurate life experience.

Values and Work Style

• Passion for social justice, particularly women’s issues in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage complex projects. Organized and diligent about record-keeping and administration while setting and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with the executive director, staff, and board members.
• Loves to build relationships and make connections with people, organizations, and resources.
• Creative and self-motivated, enjoys bringing new ideas to the organization.
• Flexible working style, willing to give and take, willing to flex to the tasks needed. Comfortable in a small “everyone pitches in” office environment.
• Comfortable with diversity – age, political views, faiths, etc.
• Ability to handle confidential information with appropriate discretion.

Mary’s Pence’s commitment to diversity

We are committed to inclusion and equity and strive to ensure that our board reflects the diversity of the communities we partner with in terms of color, income, physical ability, geography, age, and gender identity. We are committed to removing barriers that are faced by equity-seeking groups.

Compensation and Benefits

Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend hours required, some travel helpful.

Salary: Based on experience. Simple IRA with a 3% match. Health and vacation benefits. Deadline: until filled

Location: 275 East 4th Street, #642, St. Paul, MN 55101

The office is located in Lowertown St. Paul, directly off the Green Line of the light rail. Activities/attractions in Lowertown include the Art Crawl, Music in Mears Park, many restaurants and music venues, the Farmer’s Market, and the Saint’s baseball stadium.

To Apply:

Send resume and cover letter to [e-mail]; please indicate where you saw the posting.