Manager, Foundation Relations & Grants

PEN America; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision health-ins

Paid time off

10 paid holidays

Pre-tax commuter benefits

403b retirement plan

Job summary

PEN America seeks a detail-oriented manager of Foundation Relations and Grants to join our Development team in New York City. You will own a fast-moving portfolio of grants, oversee record-keeping, template drafting, funder research, and project management, and support the director and senior staff in advancing PEN America’s programs.

This full-time role requires strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to work across internal and external partners under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience.
• Minimum three years of foundations and grants experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong editing skills.
• Exceptional organizational and process management abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative mindset.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends for PEN America events when needed.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of grants across the full lifecycle: identify prospects, outreach, meetings, LOIs/proposals, and post‑award obligations.
• Research funders, align priorities with PEN America programs, and contribute ideas for funding pitches.
• Collaborate with Finance and program teams to develop budgets and ensure timely financial reporting to donors.
• Track grant payments and manage related administrative tasks.
• Support the director with portfolio management, data integrity in Raiser's Edge, calendars, and tool development.
• Provide coverage for the director and senior manager, and assist the Development department as needed.

Skills

Grant writing

Project management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Research and due diligence

Evenings/weekends flexibility

U.S. work authorization

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks a detail-oriented, motivated and creative manager of Foundation Relations and Grants to join our dynamic and close-knit Development team. The team manages relationships with more than 50 foundations and raises/manages over $10 million in revenue to support PEN America’s programs. The manager will be integral to supporting the stewardship and growth of this portfolio. The role will have the opportunity to learn the full spectrum of foundation relations while supporting timely efforts in support of literature and democracy, at home and abroad. This is a full-time, union-eligible position based at PEN America’s New York City headquarters and reports to the director of Foundation Relations and Grants.

The manager will be responsible for owning a fast-moving portfolio of grants, with tasks ranging from record-keeping, template preparation, writing, funder research, and project management. Additionally, they will support the day-to-day operations of the foundation relations and grants team and provide as-needed assistance to the director and senior manager, as well as the larger Development department. The successful candidate understands tight deadlines and is capable of working across a range of internal and external partners.

All positions are subject to a five-month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to

report to the office at least three days per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead a portfolio of grants which includes, but is not limited to:
  • Managing all stages of the grant lifecycle, including identifying prospects; preparing outreach; securing and preparing for meetings; drafting and writing letters of inquiry and proposals; and managing the grant upon award including all attendant operational work
  • Research including reviewing existing and prospective funders, identifying their priorities and previous grantmaking, and making connections to PEN America’s program priorities, while contributing ideas for potential funding pitches
  • Partnering with the Finance department and relevant program teams to develop proposal budgets and ensure timely, complete financial reporting to donors
  • Tracking payments of grants and awards, including execution of payment requests
• Support the director in a range of tasks, including portfolio support, maintaining integrity of grants data in Raiser’s Edge, database and measuring progress, maintaining calendars, and developing grants management tools informed by that data
• Other responsibilities as defined by the Director, including as‑needed portfolio and Development department support

All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training, or other initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least three years of foundations and grants experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience editing and copy-editing
• Superb organizational and process management skills with excellent attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and ability to think creatively and collaboratively
• Formidable work ethic and high energy level, with ability to multitask effectively
• Exemplary team player with professional demeanor and ability to work independently
• Willing to work some nights and weekends to support PEN America events when agreed upon in advance with supervisor
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America promotes open and respectful dialogue across difference, and we work to allow a diversity of perspectives to flourish.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government

Salary and Benefits: PEN America offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The salary range for this position is $75-85k, commensurate with experience. Candidates whose expectations are outside this range are welcome to apply, as PEN America is open to considering talented individuals at varying stages of their careers. PEN America's benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision health insurance, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax commuter benefits and a 403b retirement plan.

PEN America is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and is committed to having a workforce that reflects the population that it serves at all levels within the organization.

No phone calls, please.

ABOUT PEN AMERICA:

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.