Senior Manager, Foundation Relations and Grants

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks an institutional fundraising professional to support the Foundation Relations and Grants team. The successful candidate will have exceptional writing skills, be detail-oriented, and possess the strategic thinking skills necessary to support PEN America’s institutional funding portfolio. This is a full-time position based at PEN America’s New York City headquarters and reports to the director, Foundation Relations and Grants.

This position offers the opportunity to respond to the most urgent issues of our time by engaging with major institutional funders, family foundations, and government donors. The senior manager will work with program colleagues to lead, manage, and develop strategy for a high-profile portfolio of grants and prospects by developing and managing letters of interest, proposals, and reports and identifying and coordinating approaches to prospective funders across the organization.

The senior manager will also provide as-needed support to the director in leading and managing their portfolio and will partner with the team to develop engagement opportunities for donors and prospects; strengthen team-wide systems; and build the institutional fundraising capacity of the organization as a whole.

The successful candidate will be able to write outstanding grant proposals that demonstrate dexterity with language and the ability to convey our organizational vision and programming with nuance and urgency. This individual should be able to grasp the wide range of PEN America activities in response to funding opportunities. The role requires capacity in the financial side of the grants process, including developing budgets, requesting payments, and creating financial reports.

All positions are subject to a six-month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to report to the office at least three days per week. This policy is subject to change.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a high-profile portfolio of grants and prospects, collaborating across the organization to compile grant proposals and reports, narrative and financials, and driving strategies for growth while also responding to opportunities in a dynamic environment
• Generate reports for donor analysis, strategy, decision-making, and submission
• Prospect for new foundation funding opportunities and communicate regularly with program staff on new prospects, potential program designs, and strategies for identifying additional funding for current projects
• Coordinate with events and program staff to develop guest lists for donor cultivation events
• Support the director as they work with program teams in their portfolio, as needed
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of grant agreements and maintain donor files
• Oversee the maintenance of donor database with responsibility for tracking deadlines, communications, awards, contact information, follow-up tasks, and reporting requirements, using Raiser’s Edge
• Support maintenance of department tracking tools, including deadline lists and income projections
• Other responsibilities as assigned

All PEN America staff are considered stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training or other initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of five years of fundraising experience, with at least four years of institutional fundraising experience
• Exceptional writing skills with demonstrated ability to prepare dynamic, persuasive proposals and other funder communications that are calibrated to be responsive to the funding opportunity
• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and prowess, equipping the candidate to compellingly present PEN America’s complex and varied programmatic work
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and accuracy is a must, as well as the ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects in a high-volume, changing environment, and excellent time management skills
• A formidable work ethic and demonstrated stamina and steadiness to thrive in a demanding and fast-paced environment, to seize opportunities and to partner with high-performing programmatic staff
• Solid communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with staff and ability to present data in a clear and concise manner
• Demonstrated comfort and competence with budgets and financial reporting
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge for data management
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America promotes open and respectful dialogue across difference, and we work to allow a diversity of perspectives to flourish.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government

Salary and Benefits: PEN America offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The salary range for this position is $85k-$95k, commensurate with experience. Candidates whose expectations are outside this range are welcome to apply, as PEN America is open to considering talented individuals at varying stages of their careers. PEN America’s benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision health insurance, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax commuter benefits, and a 403b retirement plan.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a complete application (including a cover letter, resume, and unedited writing sample) via BambooHR. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

PEN America is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices, and actively seeks a diverse applicant pool to build the strongest possible workforce.

No phone calls, please.

ABOUT PEN AMERICA:

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.