Grants Associate, The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grant Program

Position Description

Title: Grants Associate, The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grant Program

Hours: Full-Time (3-year contract)

Department: Impact

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director of Grants Administration & Operations, Impact

Created On: 08/24

Pay Range: $35.90 per hour

Location: Minneapolis/Hybrid

Organizational Overview:

The Minneapolis Foundation drives collective action to realize strong, vibrant communities. The Foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs—partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a difference in their communities.

Our Approach to Talent & Culture:

We strive to employ a team -especially leaders- who are culturally competent and reflect the makeup of the communities we serve. Overall, we cultivate a culture that is aligned with our core values. Our goal of fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and respect while ensuring accountability among all members of our organization is reflected in our talent acquisition and management strategies. 

Position Overview:

The Grants Associate plays a pivotal role in ensuring accurate and updated data is stored appropriately utilizing our online grants portal and application system. This role is responsible for grants administration and administrative support for The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grant Program, and providing customer service to both internal and external partners, applicants, and grantees through the duration of the grant lifecycle. The Grants Administrator will work closely with the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network, the Minneapolis Foundation will award environmental justice grants to organizations working in and for underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region. These grants are made possible by funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. Starting in 2024, we will distribute $40 million over three years.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

50 %

Provide Grants Management Support:

·   Lead and track the grant application, review, payment, and close-out process through our grant management systems.

·   Confirm eligibility of applicants, utilizing knowledge of IRS and Minnesota charitable registration regulations, documentation provided by potential grantee organizations and vendors, and the Foundation’s relevant policies.

·   Ensure prompt communication and delivery of funds by monitoring grant checkpoints within our systems and corresponding with internal departments and external grantees about grant documentation, outstanding payments, preparation of grant agreement and transmittal letters, and appropriate reporting and contingency requirements for all approved grants.

·      Provide direct customer service support by fielding, triaging, and tracking inquiries from applicants, grantees, partners, and staff during and after grant rounds.

Essential

30%

Compliance and Reporting:

·      Stay updated on federal regulations and guidelines for grant administration, especially as they relate to the EPA grant program.

·      Partner with Program Officers to ensure compliance with reporting requirements specified in grant agreements including accurate record keeping of communications, workplans and budgets, interim reports, grant payments/drawdowns, and final report documentation.

·      Perform data audits to ensure accurate records are maintained in our online grants management systems and perform database cleanup regularly.

·      Provide reports related to in-progress or complete grant rounds to the Director of Grants Administration & Operations, as requested.

·      Assist in the audits of grant-funded activities with internal and external auditors, if necessary.

Essential

20%

Administrative Activities, Learning and Continuous Improvement:

·      Participate in partner and cross-departmental work teams related to the EPA grant program.

·      Partner with the Director of Grants Administration & Operations, Impact to create or maintain written procedures about the EPA grants lifecycle.

·      Identify and coordinate process improvement in collaboration with the Director of Grants Administration & Operations, Impact, and cross-departmental work teams that include Finance and IT.

·      Perform other EPA grant program-related administrative duties as assigned

Essential

Qualifications for Success:

• Three to five years of experience in administrative processes and customer service and a demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new technologies.
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite (including Excel, Word, and Outlook) and CRM systems.
• Internet research skills, including knowledge of the leading search engines and online charity databases.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with various audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision following accepted procedures/protocols.
• Ability to prioritize and complete work in a timely fashion with a high degree of accuracy while adapting to new or tight deadlines.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated initiative and commitment to work as a team member.
• Dedication to delivering high-quality customer service.
• One to three years of grants administration experience.
• Experience reviewing and coordinating with other parties on contracts or sub-awards related to federal grants.
• Experience managing relational databases or grantmaking systems (Salesforce and/or Stellar iPhi) and/or business intelligence/project management software.
• Experience in a Foundation or nonprofit setting.
• Advanced spreadsheet experience and mail merge function.
• Understanding of IRS regulations governing community foundations.
• Advanced template and spreadsheet experience.
• Experience with relational databases and/or business intelligence software.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Work accurately to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Use sound judgment and maintain confidences/confidentiality.
• Work at a computer for extended periods.
• Willingness to learn and demonstrate proficiency in the Salesforce and iPhi Core Enterprise systems and portals following training.
• Follow standard procedures/protocols and work direction, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
• Work successfully with a variety of individuals with a variety of work and communication styles, both internally and externally.

Supervision Responsibilities

None

Working Conditions

Most of the work in this position is performed in a general office setting and the successful candidate must be able to work at a PC for extended periods of time. We are a hybrid organization typically working 2 days a week in the office.

Encouragement Statement

At The Minneapolis Foundation, we believe that diverse experiences and perspectives are crucial to our success. We understand that not every candidate will meet every single qualification listed in the job description, and that is perfectly okay. We encourage you to apply if you’re excited about the opportunity and feel you can bring valuable skills and experiences to the role.

We value potential and a willingness to learn just as much as formal qualifications. If you’re passionate about Non-Profits or this specific role and believe you can contribute to our team’s success, we want to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to apply and share how your unique background and abilities align with our needs. Join us in creating an inclusive and dynamic workplace where everyone’s talents are recognized and appreciated.

The Minneapolis Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer