Grants Manager
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Fundamental Philanthropy, Inc. (FPI) is a boutique philanthropic and political consultancy with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. For more than a decade, the firm has worked with individuals, families, and organizations to help them use their resources (financial and otherwise) to drive social change. Our expertise lies in: developing grant making strategies, staffing foundation operations, mapping new trends, collaborating with thought leaders, and devising creative solutions to complex problems. Current key clients include: The Hearthland Foundation (Hearthland), the Righteous Persons Foundation (RPF), The Vera R. Campbell Foundation (VCF), and the Rosenzweig-Coopersmith Foundation (RCF).
Fundamental is in an exciting period of growth—expanding from a team of 10 to about 20 full-time employees over two years (current FTE count: 15). We’re looking for people who are energized by the opportunity to help shape an organization in motion and thrive in dynamic environments, who are excited to help build what’s next with creativity and humility.
ABOUT OUR TEAM:
At Fundamental, we seek colleagues who are:
Passionate about working for a company and clients that are committed to doing good in the world. You align with our creative principles and want to build a shared democracy that works for all.
Comfortable working in a nimble, fast paced environment with developing and changing needs. You enjoy reviewing and making sense of a high volume of complex, sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. You are adaptive and able to work in an organization that is iterative and growing.
Deeply relational and excel in collaborating with multiple stakeholders. You love being part of a team, are a bridge builder, with low ego. You are kind and have the capacity to imagine how the world looks to others and to build bonds of trust even in difficult circumstances.
Solutions oriented. You approach your work with an asset-based frame focusing on strengths and opportunities not only problems or limitations.
Genuinely curious. You ask questions, listen deeply and see yourself as a life-long learner.
Highly creative. You value artistry, beauty, and imagination as deeply human needs and not a luxury.
Fundamental believes philanthropy is both a process and practice. We understand that it requires time, learning, partnership, intention, and invention to create new possibilities. We center equity in how we work and what we do. We engage staff and stakeholders with differing identities and experiences. We understand community is not a monolith but an ever-evolving constellation of practitioners, organizations, and neighbors who together can address problems and envision creative solutions.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
In a time of significant growth for the firm and The Hearthland Foundation, Fundamental is adding a Grants Manager to support the Operations and Program Teams. Grants Managers play an instrumental role in facilitating the firm’s client’s grantmaking efforts and are both a strategic and transactional manager for all aspects of grants administration and compliance at the firm.
While this role will have touch points across all client accounts, it will be heavily focused on The Hearthland Foundation. The Hearthland Foundation was founded in 2019 to make grants and co-create projects that help build a shared democracy; tell a generative narrative about this country; and foster a culture of accompaniment. With a belief in the power of art, storytelling, and working together for the common good, the Foundation’s mission is to champion justice, equity, and connection, one creative act at a time.
Grants Management at Fundamental is a partnership between the Operations and Programs teams. The Grants Manager—the second role of this kind at our firm—collaborates with Programs colleagues throughout each full grant lifecycle, including portfolio budgeting, application, due diligence, award, payment, reporting, and closeout. The Grants Manager serves as an internal and external connector to ensure cohesive, collaborative, and consistent grants administration, ensuring that every grant is handled with precision, care, and integrity.
Key responsibilities include collaboration with peer Grants Manager; ensuring that foundation clients’ grantmaking adheres to legal and compliance requirements and record keeping; training staff and communicating with grantee partners on policies and procedures; and supporting process design efforts, including co-management of the firm’s database platform. A major administrative project in the first year of work will include a grantmaking database build-out or revise. This individual applies creative problem-solving skills to identify solutions within established grantmaking tools and approaches and provides guidance and appropriate escalation to the Director of Operations & Grants Management.
JOB DUTIES:
Reporting to the Director of Operations and Grants Management, this role’s duties include:
Grants Management & Lifecycle
Manage all aspects of grants processing through their full lifecycle — from entry into database, through drafting award letters and grant agreements, submitting payment requests to finance, collecting tax receipts, tracking multi-year payment schedules, and managing grantmaking budgets.
Serve as the primary compliance checkpoint on all grants: review for accuracy, verify grantee eligibility, and apply compliance screening to identify business, legal, strategic, and reputational risks before grants move to the DO&GM and then to the President or board for final approval.
Guide and support applicants and grantees with empathy and professionalism at every stage — communicating requirements clearly, ensuring accessible and accurate information, and providing technical assistance that makes the process smooth and equitable.
