Foundation Grants Manager

The Foundation Grants Manager directs and manages the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation's nonpublic grant-development program, identifying, cultivating, soliciting, securing, and stewarding grants from private foundations, corporate foundations, community foundations, and other nonpublic institutional funders in East Tennessee, throughout Tennessee, nationally, and globally where appropriate.

Working under the direction of the Senior Vice President of Development and Government Relations, this role prioritizes requests from McNabb Center leadership and pursues funding for approved Center needs and Foundation Annual Fund campaign priorities, including capital and operating needs. The first-year goal is to secure at least $750,000 in new grant commitments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct continuous prospect research and develop a qualified nonpublic grant pipeline, using tools such as GuideStar/Candid, Foundation Directory Online, GrantStation, and other research platforms to identify potential funders.
• Review prospects for mission alignment, geographic eligibility, funding history, award size, application requirements, and relationship potential.
• Develop and submit high-quality grant requests, including letters of inquiry, proposals, applications, presentations, and supporting documents.
• Collaborate with Foundation leadership, Center leadership, program staff, and Financial Services to gather accurate information and meet deadlines.
• Create, analyze, and review detailed grant budgets and narratives, ensuring compliance with allowable costs, indirect costs, matching requirements, and sustainability considerations.
• Manage the complete portfolio of existing nonpublic grants and institutional funder relationships, including record-keeping, compliance, reporting, and stewardship.
• Coordinate with program and financial staff to monitor grant fund usage and ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reports.
• Develop stewardship plans for existing foundation partners, including communication, acknowledgment, recognition, meetings, site visits, and renewal strategies.
• Evaluate and pursue approved McNabb Center and Foundation priorities, providing research and recommendations on funder alignment, competitiveness, and likelihood of success.
• Track and report key performance measures, including qualified prospects, proposals submitted, total dollars requested, grants awarded, renewal rates, and reporting compliance.
• Maintain accurate grant records, systems, and internal communication using Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and other approved platforms.
• Create and maintain a master grant calendar with deadlines, decision dates, reporting dates, and stewardship activities.
• Promote positive working relationships with Foundation staff, Center leadership, program staff, Financial Services, funders, and external partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, marketing, economics, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred; equivalent education and demonstrated professional success in institutional fundraising may be considered.
• Exceptional writing, research, analytical, and financial skills, with a thorough understanding of private, corporate, and community foundation practices and grant terminology.
• Minimum of three years of successful experience in grant development, institutional fundraising, foundation relations, or a closely related field; five years preferred.
• Demonstrated success securing significant grants from private, corporate, or community foundations.
• Experience managing the complete grant lifecycle, including prospect research, proposal development, budgeting, submission, reporting, renewal, and funder stewardship.
• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and foundation research or grant-management databases is strongly preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally and occasionally outside the area for meetings, site visits, training, or funder-related activities.

Working Conditions

• Maintains an office at the administrative building and works with the Foundation team.
• Provided with all necessary equipment to perform job responsibilities.
• In-person daily attendance is essential.
• Expected to support Foundation special events on-site.
• No on-call requirements; off on Center-designated holidays.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, and reaching; lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Close eye work and extensive computer use; hearing of normal and soft tones.

Pay

Starting salary for this position is $19.59434 per hour, based on relevant education and experience.

Schedule

In-person daily attendance is required. The position may involve occasional travel for meetings, site visits, or funder-related activities.