Grants Associate

ABOUT THE PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (PMAFF) unites with our partners to ignite possibilities for all. Established in 2011 by the Angell family to honor innovator and entrepreneur Paul M. Angell, we fund bold, community-led solutions in Chicago and beyond. Together with our partners, we’re working to protect our oceans, champion the arts, strengthen communities, and promote belonging across society. By removing barriers that limit the potential of people and the planet, we aim to spark change that lasts for generations.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Grants Associate is the frontline ambassador for our grantmaking operations, rounding out the Grants Management team as it grows to three. The Grants Manager focuses on our internal stakeholders and systems, and the Senior Grants Manager supports our complex grantmaking while preparing for upcoming growth and change at the organization. You focus on the external experience for our applicants and grantees by ensuring they can navigate our application, payment and reporting processes with ease, clarity, and grace.

We are looking for a "go-getter" who finds fulfillment in the day-to-day rhythm of grants administration. You are someone who treats every email as an opportunity to provide exceptional service and every spreadsheet as a tool to clearly and accurately tell the story of our impact. You are a collaborative teammate who takes initiative, acts as an equal partner to your peers, and is excited to elevate the work of the entire foundation through meticulous data stewardship and thoughtful communication.

Grantee Partnership & Communication

• Communicate with Grace. Serve as the primary point of contact for grantees and applicants. You’ll respond to every inquiry with warmth and clarity, providing technical assistance and ensuring our partners feel supported throughout the application lifecycle.
• Manage Due Diligence. Lead the routine verification of tax statuses and ensure all required documentation is submitted.
• Champion the "Customer Experience." Develop robust resources to make our application and reporting processes easier to navigate and continuously look for ways to make our processes less burdensome, reflecting our commitment to equity.

Data Stewardship & Lifecycle Support

• Steward the Data. Manage the data of our grants management system (Foundant), which includes supporting the Grants Manager in processing approvals and payments. You are comfortable with high-volume data entry and take pride in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our records.
• Ensure excellence in Board materials. Assist the Grants Manager in the production of Board Books, which includes verifying data accuracy, coordinating deadlines and final documents with Program Teams, and running standard reports from the grants management system.
• Coordinate Grant Cycles. Process applications and reports as they arrive, moving them through the pipeline and ensuring that the Grants Manager and Program Teams have the "pulse check" they need on pending items.
• Excel in Reporting. Pull regular reports and analyze numbers to help the team track our impact. You are the "Excel whiz" who can organize data into clear, readable formats for peer presentations and staff meetings.
• Support System Evolution. Play a key role in our upcoming migration to a new CRM/grants management system. You’ll help clean data, test new workflows, and ensure the transition is seamless for our partners as they apply for funding, receive grant decisions, and report on their progress.

Team Collaboration

• Elevate the Work. Partner closely with Program Associates (and Program staff) to ensure grantmaking within their portfolios moves smoothly.
• Peer Presence. Regularly share updates and insights from the grantee "frontlines" with the broader team, ensuring we are making decisions and continuously improving our work based on the actual experiences of our grantee partners.
• Contribute Broadly. Serve on internal committees and working groups. You’ll bring the grants perspective to foundation-wide initiatives and collaborate with colleagues from every department on projects that go beyond your daily tasks.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Grants or Development Experience. 2–4 years of experience in grants administration, non-profit operations, or fundraising/grant writing. Understanding the "other side" of the application process is a significant plus.
• Exceptional Customer Service. A background in roles that require high-touch communication and the ability to handle a high volume of inquiries with professionalism and empathy.
• Data Fluency. Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience working within a CRM or database (Foundant, Salesforce, Blackbaud, etc.). You should be very comfortable with numbers and detail-oriented record keeping.
• Organizational Prowess. A proven ability to manage routine tasks and multiple deadlines simultaneously without losing track of the small details.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• An Initiative-Taker. You are a "go-getter" who doesn’t wait for a task list. You see a gap in a process and offer a solution.
• A Graceful Communicator. You believe that how we treat our grantee partners is just as important as the funding we provide. You approach every communication with care, understanding the stakes and power differential between funder and grantee. You write clearly, listen well, and respond promptly.
• Data-Fluent & Detail-Driven. You are an Excel enthusiast who finds genuine satisfaction in an accurate, well-organized spreadsheet. You have a meticulous eye for detail—you’re the one who catches the small typo or the missing attachment—and you recognize that the integrity of our data is what allows the entire team to move forward with confidence.
• A Service-Minded Teammate. You find joy in being helpful. Whether it’s helping a grantee with a login issue or helping a colleague with a report, you are quick to lend a hand.
• An Equity Champion. You understand that clear communication and streamlined processes are tools for equity. You are always looking for ways to remove barriers for our grantee partners.
• A Low-Ego Partner. You act as an equal to your peers, focusing on elevating the team’s collective work rather than individual credit.

OUR DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CORE VALUE

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and to compliance with applicable local, state, and federal antidiscrimination laws which prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employees or applicants for employment based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, age, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, work authorization status, pregnancy and the potential or intention to become pregnant, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, status as a victim of domestic, sexual, gender or criminal violence, certain arrest or criminal history records, lack of a permanent mailing address or a mailing address that is a shelter or social services provider, and use of lawful products outside of work during non-working hours.

We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon these characteristics or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The position is a salaried, non-exempt, full-time role with a starting salary range of $80,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on professional and lived experience.

Additionally, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation offers a highly competitive comprehensive benefits package including:

• Healthcare: 100% paid Platinum PPO health insurance premium for employee and 80% for dependents or family.
• Dental and Vision: 100% paid premium for employees, dependents, and family.
• 403b retirement savings plan employer contributions match: After three months of employment, the Foundation will contribute up to 9% of the employee’s salary—5% will be an outright contribution, and the Foundation will match up to 4% of the employee’s contribution to the plan.
• In addition to vacation, holidays, wellness, and sick days, the PMAFF offices are closed from December 26th through New Year’s Day annually and employees’ salaries are paid during this closure.
• Twelve weeks of paid parental leave for a birth parent, non-birth parent, or adoption.
• We are committed to supporting your growth through professional development funds, tailored to your role and learning needs. We provide opportunities for collaboration, skill-building, and the time and space to grow in your career.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Currently, the position will function within a hybrid working environment with alternating remote and three on-site workdays and may have in-person obligations that grow over time within Chicagoland and beyond with possible travel outside Illinois for in-person meetings, conferences, etc.

Please note that the Foundation does not provide a relocation stipend; candidates must be local or willing to relocate at their own expense.