Grants and Scholarship Manager

Position Summary

The EBCF Grants & Scholarship Manager leads the efficient execution of the grant-making process, ensuring compliance with internal policies, laws and tax rules throughout the grantmaking process. Of equal importance, the Grants & Scholarship Manager will lead EBCF in grantmaking best practices, initiating and driving projects to improve processes across departments, while implementing and utilizing technology and tools for reporting.  The position requires a deep knowledge of compliance-related materials, processes and procedures in the field of grantmaking.

The Grants & Scholarship Manager reports to the Director of Grants Management & Scholarships and is an integral part of the Finance Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Grantmaking

• Leads the grantmaking process from recommendation through grant award and reporting by communicating with client relationship managers (CRMs), donors and grantees;
• Establishes grant priorities for due diligence based on risk, mission and values, donor recommendations, and grant complexity;
• Oversees grant evaluation and reporting process;
• Communicates with domestic grantees to gather information and ensure compliance with IRS rules and regulations and EBCF policies for domestic Expenditure Responsibility grants;
• Works with third-party consultant to manage occasional international grants;
• Collects and reviews banking information on grantees in coordination with Finance staff;
• Develops and coordinates periodic audits of electronic grant files to ensure high quality and consistency of adherence to compliance policies and procedures, as well as final file review;
• Develops and maintains best practices for grantmaking by designing work-flow processes to facilitate grants administration;
• Undertakes operational improvement initiatives, special assignments, and research projects identified by the Director of Grants Management & Scholarships;
• Represents the Foundation as a compliance leader in the philanthropic field (e.g., Grants Managers Network affinity group);
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with all team members and maintains regular working relationships with other departments and entities across EBCF; and
• Protects information of a sensitive and confidential nature.

Compliance – Program Advisory

• Partners with program staff to clarify understanding of grant project activities, explain compliance policies, analyze facts, and draw conclusions on recommended next steps; and
• Reviews post-award grant materials to ensure compliance with Foundation and IRS rules and regulations.

Tracking and Reporting

• Coordinates processes for post-award grant tracking and reporting requirements;
• Follows up on reporting issues with grantees and informs CRMs and fund reps as appropriate;
• Graphically represents data and concepts through the use of Excel, PowerPoint and other business tools; and
• Generates and distributes reports to staff, Board meetings, team meetings, site visits, donor meetings and grantee meetings as needed.
  

Scholarship Management

• Leads all compliance and administration facets of new and existing scholarship funds;
• Maintains deep knowledge of federal scholarship regulations and industry best practices;
• Partners with Development staff to field inquiries about new scholarship funds, from initial inquiry by interested donors to signing of fund agreement;
• Serves as lead administrator for multiple scholarship funds with larger awards or more complicated administration;
• Manages online application portal and supports other designated staff administrators;
• Collaborates with Director of DSAS and CFO on scholarship fund fees;
• Collaborates with Communications staff to update public materials.

Business Tools

• Grants Management software –Blackbaud FIMS, DonorCentral; DocuSign;
• Microsoft Suite including – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook;
• SurveyMonkey Apply—online application platform for grants and scholarships;
• Zoom, Google docs, Slack

Candidate will possess:

• Ability to approach each day with curiosity, humor, integrity, humility, compassion and optimism;
• A commitment to learning, accountability, and the team;
• High-level compliance knowledge in both grants & scholarships;
• Knowledge of community foundations, private foundations and non-profit agencies;
• Ability to work well under pressure with frequent interruptions, to prioritize changing workloads in order to meet tight deadlines, and to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• High level of comfort with ambiguity and the strong ability to work collaboratively toward solutions using excellent judgment;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work well by telephone and email;
• Exceptional attention to detail with ability to link work with the Foundation’s goals and objectives;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective and respectful working relationships;
• Ability to travel approximately 5% of the time.