Community Leadership Officer- Indianapolis Foundation presso Central Indiana Community Foundation

Description

Community Leadership Officer- Youth and the Arts: This position will play a vital role in supporting and administering the grantmaking activities of the Indianapolis Foundation, providing expertise in youth, and the arts.  

About us:  

The Indianapolis Foundation is one of the nation’s first community foundations, established in 1916. It received its first gift in 1920 and made its first grant in 1924. For more than a century, The Indianapolis Foundation has served as a catalyst for lasting community impact—mobilizing people, ideas, and investments to create a city where all residents have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential – no matter place, race or identity.   

What We’re Looking For:  

The Community Leadership Officer (CLO) will play a vital role in supporting and administering the grantmaking activities of the Indianapolis Foundation, providing expertise in youth, and the arts. This involves conducting due diligence of grant proposals and making funding recommendations aligned with the strategic priorities of the Indianapolis Foundation. This position will serve as a liaison communicating with grant seekers, grant recipients, nonprofits, and community-based organizations, facilitating interactions with applicants, grantees, and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, possess strong analytical skills, and have a passion for philanthropy and community engagement.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:  

The following are the essential responsibilities and requirements necessary for a person to do this job:  

Grant Making and Analysis:  

• Review and analyze grant proposals, assessing their alignment with the foundation’s mission and strategic priorities.  
• Conduct due diligence on potential grantees, including financial assessments, programmatic quality, and outcome analysis 
• Prepare comprehensive summaries and recommendations for grant proposals to assist senior staff in decision-making processes.  

Subject Matter Expertise:  

• Maintain a generalist understanding of various subject areas relevant to the foundation’s equity priorities, but particularly those in the areas of Youth and the Arts. 
• Stay informed about trends, best practices, and emerging issues within these areas to provide informed insights to the grantmaking team.  

Communication and Relationship Management:  

• Serve as a primary point of contact for grant applicants and grantees, providing timely information on the grantmaking process, application requirements, and reporting expectations.  
• Foster positive relationships with grantees, nonprofits, and community-based organizations, ensuring effective communication and support throughout the grant lifecycle.  
• Coordinate and facilitate communication between internal teams and external stakeholders, including community organizations, funders, and partners.  

Support for Grantmaking Processes:  

• Assist in the development and refinement of grant application materials, guidelines, and evaluation criteria.  
• Track and manage grant application submissions, ensuring timely processing, notifications, and adherence to deadlines.  
• Participate in grant review meetings, providing insights and recommendations based on thorough analysis of proposals.

  Reporting and Documentation:  

• Assist in the preparation of reports and presentations on grantmaking activities, for internal and external stakeholders. 
• Maintain accurate records of grant applications, decisions, and correspondence in the foundation’s repositories.  
• Support the analyses of funded projects, helping to collect data and feedback to inform future grantmaking strategies. 

Special Fund Support:  

• Provide leadership, direction and project management of IF special funds such as the Summer Youth Program Fund.  
• Manage grantmaking processes for special funds, including but not limited to the solicitation of new requests, application review, and the development of approval memos.   
• Convene key stakeholders of special funds and maintain partnerships in advancing the goals and impact of such funds.   

Donor Support:  

• Assist in supporting the development of materials and presentations that are compelling for donors and co-funders.  
• Provide due diligence and recommendations for applications to Donor Advised Fund holders.  

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (nonprofit management, fine arts, social sciences, or related disciplines). 
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management,  or a related field, Required. 
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess and synthesize complex information effectively. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a professional demeanor and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders. 
• Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with grant management software is a plus. 
• A passion for philanthropy, community engagement, racial equity, and social impact. 
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and ability to travel locally for meetings and site visits.  
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed for community events.  
• Knowledge of Indianapolis neighborhoods, arts based organizations a plus. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: Flexible office Environment.  

What You Get:  

• $71,667 salary plus generous benefits, including:  
• Employer-provided health, dental, vision   
• 7% percent employer discretionary 403b contribution  
• 10.5 paid holidays, including MLK Day and Juneteenth  
• Flexible, hybrid work arrangement
• Homebase–Downtown, Indianapolis  
• An opportunity to do meaningful, results-driven work with a passionate, diverse team, supporting organizations that are committed to building and maintaining a strong, equitable and supportive culture for our team of changemakers.  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: