Surdna Foundation

The Surdna Foundation, a New York City-based national family foundation that was founded by John E. Andrus in 1917, seeks a Grants Manager to support its office in midtown Manhattan. With assets totaling more than $800 million and an annual grantmaking budget in excess of $38 million, Surdna focuses in three grantmaking areas: Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies, and Thriving Cultures. The Foundation aims to foster just and sustainable communities in the United States and to advance national action on sustainability. The work environment at Surdna is team-oriented, collegial, and one in which diversity is valued.

Office of Grants Management
The Office of Grants Management (OGM) oversees the policies and procedures of grantmaking for the Foundation.  This includes legal compliance, review of grantee financials, management of grants budgeting, intake of grant requests, payments and reporting.  The OGM will also provide support to the Foundation's programs and senior management to aid in organizational planning and learning about its grantmaking portfolios.

The grants management functions of the Foundation have traditionally been decentralized among the Director of Grants Management, administrative and program staff.  The Foundation has decided to centralize these functions in the OGM, adding the position of Grants Manager.  This two-person grants management team will create systems and practices that support programs and grantees in service of mission, allowing for creativity, responsiveness and learning. The OGM will work with the grants programs and senior management to build a new team approach to grantmaking at Surdna, and support greater collaboration across the Foundation's three grantmaking areas.

Grants Manager Position
The Grants Manager will report to the Director of Grants Management and Information Systems and will provide ongoing support and collaboration with the Foundation's  grants programs.  S/he will share responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the departments, from grant intake through payments, reporting and grant closeout, and serve as an important resource to foundation staff and grant applicants.

Specific Responsibilities

Grants Administration

• Manages the intake of letters of inquiry and grant proposals.
• Sends declination letters to grant applicants that will not receive grants.
• Works with program staff to invite new proposals, and assisting grantees throughout the proposal process.
• Tracks and reviews grant proposals and progress reports for completeness and compliance with IRS regulations.
• Responds to applicant and grantee questions regarding proposal status, subsequent payments, and other administrative inquiries.
• Reviews prospective grantee financial statements and organizational budgets.
• Drafts, proofreads and sends out grant agreement letters.
• Codes and updates grant records in the grants management system.
• Oversees the management of the Foundation's central grant files and ensures the integrity and completeness of each grant record, from initial request to grant close-out.
• Assists the Director of Grants Management in the review of docket materials (prepared by program staff) and preparation of dashboards and other data visualizations to reflect the Foundation's state of grantmaking and recommendations.
• Reviews progress report budget to ensure that grantee expenditures are consistent with the approved grant budget.
• Follows up with grantees to return paperwork for payment and reporting.
• Manages the employee matching grants program.

Organization Learning and Planning

• Provides data-driven research and reports to programs and senior management to assist with grant planning and learning.
• Assists in developing and maintaining an online grants management procedures manual.
• Assists with the management of long-range planning such as preparing the annual grants management calendar to be used by all staff and board members.
• Provides orientation and on-going training to incoming and existing program staff about the grant making process.
• Provide in-house Gifts training and acts as the primary resource to program staff.
• Responds to external surveys and data requests on the Foundation's grantmaking.

Qualifications

The Grants Manager position requires a college bachelor-level degree with a minimum of 3-5 years experience in a grants management-related role.  Experience in a position requiring knowledge of grantmaking rules and regulations, and private foundation policies preferred.

This position requires strong analytical skills, particularly with financial data and budgets, as well as demonstrated verbal and written communication skills. Candidates must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, able to set priorities and work in a self-directed fashion, and willing and able to think outside the box and contribute new ideas and solutions. Experience with establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency in a changing environment is a plus.  High-level proficiency of MS Excel, MS Word, and Gifts for Windows or other grants management software is required.

The Grants Manager must be flexible, a team player requiring minimal supervision and one who approaches work with a solution-oriented view. The Foundation has a relatively small staff, and judgment, integrity, and a sense of humor are traits that are particularly important in an organization of the Foundation's size, where teamwork is essential to effectiveness. The ability to work collegially with staff and an expressed interest in and strong commitment to the Foundation's mission and grants programs are key qualifications.

Competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Surdna Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

Please click here to submit resume and cover letter

No phone calls please.

A first review of applications will occur on October 28^th and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.