Work with us

The position is responsible for implementing grants and collaborative funds that allow grantees to accelerate climate justice and work with urgency and impact. This role reports directly to the Chief Program and Operations Officer. The MD of Grantmaking & Programs leads a small staff and consultant team, and works closely with the narrative team and development, operations and finance staff.

What We Value

• Be bold. We are aspirational, creative, and always proactive. Those at the frontlines of pollution, extraction, and the shared urgency of climate change deserve nothing less.
• Be inclusive. We shine the light and invite everyone we can onto the path to a regenerative economy. We follow the leadership of those rooted in frontline communities who are showing the way. 
• Be movement accountable. We aim to be accountable to the grassroots organizations that we fund and amplify. We leverage and strengthen the field, connecting dots and resourcing others, as needed, seeking input on what we do well, and how we can improve. 
• Advance equity. We center equity-rooted strategies, community benefits, diverse leadership, and just transitions. The transition to a regenerative economy must center and directly benefit those people most impacted by pollution, extraction, and climate change.

Key Responsibilities 

Grantmaking & Programs Leadership

• Lead the development of a coherent grantmaking and programs strategy centered on ambitious impact and ecosystem targets and grounded in solidarity philanthropy
• Working as an advisor and thought partner to executive leadership, recommend adjustments in and innovations to TSP’s grantmaking approach inclusive of ‘grants plus’ services and offerings that can accelerate grassroots climate justice movements
• Advise on and lead evolutions in the organization’s grantee sourcing and selection strategies
• Lead the engagement of the organization’s Philanthropic Trustees in the grantmaking process
• Strengthen evaluation strategy and capacity to ensure that TSP is able to articulate the aggregate impact of its work, developing grantee evaluation and reporting guidelines that align with the philosophy of Solidarity Philanthropy 
• Contribute to the development of the TSP strategic plan and fundraising
• Foster TSP’s efforts to build an inclusive culture and advance equitable internal policies and external outcomes 

 Grantmaking Implementation

• Manage a small team of staff and consultants to oversee and implement grantmaking
• Oversee all organizational grantmaking and the administration of collaborative funds
• Ensure robust use of Salesforce – including accurate and up-to-date records and reports – in support of grantmaking 
• Lead the establishment and management of relationships with grantees
• Ensure grantees receive support to identify opportunities, solve problems, and build program capacity and effectiveness
• Lead the monitoring and evaluation of program grants
• Monitor implementation of grantmaking and collaborative fund performance on a monthly basis to ensure progress toward goals and overall advancement of annual plans and contribute to organizational performance trackers 

Collaboration & Movement Strengthening 

• Partner with the Narrative and Communications team to maximize the impact and effectiveness of the Solutions Project’s narrative and communications services to grantee partners
• Partner effectively with peer funders to build awareness of TSP’s strategy, identify ways to support each other, and elevate promising grantees to attract additional funding
• Work with executive, development, and communications staff  to package, budget for, and frame the development of major grant initiatives and “big bets”
• Develop and maintain an extensive and diverse network of partnerships across non-profit, philanthropic, public, and private sectors including in adjacent spaces e.g. feminist philanthropy, women’s funds, mainstream climate philanthropy, global grassroots climate justice movements 

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional grantmaking experience, ideally inclusive of social justice, racial justice and/ or climate justice fields, including managing, developing and evaluating grantmaking
• Deep understanding of and passion for trust-based (solidarity) philanthropy 
• Experience using online grantmaking tools and databases, ideally including fluency in Salesforce
• Experience developing and evaluating strategic philanthropic and programmatic initiatives, including working with colleagues to develop associated budgets and fundraising plans
• Solid quantitative skills including fluency in Excel
• Good writing skills including experience writing reports and proposals
• Comfort operating in a ‘startup’ high growth environment with high levels of ambiguity, combined with high potential for initiative and creativity 
• Strong people management leading through collaboration and shared accountability 
• Strong presenter and meeting facilitator
• Committed to working with diverse communities and to finding shared goals amongst varying experiences and perspectives
• Expertise in collecting and analyzing data to measure grantee and grantmaking success
• Experience successfully and independently working and leading in a remote team setting

Compensation and Benefits:

• The salary range for this position is $145,000 – 160,000
• TriNet medical, dental, and vision insurance plans are fully covered for employees, spouses, and dependents
• Full time employees receive 13 paid holidays, 120 hours of flexible PTO, and 10 days of paid sick leave annually with increasing PTO allowance for tenured employees
• Employees are eligible for 8 weeks of paid parental leave, with up to 6 months of total leave
• Full time employees are eligible for a fully paid, 2-month sabbatical after five years of continuous, full time employment
• After nine months of employment, employees have access to a $5,000 annual life-long learning fund that can be used for on-the-job up-skilling, career development and leadership activities, and non-work related lifelong learning activities
• Fully remote, with occasional need for travel 

To Apply:

The Solutions Project is partnering with RCG Talent Solutions to find our next Managing Director of Grantmaking & Programs. Please follow this link to submit your application and direct all questions to openroles@rcgtalent.com. 

The Solutions Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages leaders of color, women, and those who identify as LGBTQI to apply. We comply with federal, state and/or local laws that prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizen or intending citizen status, disability, and veteran status. Information provided during the application or employment process will not be used to discriminate against any individual in any manner. The Company complies with ADA regulations as applicable. By submitting this online application form, you consent to be contacted via email with important updates and other information from RCG Talent Solutions.