Senior Community Investment Officer; AAACF

Posted on September 13, 2019

The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) is a collegial and energetic organization that is dedicated to creating positive community change in Washtenaw County. Founded in 1963, AAACF is the seventh largest among the 65 community foundations in Michigan. At present, AAACF administers over 550 charitable funds ─ most of which are permanently endowed ─ and assets of $135 million. AAACF is staffed by 12 employees who work to fulfill the organization’s philanthropic mission.

To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). . AAACF is an equal opportunity employer.

The Senior Community Investment Officer leads key strategic grantmaking programs, oversees other ongoing grantmaking activities, and supports community leadership initiatives. Works with and supports the Vice President for Community Investment on the development, direction, and implementation of AAACF’s core grantmaking initiatives. Leads internally and externally with humility and a service-oriented mindset. Develops, builds, and maintains strong relationships with individuals, community partners, other funders, and the nonprofit sector to enhance the impact of AAACF grants.

Primarily works to develop, implement, manage and evaluate grantmaking programs for community impact.

Reports To
: Vice President for Community Investment

Strategic Grant Programs Design and Implementation (currently includes Community Grantmaking, Capacity Building, Bold Ideas for Community Innovation, Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, and Cultural Economic Development)

• Leads the development, implementation, and oversight of strategic grant programs within the AAACF Strategic Framework, including responsive grantmaking, Field of Interest grantmaking, community initiatives, community leadership activities, and evaluation of all programs within the assigned portfolio
• Develops comprehensive program design, proposal, and evaluation of programs in portfolio
• Manages and operates additional grantmaking programs that are a standing part of AAACF’s portfolio of activities.
• Provides guidance to grant seekers for their preparing or revising of grant proposals
• Researches and analyzes assigned grant proposals and other grant opportunities through review of written materials, site visits, and conversations with community partners to ensure compliance with donor intent, grant program priorities, and intended community outcomes
• Facilitates and supports various grantmaking committees in the areas of application review, grantee selection, and award issuance processes
• Prepares and presents grant proposal analyses in both written and verbal formats to the assigned Community Foundation grantmaking committees and/or AAACF Board of Trustees
• Monitors reporting requirements for assigned grant portfolios; evaluates results on a timely basis to understand outcomes achieved through AAACF philanthropic investments

Setting Grantmaking Priorities

• Assists the Vice President for Community Investment in developing and exploring grantmaking priorities. In doing so, facilitates the process of obtaining and sharing information from the community which may include convening community forums and/or focus groups, public speaking, presentations, and networking with appropriate individuals and organizations

Evaluation & Community Research

• Assists the Vice President for Community Investment in developing and overseeing high quality grant processes and program evaluation. In doing so:
  • Develops evaluation protocol for Community Grantmaking, Capacity Building, and Bold Ideas for Community Innovation, and Cultural Economic Development programs
  • Works with staff in Community Investment to develop comprehensive evaluation systems to determine outcomes, measures, data tracking tools, processes, and frameworks for communicating impact
  • Builds and maintain the Community Foundation’s knowledge of best practices in measuring impact in philanthropy; help prioritize and lead efforts to implement effective strategies
  • Works with Community Foundation staff to incorporate evaluation findings into ongoing learning and work…