Grants Manager

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 Manager executes the strategy and operations of our grantmaking, ensuring our systems are as robust and equitable as the work we fund. As a key partner to staff and grantees, you will move beyond simple administration to lead a culture that values efficiency, data integrity, and constant improvement.

We are looking for a systems thinker who finds joy in the details and thrives when building for the future. You are a lead-by-example teammate who balances technical mastery with a deep commitment to people. You excel at keeping a high volume of moving parts—like our 500+ annual grants—accurate and on track, but you never lose sight of the mission. Organized, analytical, and collaborative, you bring a sense of order to our grantmaking and a partnership-driven approach to our growing team.

Grants Leadership & Systems Ownership

• Lead the Grants Ecosystem. Serve as the primary architect and administrator of our grants management system (Foundant, an agile software requiring ongoing training). You’ll ensure the platform is optimized, data is high-quality, and the system evolves to meet the foundation’s growing needs.
• Oversee the Grant Lifecycle. Provide strategic oversight for all funding cycles, managing multi-year commitments and contingencies while ensuring the Grants Associate has the support they need to execute daily tasks.
• Create cycle summaries and board reports. In partnership with the program teams, you will coordinate and compile funding recommendations and supporting documents so that the Board of Directors can make informed funding decisions.
• Ensure Integrity & Compliance. Own the due diligence process and grant documentation standards. You’ll set the bar for accuracy and ensure the foundation’s grantmaking history is meticulously preserved and audit-ready.
• Mentor and Train. Identify key topics and develop trainings for the Program Teams to grow their mastery of the grants management system. You are the "go-to" for system best practices and internal process improvements.
• Cultivate Grantee Partnerships. Act as a senior point of contact for our partners, handling complex inquiries and ensuring that our communication with applicants is clear, supportive, and reflects our commitment to equity.
• Thought Partner in System Evolution. Support the Senior Grants Manager in the upcoming migration to a new grants management system, ensuring a seamless transition and co-designing workflows that serves both current needs and future growth.
• Facilitate Board Governance. Manage high-level administrative support for Board and committee meetings. This includes producing Board Books, capturing all funding and grants-related decisions for the minutes, and ensuring compliance with all established legal and governance requirements.

Community & Professional Growth

• Stay at the forefront. Represent the foundation and be an active member within the grantmaking community. You’ll stay current on industry trends and grantmaking best practices, bringing innovative ideas back to the team.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Grants Management Expertise. At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants administration or management.
• Project Management Skills. A track record of managing multi-stakeholder projects and consistently meeting deadlines.
• Collaborative Leadership. A demonstrated ability to plan and execute work effectively both within and across teams.
• Data Analysis. A proven ability to prepare, interpret, and synthesize grants data and financial reports.
• Board-Level Communication. Previous experience distilling complex information into clear, actionable insights for a Board of Directors.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• A Strategic Thinker. You are analytical and structured. You love building well-oiled systems, connecting the dots across an organization, and turning diverse data into a recommended course of action.
• An Equity Champion. You center diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything you do. You are the one asking, "whose voice is missing?" and you bring deep sensitivity to issues of privilege, class, and race.
• A Systems Builder. You find joy in improving processes. You have a "design-thinking" mindset that balances big-picture organizational impact with a seamless user experience for the team.
• A Collaborative Partner. You don’t see "Grants" and "Programs" as separate silos. You are excited to work alongside a growing team, building processes that support the collective work of the Foundation.
• An Exceptional Communicator. You combine intellect and intuition to craft high-quality communications and explain complex concepts in a way that is clear, accurate, and engaging.
• A Low-Ego Teammate. Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to lend a hand, earn influence through support rather than authority, and take pride in setting others up for success.
• A Constant Learner. You possess a foundation of self-awareness and a desire for continuous improvement. You treat every project as an opportunity for growth and evolution.
• An Adaptive Partner. You are comfortable working at an organization during a period of rapid growth. You understand what it takes to lead and support colleagues and grantees as we navigate major change.

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, exempt, full-time role with a starting salary range of $130,000 to $150,000 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.