Job Descriptions:This position provides overall grant-making and administrative support for the Partnership for Safe & Peaceful Communities (PSPC) funds housed at The Chicago Community Trust. The position resides within the Community Impact team, under the supervision of the Senior Director of Critical Needs. The Critical Needs team focuses on investing in programs and services that help Chicagoans meet their basic needs to achieve a stable foundation necessary to build wealth. This includes housing, food and nutrition, caregiving, and other human services. It also organizes philanthropy, government, corporate and civic actors to respond to unanticipated and ongoing crises facing our region such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, new arrivals and community safety.The Grants Manager facilitates the effective implementation of the PSPC funder collaborative’s fundraising and grant making efforts, coordinating communication, and ensuring compliance with Trust and the collaborative’s processes and procedures in order to deliver results. The Grants Manager is the main point of contact for various PSPC stakeholders, including funders and grant recipients. The Grants Manager ensures accuracy, efficiency, timeliness, and operational excellence. The Grants Manager partners closely with Trust’s Legal, Finance, Grants Management and Philanthropic Services teams, and ensures day-to-day PSPC needs are met. The Grants Manager will facilitate and manage timely and efficient grantmaking out of PSPC funds held at The Chicago Community Trust in partnership with Trust and PSPC staff. The Grants Manager will also provide support to key team members of PSPC and the Trust’s Philanthropic Services team to secure additional funding, track relevant grant data, and report on outcomes.Position Responsibilities:GrantmakingCoordinate with relevant Trust and PSPC staff to create, update, and process Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in the Trust’s grants management systemCreate best practices for communication, relationship management, and data management within the Trust, to PSPC, and to grant recipient stakeholdersServe as a main point of contact for PSPC grant recipients/applicantsProvide technical support and customer service to organizations applying for PSPC grant support using the Trust’s grants management system, including responding to applicant requests and hosting information sessionsWith guidance from PSPC and Trust staff, craft evaluation frameworks and conduct proposal reviews and due diligenceCoordinate with PSPC and Trust staff to ensure PSPC grant-making due diligence tasks and responsibilities are properly completed in a timely manner ahead of key approval and disbursal deadlinesCoordinate with PSPC and Trust staff to ensure grant applicant and recipient data entry in the grants management system is timely, complete, and accurateCompletes write ups and grant recommendations for all grants moving through the Trust’s grants management system.Develop reports and communicate information related to PSPC grant-making for Trust and PSPC staff and key stakeholdersWork with the Trust’s Finance and Legal teams to manage requirements related to the following Trust processes: fund balance, fund fees, grant disbursementsWorks with the Trust’s Grants Management team to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems that arise in the grants management system for applicants and reviewers and coordinate with the Trust’s IT team when additional assistance is needed to resolve an issueTrack and ensure proper completion of reports for all PSPC grants, including review and approval of reports and receipt of grantee outcome/output data; coordinate with PSPC and Trust program colleagues to share information and learning from reportsMonitors grants for reporting and impact, conducting report reviews and following close-out proceduresFundraising:Work with the Trust’s Institutional Giving Specialist to pursue, secure, document, and report on philanthropic support for PSPC including compiling necessary information for grant applications, ensuring managing grants and reporting deadlines, grant agreements, amendments and appropriate allocation of funds coming in to and being granted out from PSPC accountsEnsure internal processes and timelines are met and in compliance with Trust policies and proceduresFacilitate the grant agreement completion process in collaboration with the Trust’s Legal and Finance teamsIn partnership with PSPC staff and Trust colleagues, provide and complete information required for grant reportingCollaborate with Institutional Giving Specialist to serve donors, PSPC staff and other external partners to trouble shoot and or respond directly to inquiries or concernsTrack timing for grant reports, collaborate with PSPC staff to compile necessary information to complete report requirements, and in partnership with Institutional Giving Specialist ensure timely report submission to grantorsAssist with processing grant agreements, grant amendments, and grant paymentsEnsure grant dollars received to support PSPC are allocated to the correct fundFund Tracking and ManagementWork with Trust’s Finance team to track fund balances, disbursements and budgetsEnsure that Philanthropic Services and the Finance team are tracking funds in and out accurately and in alignment with one anotherProvide ongoing picture of fund balances and grant money on hand for PSPC staffAssist with special projects as needed other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, Critical NeedsRequired Experience:Position Qualifications:Must have 5-7 years of related work experience; experience with a grant making organization strongly preferredOnline grants management system experience desired; experience with Salesforce preferredAbility to compile and display data; experience with running reports and compiling data for meeting materials preferredAbility to communicate clearly and effectively with multiple internal and external stakeholders and partnersProject management experience preferredAbility to identify and elevate to leadership potential roadblocks and hurdles to keep moving the project work forwardStrong attention to detail with the ability to organize information and priorities and consistently meet deadlinesAbility to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to start and resume work on projects amid changing priorities, with integrity in meeting deadlines and quality of work expectationsAbility to build, maintain and manage multiple relationships at all levelsTeam-oriented and collaborativeStrong problem-solving skills with a proactive attitude in finding solutions to technical and administrative questions from staff and grantee organizationsDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to achieving our impactThe Chicago Community Trust’s vision is a Chicago region where equity, opportunity, and prosperity abound. We acknowledge the specific role discrimination and systemic barriers based on race, ethnicity, and other varied identities and differences have played in limiting opportunities for too many. A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is at the core of who we are, the decisions we make, and the actions we take in our work to strengthen the communities we serve and advance our strategic focus to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap. Click here ( to learn more about our strategic plan.The History of The Chicago Community TrustThe Chicago Community Trust was founded in 1915 by Norman and Albert Harris, father and son duo of the Harris Trust and Savings Bank (now BMO Harris Bank). The Trust was the fourth community foundation ever created. There are now 750 community foundations in Canada and the U.S.As our region’s community foundation, the Trust unites generous donors, committed nonprofits and caring residents to effect lasting change that moves our entire region forward. Our approach centers on tackling the region’s immediate needs and addressing the root causes of deep-seated issues to realize a more prosperous future for all who call metropolitan Chicago home.For more than 100 years, donors have entrusted their philanthropic resources and visions to our stewardship. Guided by our deep knowledge of the community, we fund, lead, convene and collaborate to address the greatest and most critical needs facing the Chicago region. From the $22 million raised to help with unemployment relief in the Great Depression to spearheading an effort to help people keep their homes during the foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession to $35 million raised for the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, which supported nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors, Chicagoans have put their trust in us.In 2019, we announced we would focus our discretionary spending over the next decade on working to close Chicago’s growing racial and ethnic wealth gap. The Trust envisions a Chicago region that’s stronger and more prosperous because everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code—has equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed and live a fulfilling life.With assets of more than $4.5 billion, the Trust, in partnership with its donors, distributes more than $1.6 billion in grants each year. The Trust Team seeks to match the passion and commitment of donors, grant recipients, residents, and community leaders that continue to work tirelessly to make the Chicago region one where all have the opportunity to realize their dreams.Keyword: Grants Manager, Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (Hybrid)From: The Chicago Community Trust