Grant Manager

The Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) envisions a just and joyful future where all Minnesotans, regardless of background, have the power to shape decisions that affect us and can live with dignity in thriving and caring communities.

CAAL is a network of Asian American leaders whose mission is to harness our collective power across ethnicities, age groups, and sectors to improve the lives of communities by connecting, learning, and acting together. We believe our democracy thrives when all communities are visible, included, and fully engaged in key systemic decisions that impact our lives. We embrace the diversity of our community and believe that if we can work together, moving beyond silos, we help ensure a more prosperous future for all Minnesotans.

The Grant Manager leads the day-to-day implementation of CAAL’s grantmaking programs, with a primary focus on delivering a high-quality cohort experience and supporting grantee success.

This role is responsible for coordinating program activities, managing grantee relationships, and executing key components of the grant lifecycle—from outreach and application through reporting and closeout. The Grant Manager ensures that all program activities are well-organized, accessible, and aligned with CAAL’s values.

Working within an established program structure, the Grant Manager partners closely with the Associate Director, who provides strategic direction, compliance oversight, and overall grantmaking framework. This role plays a key part in executing the work with strong follow-through, building meaningful community relationships, and contributing to a positive and impactful experience for grantees.

• Lead planning and execution of the grantee cohort experience, including onboarding, workshops, site visits, and celebrations
• Facilitate or coordinate cohort sessions that build skills, relationships, and shared learning
• Manage logistics for all program activities, including scheduling, materials, communications, and attendance tracking
• Ensure all program activities are well-organized, well-attended, and aligned with program goals
• Deliver a culturally grounded, engaging experience that supports grantee success beyond funding

• Serve as the primary point of contact for grantees, building strong, trust-based and culturally responsive relationships
• Communicate clear expectations around participation, deliverables, and timelines, and provide ongoing support
• Monitor engagement and follow up to ensure participation and completion; elevate challenges or risks to leadership in a timely manner
• Lead outreach to recruit applicants, particularly from underrepresented communities, in partnership with the Communications team
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, leaders, and partners that strengthen the grantmaking program
• Identify opportunities for partnerships and collaborations that enhance cohort programming, workshops, and grantee support
• Coordinate with the Associate Director and Director of Programs to further develop and formalize partnerships
• Represent CAAL at community events and meetings to deepen relationships and expand program reach

• Coordinate execution of the full grant cycle, including outreach, application, review support, award communication, and reporting
• Ensure all steps in the process are completed on time and clearly communicated to applicants and grantees
• Support application review processes by organizing materials, tracking scoring, and documenting decisions
• Maintain consistent communication with applicants and grantees throughout the cycle

• Implement grant processes and systems established by leadership
• Track grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, payments, and required documentation
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date grant files and records
• Support preparation of reports for funders and internal leadership
• Partner with the Associate Director and Director of Programs to ensure compliance requirements are met and questions are addressed