Grants Systems Associate - This role’s primary focus is ensuring a smooth, effective, and consistent grantmaking experience for both internal and external stakeholders.
We are Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana–a $1 billion collective of philanthropic organizations committed to making Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential – no matter place, race or identity.
What We Do:
For more than 100 years, we have helped people invest in the causes that matter most to them; awarded grants to effective not-for-profit organizations; and provided leadership to make Central Indiana a better, more beautiful, more equitable community. We believe in anti-racism, authentic relationships, inclusivity, leadership, effectiveness and sustainability.
What We’re Looking For:
Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is seeking an enthusiastic and highly organized Grants Systems Associate. This role’s primary focus is ensuring a smooth, effective, and consistent grantmaking experience for both internal and external stakeholders.
As part of the Innovation team, the ideal candidate will collaborate closely with the Grants Systems Officer to foster trusted relationships and drive the success of all grantmaking programs. Preferred candidates will have experience in philanthropy and/or administering data systems. This position reports to the Data Systems Director.
With over 24 grant rounds and 800 applications per year, the right candidate is adept at thriving in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and commitment to meeting deadlines.
Responsibilities
- Lead the opening and closing of competitive grant rounds in SmartSimple (our current Grants Management System), managing application submissions, assigning reviewers, and generating reports for slating and payment processing.
- Provide exceptional technical support to not-for-profit applicants via phone, email, and video conferencing, addressing questions about the application process, program requirements, and system functionality.
- Maintain the annual grant round timeline tracker across all grant programs.
- Advise on the development of dashboards, applications, page layouts, and workflows; show a readiness to learn and make database enhancements.
- Develop and update documentation for systems and processes for both not-for-profits and internal teams.
- Conduct live and recorded webinars to guide not-for-profit applicants through the application process.
- Participate in program meetings to share system best practices, gauge system performance and satisfaction, and document improvement requests.
- Invite applications for funding on behalf of the program staff, communicating requirements and deadlines to applicants.
- Assist the Grants Systems Officer in the Grantsformation project, which is CICF’s review and analysis of the current grantmaking process and recommendations on streamlining the grantmaking experience.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to ensure accurate and up-to-date website and grant publications.
- Prepare reporting and compliance of external grants made by CICF and/or affiliates.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (1-3 years of experience in the not-for-profit or philanthropy sector, preferably in a grants management function).
- Proficiency with grants management or CRM systems (e.g., SmartSimple, Salesforce, Blackbaud, Foundant, or Fluxx) preferred.
- Strong relationship-building skills, fostering mutual respect and authenticity with co-workers.
- Ability to balance the needs of multiple entities, manage competing requests, and make decisions for the good of the collaborative.
- Keen ability to identify process improvements and address data collection gaps.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet designated deadlines.
- Skilled in multitasking with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Creative problem solver, offering thoughtful and innovative insights into the grantmaking process.
- Willingness to build knowledge about opportunity, equity and inclusion issues, and how they intersect with race; and advance these core values through your work.
Working Conditions: Flexible hybrid office environment (in office three days a week). Home base–English Foundation Building in downtown Indianapolis, plus additional space and expectation of presence in Hamilton County Community Foundation’s Fishers office. What You Get:
- $50,000 salary plus generous benefits, including:
- Employer-provided health, dental, vision
- 7% percent employer discretionary 403b contribution
- Potential for an annual bonus based on organizational and individual performance
- 10.5 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth
- 20 PTO Days
- Flexible, hybrid work arrangement - Work from home on Mondays and Fridays
- Homebase–Newly renovated office space conveniently located downtown, just steps from Mass Ave., plus additional space in HCCF’s new coworking space in Fishers, just off I-69 and 116th St.
- An opportunity to do meaningful, results-driven work with a passionate, diverse team, supporting organizations that are committed to building and maintaining a strong, equitable and supportive culture for our team of changemakers.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana are equal opportunity employers that seek to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and to support their retention and advancement. Justice is one of our core values, and we are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging. Our mission is to mobilize people, ideas and investments to make Central Indiana a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter place, race or identity. Racism deeply impacts the well-being of our communities, compounding existing disparities and creating intersectional barriers. We strive to name and address these barriers through community engagement and assessment, relevant and effective policy creation, and organizational accountability methods. We support initiatives that address all forms of oppression, however, maintaining an explicit focus on race is essential to advancing equity across our communities. Improving outcomes for people of color will improve outcomes for everyone.