Grants Manager

ABOUT THE PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (PMAFF) unites with our partners to ignite possibilities for all. Established in 2011 by the Angell family to honor innovator and entrepreneur Paul M. Angell, we fund bold, community-led solutions in Chicago and beyond. Together with our partners, we’re working to protect our oceans, champion the arts, strengthen communities, and promote belonging across society. By removing barriers that limit the potential of people and the planet, we aim to spark change that lasts for generations.

The Grants Manager executes the strategy and operations of our grantmaking, ensuring our systems are as robust and equitable as the work we fund. As a key partner to staff and grantees, you will move beyond simple administration to lead a culture that values efficiency, data integrity, and constant improvement.

We are looking for a systems thinker who finds joy in the details and thrives when building for the future. You are a lead-by-example teammate who balances technical mastery with a deep commitment to people. You excel at keeping a high volume of moving parts—like our 500+ annual grants—accurate and on track, but you never lose sight of the mission. Organized, analytical, and collaborative, you bring a sense of order to our grantmaking and a partnership-driven approach to our growing team.

• Lead the Grants Ecosystem. Serve as the primary architect and administrator of our grants management system (Foundant, an agile software requiring ongoing training). You’ll ensure the platform is optimized, data is high-quality, and the system evolves to meet the foundation’s growing needs.
• Oversee the Grant Lifecycle. Provide strategic oversight for all funding cycles, managing multi-year commitments and contingencies while ensuring the Grants Associate has the support they need to execute daily tasks.
• Create cycle summaries and board reports. In partnership with the program teams, you will coordinate and compile funding recommendations and supporting documents so that the Board of Directors can make informed funding decisions.
• Ensure Integrity & Compliance. Own the due diligence process and grant documentation standards. You’ll set the bar for accuracy and ensure the foundation’s grantmaking history is meticulously preserved and audit-ready.
• Mentor and Train. Identify key topics and develop trainings for the Program Teams to grow their mastery of the grants management system. You are the "go-to" for system best practices and internal process improvements.
• Cultivate Grantee Partnerships. Act as a senior point of contact for our partners, handling complex inquiries and ensuring that our communication with applicants is clear, supportive, and reflects our commitment to equity.
• Thought Partner in System Evolution. Support the Senior Grants Manager in the upcoming migration to a new grants management system, ensuring a seamless transition and co‑designing workflows that serves both current needs and future growth.
• Facilitate Board Governance. Manage high-level administrative support for Board and committee meetings. This includes producing Board Books, capturing all funding and grants-related decisions for the minutes, and ensuring compliance with all established legal and governance.

• Stay at the forefront. Represent the foundation and be an active member within the grantmaking community. You’ll stay current on industry trends and grantmaking best practices, bringing innovative ideas back to the team.

• Grants Management Expertise. At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants administration or management.
• Project Management Skills. A track record of managing multi-stakeholder projects and consistently meeting deadlines.
• Collaborative Leadership. A demonstrated ability to plan and execute work effectively both within and across teams.
• Data Analysis. A proven ability to prepare, interpret, and synthesize grants data and financial reports.
• Board-Level Communication. Previous experience distilling complex information into clear,…