Technical Assistance Associate, National Fund for Sacred Places

Partners for Sacred Places seeks a candidate for the full-time position of Technical Assistance Associate of the National Fund for Sacred Places. The Technical Assistance Associate will work in close collaboration with the Senior Director of the National Fund and the Technical Assistance Coordinator to track and provide technical assistance to National Fund grantees.

The National Fund, which is a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking significant capital projects. This program, supported by Lilly Endowment, has served over 100 congregations to date; and is funded through 2028. There are several grants under the umbrella of the National Fund, including a planning grant and an emergency grant.

All grantees are eligible to receive one pro bono consulting service in addition to the capital grant and planning grant they receive from the National Fund. The services (Capital Campaign Support, Communications Support, Economic Halo Effect Study, and Community Engagement) are delivered by a Partners’ staff. The services offered via the National Fund are intended to help congregations that are in the midst of large capital projects advance the planning and fundraising efforts they undertake as part of the program.

Key Responsibilities

• During the first 6-9 months on staff, learn to deliver some of Partners’ core consulting services by shadowing current staff who are working in the field throughout the country.
• Work with the Technical Assistance Coordinator and other staff to deliver pro bono consulting services to National Fund grantees (such as economic impact studies and community engagement conversations) for the 2025 cohort and future cohorts.
• Report to and remain in close communication with the Technical Assistance Coordinator, keeping them informed on the status of each project.
• Provide assistance, as needed, with special projects related to the National Fund or other Partners’ programs.
• Assist in tracking and monitoring the progress of Technical Assistance projects
• Produce high quality written reports and presentations as deliverables to the congregations

Skills

• Able to work independently and in a variety of small and large group contexts. Work collaboratively and collegially with a range of staff across Partner’ offices
• Able to work with individuals from various sectors, including religious leaders and congregational staff across a range of denominations and faith traditions, architects, preservationists, etc.
• Experience in delivering training and/or consulting services, especially to religious congregations
• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively
• Confidently facilitate small group meetings and one-on-one conversations
• Ability to handle multiple projects at any given time
• Proficiency in speaking and writing Spanish or another language is a plus

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Facility Management, or a related field
• At least three (3) years’ work experience
• Experience working in a mid-size nonprofit organization or similar
• Experience working with congregations or faith communities or an appreciation of historic religious buildings and community-serving congregations
• Fluency in Google Workspace and Adobe Creative Cloud
• Reside in, or willingness to move to, Philadelphia
• Willing/ able to frequently travel domestically to deliver National Fund-related services as needed
• Willing to learn how to deliver our services to faith-based communities and produce high quality reports
• Ability to work weekends and evenings as needed

Proficiency in speaking and writing Spanish or another language is preferred.