Grants Manager Ruth Foundation for the Arts $75,000-$80,000

THE RUTH FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts) is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs and lived experiences of artists, communities, and arts organizations whose work is anchored by the visual and the performing arts. National in scope, the Foundation reflects the culture and spirit of the Midwest, which long inspired its namesake and benefactor Ruth DeYoung Kohler II. Meaningful support for creative communities and the ethical stewardship of Kohler’s legacy are at the core of the Foundation’s work, and since its start in 2022 the Foundation has provided over 200 arts organizations with over $64 million in grants.

The Grants Manager contributes to the overall administration of the Foundation’s grant programs, which include: RDK Legacy, Artist Choice, In Dialogue, Core Grants, Wisconsin Special Projects Grants, Wisconsin Artist Grants, and Ruth Awards.

Reporting to the Senior Grants Manager, the Grants Manager participates in all grantmaking activities, including undertaking research, collaborating with colleagues across grant areas, communicating with grantees, jurors, readers, and nominators, and maintaining overall record keeping.

The Grants Manager works collaboratively to ensure timely and thorough completion of all stages of grant workflows including: invitation, selection, agreements, research, and engagement. They are responsible for implementing and maintaining essential structures for grant administration, including grant program calendars and timelines, applications and guidelines, jury/reader/nominator processes, engagement and reporting, and grantee updates. The Grants Manager researches, analyzes, and shares findings on key programs, and provides transparency and accessibility about grant information for grantees, staff, Board members, and partners.

With a thoughtful understanding of the evolving needs of artists and arts organizations, the Grants Manager acts as a collaborator across the Foundation’s activities, contributing thoughtful stewardship and meaningful relationship-building in support of the Foundation’s broader vision and values.

Contributing to an essential aspect of Ruth Arts’ work, the ideal candidate displays a natural curiosity about the role grantmaking plays in the arts ecosystem and therefore approaches their work thoroughly with a deep sense of responsibility and diligence. They are eager to contribute to a generative and thoughtful understanding of the field and instinctively approach this work with creativity and care.

With an openness to learning and adapting, they are not easily daunted by new paradigms or shifting courses.

As a natural administrator and problem solver, they uphold Ruth Arts’ values and they utilize their knowledge of visual and performing arts to cultivate meaningful relationships with grantees, collaborators, and community partners to further the Foundation’s mission.

They approach their work with attention to detail and to deadlines, showing that they are dependable and can be trusted to follow through on their concurrently-running projects. They prioritize often, communicate easily, and have the stamina to remain nimble in an ever-evolving work environment. They are adept in many administrative systems and feel confident to self-organize, and ask questions in times of uncertainty.

They show a commitment to building new relationships rooted in openness, reciprocity, and respect. As a liaison, they maintain collegial communications with colleagues, grantees, advisors, jurors/readers/nominators, and visiting guests. They are an outstanding communicator and experienced writer who easily gains the trust and confidence of artists, colleagues, Board of Directors, grantees, partners, and other stakeholders.

The Grants Manager has three main areas of focus:
Grant Administration, Research & Resources, and Relationship Building.

• Works closely with the Senior Grants Manager to implement grants management workflow processes and procedures; engages in the continual improvement of grants management processes; writes and follows grants management…