Program and Grants Associate, Grants & Information Management; TMF

Program and Grants Associate, Grants & Information Management (TMF)

Posted on March 16, 2020

The McKnight Foundation seeks a professional Program and Grants Associate (PGA) to help support and advance the goals of the Arts program team. Reporting to the Grants & Information Management Director, this role will be joining the McKnight Foundation at a critical moment in its history as the institution advances its recently adopted Strategic Framework .

The PGA will provide grantmaking and additional types of funding support for the Arts program, as well as work directly with a program director and two program officers to manage valued relationships with internal and external partners to advance overall program work.

• Grantee relationship management, including external scheduling, grantee questions regarding grantmaking process, site visits with grantees, grant terms, and reporting requirements.
• Produce grantmaking budget for program, assist in monitoring payout.
• Process grant reports and create payment packets.
• Attend regular program team meetings, contribute to initial inquiry and/or reviews meetings.
• Track and manage quarterly grant cycle deadlines and board book process.
• Coordinate creation and production of team’s quarterly board book materials.
• Provide backup for other program and grants associates as needed.

• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the Foundation’s funding policies and procedures and program guidelines.
• Identify gaps in understanding and execution of funding procedures among Foundation staff, and assist with necessary training and/or follow-up.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, exploring new approaches, including racial equity grantmaking, nontraditional types of support, and other continuous adaptations to grantmaking practices.

• Review incoming grant and other funding request data for completeness.
• Prepare and send denial correspondence to requesting organizations.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure that all program information, online and print materials, is up-to-date, accurate, and effectively presented for various audiences.
• Prepare requests for program team review and update in grantmaking database.
• Respond to requests for pre-grant and post-grant approval information from Foundation staff and grantees.
• Review proposals for completeness, including required financial statements and legal information.
• Prepare reports for online grantee access and ensure report requirements contain relevant notes for accurate processing.
• Ensure compliance with overdue reporting policies through follow-up with grantees, program staff, and senior staff.

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively across organizational functions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and master data systems on a continuous basis.
• Ability to communicate effectively interpersonally and in group settings.
• Ability to constructively navigate differences to arrive at shared solutions.
• Ability to prioritize and organize workflow.
• Ability to manage highly detailed work with speed and accuracy.
• Knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to be flexible despite many interruptions and changes in deadlines.
• Ability to prepare and/or edit written summaries and analysis.
• Ability to work autonomously and with minimal direction.
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years’ related full-time professional work experience in a foundation, nonprofit, or governmental field, or a combination of equivalent experience and training.
• Professional work experience in an administrative position is preferred, including experience maintaining a computer database and files, or a combination of…