Position Description
Reporting to the Director of Community Investment, the Community Investment Specialist assists in cultivating and maintaining relationships with grant seekers, grantees, donor-advised fundholders (in tandem with the director of The Center for Family Philanthropy), and other internal and external partners by providing guidance to constituents on the foundation's community investment processes and technical support to those looking to apply to Akron Community Foundation for funding.
Personal Characteristics
The Community Investment Specialist is agile, adaptable and thrives working independently as well as in a team environment. They freely and courageously offer constructive feedback during staff, team, and community meetings. They have a strong sense of camaraderie, readily collaborate, and seek guidance when needed. They are resourceful, detailed oriented, and possess strong research skills. They actively support grantmaking and community initiatives; support the execution of the foundation's strategic plan; and promote Akron Community Foundation’s brand. It is critical for the Community Investment Specialist to develop broad local community expertise with up-to-date knowledge regarding community needs and resources. The ideal candidate has a clear understanding of how a person’s identities intersect in ways that impact how they are viewed, understood, and treated which will enable them to easily build trust across multiple communities. They can live out the foundation’s values of passion, excellence, accountability, inclusion, quality of life and collaboration.
Key Responsibilities
Administrative and Grant Processing:
Anticipate and respond to administrative tasks necessary to implement grantmaking, while utilizing a racial equity and social justice lens. Assist with managing quarterly grant cycles (normally 40-80 applications per cycle), proactive grants, affiliate fund and other new and emerging grant cycles:
- Confidentially communicate with applicants, grantees, board members and fundholders.
- Respond to initial inquiries; perform due diligence on applicants; verify compliance with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and community foundation policies and guidelines.
- Review all applications and follow up on missing information and content questions.
- Assist in tracking the status of grants, disbursing payments and maintaining grant files.
- Maintain updated roster of current applicants and grantees in the Financial Information Management System (FIMS).
- Support CI staff with affiliate funds grantmaking as needed.
Community Investment Activities and Initiatives:
Actively participate in the following foundation and community investment initiatives:
- Assist with planning and execution of Community Issues Session, Bus Tours, Listening Sessions and other fundholder and nonprofit education activities and initiatives.
- Work in partnership with the Director, The Center for Family Philanthropy to match charitable families to the needs in the community they have a desire and vision to support, as well as research topics that align with their specific philanthropic values and missions.
- Stay current with software updates and help implement changes into grant cycles as needed.
Education and Experience
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree plus one to three years of professional administrative experience working with/for nonprofit organizations.
- Strong research and project management skills
- Strong analytical skills as well as planning and organizational competencies
- Intermediate knowledge level of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to summarize multiple documents, conversations, and presentations into concise, cohesive recommendations; ability to tailor written communications to the audience, understanding what information is pertinent.
- Ability to gather, identify and convey information; ability to develop and support consistent messaging; ability to communicate clearly, logically, and concisely; ability to converse comfortably with grantees, board members and others, both internally and externally.
- Have the skill and ability to relate and work effectively with culturally diverse grantees and constituents.
- Communicates honestly and regularly with the Vice President, Community Investment and the Director of Community Investment regarding job satisfaction, professional development needs, assistance required, or suggestions to improve individual or office-wide processes and procedures.
Akron Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. This position includes a salary range of $40,000 to $50,000 and a comprehensive benefits package. Please send cover letter, salary requirements and resume with three (3) references to De Shawn Pickett at dpickett@akroncf.org by Friday, August 18, 2023.