We are seeking a Director of Grantmaking to join our Programs department, as the leader of our Grantmaking team. This position will report directly to our Vice President, Programs.

This is a full-time, exempt position serving all of Santa Barbara county. This is a hybrid role which will require an average of over three days of in office work, plus regular site visits and offsite meetings.

All applicants must submit a professional resume, cover letter and completed copy of our employment application, in order to be considered.

Position Summary:

The Director of Grantmaking provides leadership to the Foundation’s community grant programs and develops goals and strategies that are in line with the mission of the Foundation. The Director creates, manages, monitors, and provides direction for grant programs and related grants projects, budget, internal grants workflow, and timelines. This position also fosters trusted relationships with grantees and cultivates and manages strategic community partnerships. The Director contributes knowledge and leadership to the community grant program that includes behavioral health/ healthcare, food, shelter and safety, conservation/environment, and field of interest funds. The Director supervises, coaches, and mentors staff in grantmaking and day-to-day activities and administration, including the community grantmaking portfolio, policies and procedures, sector investment, and understanding the Foundation’s priorities. As a strategic leader, the Director supports how the Foundation meets our strategic goals and vision to create a thriving community for all.

Specific Responsibilities:

Work with the VP of Programs to assure the development, continuous refinement, periodic reassessment and on-going implementation of a regionally focused discretionary grant-making program that aligns with donor intent and the Foundation’s strategic plan and stated values.
Maintain a high level of knowledge and understanding of current community issues to assure that the Foundation’s grantmaking is responsive and strategic in addressing those needs.
Develop and maintain relationships with groups and individuals in the nonprofit, philanthropic, private and public sectors, with an emphasis on growing the Foundation’s network, advancing the Foundation’s strategic priorities and mobilizing/aligning other sources of funding.
Develop annual and multi-year grant opportunities and manage portfolio of grants from application to final report.
Ensure compliance with grants, regulations, reporting, data analysis, and industry best practices, and implement operating standards and procedures necessary to ensure high quality and efficient grantmaking.
Foster productive relationships and collaboration between communities, partners, and community leaders to understand sector needs and trends; facilitate community connections and develop strategic partnerships; and contribute to sector workgroups related to community grant program areas.
Work with program staff to organize, provide leadership and support for grantee engagement and convenings.
In coordination with cross-departmental staff, set calendars for discretionary, field of interest, and donor designated grant processes.
Work in coordination with the Programs and Philanthropic Services teams to develop and administer the annual discretionary grantmaking budget.
Manage grant committee member selection and facilitation of committees comprised of community leaders serving as subject matter experts, former grantees, donors and trustees.
Ensure deadlines are met and grant programs and processes are operated in a transparent, fair and equitable manner; may serve as facilitator for staff and volunteer grant committees.
In coordination with the Director of Learning and Evaluation, develop and evaluate grant programs, track results and incorporate learning and findings into grantmaking programs, and assist in the grant-related audit process.
Work with the Foundation leadership in the assessment, development and coordination of special projects including, but not limited to, disaster response, external grant opportunities, and targeted nonprofit sector engagement.
Work with the Director of the Collaboration of Social Impact and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships to identify effective capacity building, advocacy and community leadership opportunities for grantees.
In conjunction with the Communications department, develop strategies to publicize discretionary grants and sector engagement and learning opportunities.
When appropriate, present the Foundation’s grant and program activities to donors and other foundations for the purpose of seeking partnerships, support, and enhancing donor engagement.
Work with the VP and across teams to create shared venues for department-wide learning about community issues, as well as trends in philanthropy.
Participate as a member of the Foundation’s Directors and Supervisors Leadership Team to actively work to define and embed the values and goals of the foundation into the organization and ensure effective and efficient operations at the Foundation.
Actively support team-wide efforts to develop new and strengthen existing relationships with local, state, and national organizations, with an emphasis on supporting and learning from partner's efforts to develop community-driven solutions.
Provide thoughtful counsel, promote an environment of best practices, learning, and growth, and contribute to the development and monitoring of the Foundation’s strategic and operational goals and objectives to ensure SBF is continuously improving.
Supervise, coach and mentor direct reports.
Other duties as assigned.

Essential Requirements:

Seven years of related philanthropic grantmaking and/or public sector experience. Five years in nonprofit work, experience in public policy, and familiarity with mission-related investment programs.
Five years of experience supervising and managing staff.
Bachelor’s degree required; significant related experience may substitute for a higher degree.
Experience in working effectively with diverse and broad-based community constituencies; demonstrated good judgment and commitment to the community served including, but not limited to, professional achievements and volunteer experience.
Substantial knowledge of research, practice, policy, and management in one or more of the Foundation’s grantmaking areas: human services and community development, behavioral health/ healthcare, shelter/ safety, conservation/ environment, and technical assistance and program evaluation methodologies.
Ability to make presentations and to comfortably interact with diverse audiences including donors, board members, nonprofit and community groups.
Ability to make well-reasoned decisions as part of a team and in the best interest of the organization.
Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
Self-aware, with an understanding of emotional intelligence and desire to leverage it in the workplace.
A sense of humor.
Good meeting management skills.
Effective connector and convener.
Effective at motivating a team (both volunteer and staff) to achieve high expectations.
Demonstrated skills in management, planning, staff supervision and development; successful managerial experience in leading a team and mentoring and coaching staff.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail: ability to prioritize, work effectively and adjust to multiple demands; experience in creating realistic project budgets and timelines.
Proficiency with software programs is necessary for carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position.
Highly motivated with the ability to work independently, take initiative, participate as an effective team member, and follow tasks through to completion.
Ability to think strategically and effectively synthesize information.
Understand the importance and methods of evaluation and learning in grantmaking.
Understand and adhere to high standards of service and integrity; able to exercise discretion with highly sensitive and confidential information.

Work Environment:

General office environment, with regular travel to offsite areas for meetings, convenings, etc. Occasional plane or other form of travel to attend conferences or for professional development. May work out of a cubicle or closed-door office under SBF’s hoteling policy.
Dogs (pets) intermittently on the premises, weekly.
Significant telephone and computer work (repetitive movement – typing).
Telecommuting: working from home providing own modem and router.
Some driving travel within the county and occasional travel outside of the county (via car or plane). Must have a good driving record and be able to sit and drive for up to a few hours at a time.
Frequent sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, bending and occasional lifting/pushing of light to heavy loads (up to more than 50 lbs.)

At SBF, we value wellness and offer a very generous benefits package, including: up to 15 days of PTO in the first year of employment, 14 holidays, paid sick time, fully paid health insurance package for staff (including a top tier medical plan) and about 75% dependent coverage; 401K with up to a 10% employer contribution after one year of employment, 2.5%-6.5% housing allowance added to annualized salary based on tenure and after one-year of employment, in-office massages, wellness days and more!

This exempt, full-time role is compensated at $109,500 - $123,090 annually, depending on skills and work experience.

All applicants are required to submit an employment application, a resume, and a cover letter to hr@sbfoundation.org.

This position was originally posted by Santa Barbara Foundation and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.

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