Grantmaking and Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager

The Alliance for Youth
Action (along with our sister 501(c)(3) organization, the Alliance
for Youth Organizing) is searching for a Grantmaking and Strategic
Partnerships Senior Manager. The Grantmaking and Strategic
Partnerships Senior Manager will support the Alliance’s grantmaking
and strategic partnership initiatives. This role reports to the
Vice President of Grantmaking & Senior Partnerships (once
hired; currently reports to the Executive Director), and is a
full-time position based in the United States (see Logistics,
below). Alliance for Youth Organizing is a unionized workplace, and
staff are represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local
32035; this position is a part of the bargaining unit.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ACTION

The Alliance convenes, supports, and scales a national network
of youth-led, locally rooted organizations growing civic engagement
and social justice coast to coast. We truly are a multiracial
network “of young people, by young people, for all people.” Our
Affiliates and Partners run massive voter registration and
get-out-the-vote drives, train new young leaders and run powerful
campaigns to win on the progressive issues our generation cares
about most. Our national team empowers this work by tracking down
national resources for the network, building capacity for local
groups, seeding new efforts, and coordinating national issue
campaigns. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities of this position include:

Grant Management and System Optimization:
(40%)

• Execute precise data entry and maintain the Grants Management
  System (GMS) with up-to-date, accurate grant-related
  information.
• Vigilantly track and generate reports on the lifecycle of
  grants using the GMS, including applications, approvals,
  disbursements, and other critical metrics.
• Develop and uphold a detailed grant tracking framework to
  supervise each grant’s journey, ensuring timely documentation, fund
  release, and streamlined report generation post-grant period.
• Optimize the GMS for ease of use, accessibility, and immediate
  data provision, supporting effective and efficient grant
  administration.
• Manage grant funding records meticulously to provide
  comprehensive funding analysis to both internal and external
  stakeholders.
• Lead the tracking and reporting of key performance indicators
  (“KPIs”) and goals related to grantmaking, regularly analyzing data
  and providing insights to improve the grantmaking process.

Grant Agreements Administration:
(30%) 

• Compose and refine grant agreements, aligning them with the
  Alliance’s policies and legal requirements while achieving
  grantmaking timelines.
• Critically review and modify grant agreements, integrating
  insights from pertinent stakeholders to enhance the agreements’
  robustness.
• Administer and oversee all outgoing grants through the
  Alliance’s documentation management system, ensuring grants are
  dispensed promptly and reach the correct recipients.

Partnerships & Philanthropic Initiatives Support
(30%)

• Engage with Alliance grantees, cultivating strong,
  collaborative relationships.
• Actively participate in essential infrastructure gatherings,
  such as state donor tables, partner donor briefings, and funding
  intermediary meetings, providing crucial updates to the Executive
  Director on state-specific priorities and overarching trends in the
  philanthropic landscape.
• Support the Alliance’s Vote Campaign and other philanthropic
  initiatives, including organizing funder briefings, attending donor
  conferences, and writing updates for campaign communications.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for candidates with particular strengths in the
following areas:

• Proven track record of working with grant management software
  or similar systems.
• Strong skills in data entry, management, and reporting within
  such systems.
• Familiarity with the entire lifecycle of grants, including
  applications, approvals, disbursements, tracking, and
  reporting.
• Experience in developing and managing grant-tracking
  frameworks.
• Ability to analyze grant data and generate comprehensive
  reports.
• Proficiency in using data to inform decision-making and grant
  administration processes.
• Experience in optimizing systems for usability and
  efficiency.
• Technical acumen to suggest and implement improvements in grant
  management software.
• Strong administrative skills, particularly in managing
  documentation and records.
• Understanding of legal and policy aspects related to grant
  agreements.
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with internal and
  external stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with
  grantees and partners.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and
  deadlines.
• Ability to strategically plan and prioritize tasks in line with
  organizational goals.
• Proven ability in networking and engaging with donor
  communities, philanthropic groups, and other relevant
  stakeholders.
• A personal understanding and demonstrated commitment to social
  justice and equity, and a desire to uplift the leadership of BIPOC
  young people.

Nice to Haves

• Background in philanthropy or non-profit sector, particularly
  in grantmaking or fund management roles.
• Knowledge of 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 financial and legal
  compliance.
• Skills in project management, especially related to grants and
  funding initiatives.
• Ability to think creatively and bring innovative solutions to
  enhance grant management processes.

 

LOGISTICS

• Compensation: $70,000 – $80,000 per year
  commensurate with experience.
• Benefits: The Alliance offers a
  competitive benefits package covering 100% of employee medical,
  dental, & vision insurance premiums, 75% of premiums for
  employee dependents, employer retirement contributions (SEP IRA),
  life insurance, short and long-term disability income protection
  insurance, cell phone stipend, Wi-Fi stipend,  WMATA
  transportation smart benefits, professional development
  opportunities, a generous paid time off policy, and up to 16 weeks
  of paid family and medical leave.
• Location: This is a full-time position
  based in the United States. All Alliance staff are required to live
  within about an hour from major airports in most US states; more
  detail will be provided to finalists as relevant. Moving
  reimbursements are offered to employees who need to move for this
  position.
• Travel:  Domestic travel for this
  role may be up to 30% of this position. Must be willing to work
  long, irregular hours periodically and travel as needed.
• COVID-19: The Alliance currently requires
  employees to be fully vaccinated and boosted in order to travel on
  behalf of the Alliance. Additionally there may be vaccine
  requirements for attendees at Alliance, Network, or partner
  events.
• End date: This position has an end date
  of March 30, 2025, with the possibility of an extension based on
  organizational needs.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

At the Alliance for Youth Action, we want to create a world
where our democracy works for everyone and where all people – no
matter where they come from, what they look like, or how they
identify – live in loving, safe, and thriving communities. As such,
we value diversity and equity as central to our work. The Alliance
for Youth Action is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive
workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. People
of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of diverse
sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities are
encouraged to apply.  Some candidates may feel discouraged
from applying if they don’t match every job requirement – we
encourage you to apply anyway.

TO APPLY

Please submit the following through the application portal:

• Two paragraphs or less explaining why you want this position
  and what makes you a strong candidate. Please prioritize content
  over formality.
• Resume