Senior Community Investment Officer

Overview

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.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the Vice President for Community Investment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

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 grantseekers 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 program
• 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 of the Foundation to inform Community Investment practices and the broader community

• Conducts research on topics of interest to the Community Foundation and in support of strategic initiatives; prepares written and/or verbal reports and presentations on findings
• Handles special projects relating to emerging community needs including leading community engagement and voice initiatives
• Works collaboratively with the Vice President for Philanthropy to implement and produce knowledge content for the Philanthropic Advising & Educational programs for donors, potential donors, and community stakeholders

Professional Relationships

• Works as part of team to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Community Investment department
• Creates and maintains positive, professional relationships with other local private and public funders, community partners, the nonprofit sector, national and state funders and/or affinity groups with the goal of leveraging additional resources and extending the Community Foundation’s impact in Washtenaw County

Budget Management

• Manages grant program budgets effectively to accurately award funding based on annual allocations approved by the AAACF Board of Trustees

*Performs other related duties as identified by the Vice President for Community Investment.

Professionalism

• Supports the mission, vision and strategic goals of the Community Foundation in order to serve both internal and external constituents
• Conducts self in a professional manner with a positive mindset for both internal and external interactions
• Follows and supports Community Foundation policies and procedures
• Evaluates own performance and assumes responsibility for ongoing professional development Maintains confidentiality
• Maintains current knowledge of all changes affecting area of work

Engagement/Participation

• Actively participates in meetings, committees and volunteer opportunities within the organization
• Participates as a team member utilizing a collaborative style to achieve mutual goals
• Provides proactive, creative cross-functional thinking and ideas to enhance service to customers
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively with others and to enhance the collective strength of the entire AAACF team

Experience and Education

• At least five years of professional experience in an administrative management role
• Project management experience, with formal training a plus

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Required

• Completion of an bachelor's degree (e.g. BA, BS)
• At least four to six years of progressively more responsible experience in the fields of philanthropy, nonprofit management, or community change
• Ability to make decisions independently that are consistent with the strategies and policies of the Community Foundation
• Highly effective facilitation skills that can be adapted across a diverse range of groups
• Ability to synthesize material, focus quickly on the essence of an issue, and translate information into action
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong project management skills
• Extensive computer and software use skills, including robust Excel abilities to work with data and organize team projects
• Interpersonal, organizational, time management, and leadership skills
• Creativity and self-initiative
• Ability to develop and oversee budgets

Preferred

• Completion of an advanced degree (e.g. MA, MBA, MPH, MPP, JD, etc.) or equivalent work experience
• A broad, diverse knowledge of the culture and demographics of the community
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the role and importance of philanthropy to the vibrancy of our communities
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of systems, program design, public policy, and evaluation and the ability to use this knowledge in implementing strategic grant programs and initiatives

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $55,000 - $65,000 based on a candidate’s experience and relevant expertise. AAACF offers a comprehensive benefits package including PTO plus many national holidays, very low cost health insurance, a retirement savings matching program, free short term and long term disability insurances, free life insurance, available flexible and child care savings accounts, free downtown parking, and more.

Please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@aaacf.org. The cover letter should be addressed to Jillian Rosen, Vice President for Community Investment. You may also direct questions about this job opening to jobs@aaacf.org (no phone calls, please).