Senior Impact Advisor

At the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, we believe in the power of bold dreams. We envision a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging, where residents and visitors are engaged, connected, and energized, and where everyone has access to the tools and resources to reach their highest potential.

We know that by looking beyond limitations and embracing our ambitions, we can create a community where neighbors experience greater well-being and an improved quality of life.

We are committed to moving our community toward a more vibrant future. Here, we Imagine Greater.

We focus on three key areas to make an impact:

• Amplify Charitable Giving – We help individuals and organizations make their charitable giving more meaningful and impactful.
• Support Nonprofits – We connect resources to nonprofits through grantmaking and educational opportunities.
• Provide Community Leadership – We address our community's most pressing needs through leadership and collaboration.
  
  

Our work is guided by five core values that shape every decision and action we take:

• Connectedness: We foster strong, meaningful relationships with every person and organization we work alongside.
• Equity: We honor the unique needs of individuals and organizations, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
• Impact: We are committed to decisions that create positive, lasting change, fostering growth and propelling our community forward.
• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest standards, honoring donor intent and acting in alignment with our community’s needs.
• Passion: Our love for our community fuels our enthusiasm and dedication to this work.
  
  

Senior Impact Advisor

The Grants Team is responsible for ensuring that the Community Foundation’s grant programs, special initiatives, and grants management services are expertly managed and meet the needs of our donors, foundation partners, nonprofits, and the community. The Senior Impact Advisor plays a key role in shaping the strategy design and assessment of grantmaking, executing grant programs, partnering with Philanthropic Services on the execution of our Youth Empowered Philanthropy Program (YEP), and contributing to the team’s work to build greater knowledge of and engagement with the nonprofit community. The position represents a key internal and external resource for knowledge on significant community issues and nonprofits that are most effectively addressing them.

Responsible to: Director of Impact

Key Responsibilities

Grant Administration and Relationship Building for a Portfolio of Agile Grants, Engage Grants, Rising Together Grantees, Private Foundations, Impact Investing, and Other Grantmaking Programs

• Build relationships with grantees and grant seekers through responsiveness, regular meetings, coaching, and guidance
• Manage Agile Grants, Engage Grants, private foundation grant processes and provide other private foundation support
• Develop knowledge of Rising Together Grantees within the pillars of Everyone’s Economy and Inspiring Places
• Oversee the Impact Investing program with the Chief Operating Officer
• Manage grant applications submitted through the online grants management system
• Review and evaluate grant proposals and prepare presentations to staff, leadership, and, at times, the Board of Directors
• Provide evaluation feedback to all grantees and grant seekers under purview
• Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of internal grantmaking programs with the Director of Impact and report findings to relevant staff, leadership, and committees
• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to communicate outcomes to external stakeholders
• Maintain grant files that meet legal, auditing, and foundation requirements
• Help the Chief Impact Officer and Director of Impact develop targeted strategies to meet nonprofit needs
• Help organize trainings and events for nonprofit organizations
• Work with the Philanthropic Services Team to advise fundholders and donor prospects on effective nonprofits working in interest areas
  
  

Youth Empowered Philanthropy (YEP)

• Work with the Donor Engagement Specialist to manage the activities of our youth philanthropy program YEP
• Help oversee the grantmaking process that is supported by YEP
  
  

Secondary Functions

• Cultivate relationships with other foundations, community foundations, and program officers
• Represent the Community Foundation at public events to help build the visibility of our work
• Collaborate with the finance team on nonprofit financials, reporting, and other fund requirements
• Work alongside the Chief Impact Officer and the Director of Marketing and Communications for timely and accurate nonprofit communications
  
  

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position.

General Details

Full-Time Position, Exempt

Experience:

• Minimum 35 years of relevant experience working with or in foundations, the public sector, or nonprofit organizations as an employee, volunteer, or board member
• Strong preference toward candidates who have worked in a nonprofit within the last 13 years
  
  

Education:

• Associate’s degree or higher, preferably in business, nonprofit management, philanthropy, project management, organizational leadership, or a related field
  
  

Pay Range: $75,000 to $80,000; wages are negotiable within the stated salary range based on experience

Start date: April 7, 2025

Work schedule

• Hybrid work is available to employees after a minimum of 90 days of onboarding and training and based on supervisor discretion.
• Must be in the office a minimum of two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday) with flexibility.
  
  

Must Haves

You have a strong desire to develop a deep understanding of Greater Fort Wayne and the nonprofits that help power our community.

You are interested in listening to and learning from nonprofits and individuals in the community. You also take the initiative to meet or call people regularly and are interested in helping connect funding to nonprofits to make this community the best place it can be.

You are a quick learner who enjoys working with a fast-paced, results-oriented team. You are not afraid of new technologies and enjoy learning how to use new platforms to maximize their potential in streamlining different processes.

You are self-motivated, see trends in what needs to be accomplished, and solve problems in a highly independent environment. You also work as a team player toward the big picture and communicate with the team regularly.

This job is 50% out in the community and 50% behind a computer. While you enjoy being around others, you are also detail-oriented and able to track interactions, ensure efficient grant processes, be timely in responses to partners, and work with the team on the best ways to deploy funding.

You have the ability to work some nights or weekends to meet the needs of nonprofits and represent the Community Foundation in the community as needed. With this, there is ample flexibility that comes with the job to ensure a balanced work week.

Skills

You Are Reliable and Organized

If you say you’re going to do something, you mean it or work hard to find a solution if you can’t. When you commit to something, you follow through. You’ll be juggling multiple relationships and tasks, and you know how to stay on top of it all.

You Think Strategically

You understand how things connect and love finding the best way to get things done. You’ll help people connect with resources they didn’t even know existed, work strategically to reach goals, and put them into action.

You Can Work Independently

The Community Foundation team is small but mighty. Each staff person is responsible for their specific goals while collaborating with the team. You will need to understand the Grants Team goals, decipher them, and then go! If you don’t know the answer to something, you know when to ask for help and when to determine the best solution on your own.

You Enjoy Teamwork

While being able to work independently, the successful candidate also knows the importance of pulling their weight within a team. Your teammates will count on you each day to get tasks done in order to move the team forward. You understand the importance of being held accountable to a team and that each person is integral to getting high-achieving results.

You Are Dedicated to Learning

You’re always looking to grow, learn new things, and improve. You take advantage of learning opportunities and strive to be the best version of yourself, staying on top of industry knowledge.

You Are Action Oriented

One of the most important skills the successful candidate brings to the team is the ability and desire to get things done. You like checking things off your to-do list and then looking for ways to fill it back up with minimal direction.

You Can Listen Well, Empathize, and Decipher

You listen before speaking, knowing that each individual you encounter has a different story, goals, and desires. You can easily and quickly decipher an individual’s needs and enjoy being the person to help find a solution. You don’t easily rattle when it comes to an unhappy grantee and thrive when you build long-term relationships.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Don’t meet every requirement? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The Community Foundation is dedicated to building an inclusive, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to still consider applying.

For more information on the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, visit www.cfgfw.org.