The Skoll Foundation is hiring a Grants Manager based in Washington, D.C. The Grants Manager is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, including Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday required on-site in the Washington, D.C. office.
Skoll is a private grantmaking foundation that seeks to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators. Together, we advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. The Skoll Foundation fosters a mission and values-based approach to the work we do focused on the vision of doing good.
Position Description
The Grants Manager reports to the Managing Director of Grants Management and supports the execution and fulfillment of Foundation grants designed by our program teams and is responsible for the efficient and accurate processing of grants in accordance with the Foundation’s policies and procedures. The Grants Manager collaborates with and builds interdependent working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate responsible and efficient grantmaking across programs. As one of the Foundation’s content experts on grant compliance, the Grants Manager ensures that the Foundation adheres to legal requirements for private foundations and incorporates effective philanthropic practices. In addition, the Grants Manager will lead or support Foundation-wide projects and initiatives related to process improvement, technology, procedures, and/or grants data analysis.
The Grants Manager will work collaboratively, creatively, and efficiently with Foundation staff to support the needs of a dynamic and evolving organization. This position provides hands-on management of the grants portfolio to ensure successful administration of the Skoll Foundation’s grantmaking programs.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the execution of the full grant lifecycle, including pipeline management, grant recommendation, board approval, grant agreement execution, payments, amendments, and reporting.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for the grants management team, engaging with program staff throughout the grant life cycle. This includes providing support and guidance to determine the appropriate funding entity and grant structure for each award.
- Ensure compliance with IRS regulations and Foundation requirements for grants and program-related investments by conducting and reviewing charity checks for United States-based organizations, managing equivalency determinations for organizations outside the United States, OFAC screening, expenditure responsibility requirements, etc. Refers complex cases to Managing Director or General Counsel as needed and work toward resolution.
- Review grant recommendations and files, ensuring that grants move expeditiously through the review and approval process with a particular focus on timeliness, quality, and consistency of grants processing and data integrity.
- Prepare grant lists and grantmaking data reports for the Board docket and track grants for Board approval.
- Generate and send grant award letters or agreements, track outstanding agreements, and support additional grant-related communications.
- Coordinate timely and accurate grant payments as grantee requirements are fulfilled.
- Review expenditure responsibility (ER) reports for compliance with award terms and IRS requirements, flagging discrepancies and escalating unresolved issues to program or Managing Director. May review other grant reports as requested by program staff.
- Process grant amendments and modifications, e.g., refunds, no-cost extensions, cancellations, and grant transfers, and close grants when fully paid and all requirements are complete.
- Manage grant files and records in accordance with the Foundation’s record retention and archiving policy.
- Monitor active grants for key issues such as equivalency determination renewals, expenditure responsibility review and execution, payment contingencies or overdue reporting requirements. Work with program staff to address and resolve open issues.
- Coordinate grantmaking efforts conducted through Foundation’s partners (Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Submittable), including tracking supporting organization activity, reconciling grants management system data against the fund provider’s records, and flagging compliance or reconciliation issues to the Managing Director.
- Partner with Managing Director to design optimal processes and standards appropriate for the Foundation’s innovative grantmaking environment and implement quality support systems and workflows.
- Support the adoption and usage of the grantmaking features in the Foundation’s Salesforce system by internal staff, including testing requested system changes and enhancements in partnership with the Managing Director, coordinating functionality testing of larger system.
- Develop reports, dashboards, and data visualizations that ensure data integrity across the grants portfolio, surface trends and patterns, and translate complex grant data into clear, accessible insights that support leadership decision-making.
- Work with the Managing Director to write, implement, and monitor policies to support grantmaking. Provide ongoing guidance and training to Foundation staff on effective grantmaking practices, compliance, and processes.
- Draft and continually update the grants management manual to include the Foundation’s grantmaking policies, processes, and tools, and incorporate and maintain complete grants management system documentation.
- Support the Managing Director in the production of the annual grants-related data for Skoll Foundation’s 990-PF and Skoll Fund’s 990. Support Finance staff and Managing Director with the annual audit.
- Contribute to building a collaborative and supportive grants management team that is responsive to the needs of the organization.
- Perform other assignments from the Managing Director as needed.
Qualifications
- A passion for the Foundation’s mission.
- Minimum of five years of professional experience in nonprofit or philanthropy sector. Prior experience with international and/or private foundation grantmaking highly preferred; familiarity with exempt-organization rules (expenditure responsibility, equivalency determinations, OFAC/sanctions screening protocols) a plus.
- Demonstrated knowledge of grantmaking approaches and processes of private foundations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Salesforce or other grants management systems, and experience training staff to use the system for their grantmaking.
- Excellent organization, financial and data management, project management, problem-solving and workflow/process design skills.
- Ability to manage heavy workload and juggle competing priorities.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and willingness to tackle new projects.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Able to work on-site three days a week including Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Washington, DC.
- Locational proximity of fifty miles or closer to the Washington, DC office required for consideration.
- Must be available for domestic and international travel.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Other duties as assigned.
Cultural Fit
- Enthusiastic and flexible team player with humility, a positive demeanor, and exceptional service orientation; ready to roll up sleeves and collaborate across the Foundation’s small team.
- A keen sense of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to creating a positive organizational culture.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and adaptable to change.
- Interest in social innovation and alignment with the Skoll Foundation’s mission to catalyze transformational social change.
- Proven ability to thrive in a collaborative, multi-cultural environment.
Benefits
The Skoll Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package including a discretionary 10% employer sponsored retirement contribution, flexible time off, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision coverage, and generous retirement plan offerings.
Salary Range
$108,571 – $152,145
The full salary range for this role is $108,571 to $152,145 USD. New hires typically start between the range minimum and midpoint, or $108,571 to $130,410 USD, based on job-related skills, experience, and expertise evaluated during the interview process.
The Skoll Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.