Identify when to involve counsel, finance, or other business partners, and serve as interlocutor between recommenders and legal—building institutional knowledge of the factors shaping legal advice over time.
Collaborate closely with peer Grants Manager to ensure streamlined workflow and consistent application of grantmaking policies and procedures.
Facilitate regular coordination meetings with Program staff to track pipeline, align on approaches and timing, and ensure grant review and closeout processes run smoothly.
Communicate and coordinate across internal teams (operations, program, finance, legal) and externally with grantees and funders to advance grantmaking goals.
Track grant reporting deadlines, review deliverables for compliance, and ensure timely disbursements.
Database, Records & Compliance
Maintain meticulous grant records in Salesforce (and/or client databases) to track payments, reporting requirements, and key documents — ensuring the integrity and completeness of digital and physical files for legal, auditing, tax filing, reconciliation, and foundation compliance purposes.
Partner with a Salesforce (or other CRM) consultant to design, implement, and improve the system to meet current and future programmatic and operational needs.
Prepare and distribute award letters, agreements, payments, and declinations with integrity and precision.
Collect Conflict of Interest forms, non-disclosure agreements, participant releases, and other required forms from relevant parties. Maintain and update records of clients' board affiliations and related paperwork.
Ensure compliance with IRS regulations and foundation requirements for all grants. Support the business office/finance team with foundation audits and tax filings.
Analysis & Reporting
Prepare clear, insightful reports on grantmaking activities, history, and trends to help clients, program staff, and senior leadership understand grantmaking activity and impact.
Support or lead grantmaking evaluation efforts, including designing data collection approaches, analyzing program outcomes, and synthesizing findings into clear reports that inform grantmaking strategy and help clients assess impact.
Analyze grant data and develop dashboards to inform decision-making, process improvement, and budgeting.
Systems, Process, and Professional Development
Implement and continually strengthen grants management policies and procedures — including maintaining an up-to-date Grants Management Manual with standardized templates for recommendation memos, award letters, grant agreements, and related documents.
Stay current on U.S. and international grantmaking regulations (e.g., IRS), maintain deep knowledge of grant types and tools, and research emerging practices to present promising approaches for consideration.
Contribute to enhancing grant technology systems by supporting design, testing, training, and implementation. Partner with the DO&GM and collaborate across teams to align systems with organizational needs.
Lead onboarding and training for new hires and colleagues on grantmaking processes, systems (including Salesforce), and internal guidance tools. Develop clear, accessible learning resources for grant makers.
Participate constructively in project teams, working groups, and other cross-team and cross-organization efforts.
This role may include other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
At least eight (8) years of professional experience with increasing responsibility working in any of the following fields: philanthropy, non-profit, advocacy, government, arts, and/or politics.
At least four (4) years of grants management experience in a non-profit or philanthropic setting, with an intermediate understanding of programs, philanthropic giving, and grantmaking strategies, as well as IRS and foundation-specific compliance regulations.
Ideally some experience working with artists and creative people who use their vision to shape narratives and social change movements.
Exceptional verbal and written communicator in English, including proofreading, editing, and maintaining clarity and precision in all correspondence. Can demonstrate compelling storytelling abilities and the summarization of complex information.
Highly organized and methodical, able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and calm under pressure. Works independently and collaboratively within a supportive, fast-paced team environment.
Fluency in use of systems necessary to role, particularly donor databases such as Salesforce (or a similar CRM).
Skilled in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Salesforce reporting, Excel, Tableau) with experience translating grantmaking data into actionable insights for program improvement and strategic decision-making.
Experience managing and tracking budgets in Excel and/or CRMs.
High level of interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people at multiple levels, across internal teams, and with various partners, communities, audiences, and stakeholders—particularly across intersecting identities such as race, class, age, and geography.
Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential or sensitive situations and matters, as well as proven diplomatic, problem-solving capabilities.
Proficient with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel), and comfortable working on a Mac.
Basic experience using—or willingness to learn—shared document platforms (such as Dropbox), office communication platforms (such as Slack), project management platforms (such as Notion), presentation and design platforms (such as Adobe Acrobat and Miro), AI platforms (such as ChatGPT and/or Claude) and virtual communication platforms (such as Zoom).
This combination of experiences and skills is ideal to be successful in this role, but we do not require or expect to find a candidate with everything. If you possess many of these experiences and skills, we invite you to apply. We value candidates with a range of backgrounds and abilities and recognize that everyone brings a unique professional and lived experience into the workplace. In all the job function areas, reasonable accommodations are available, as needed.
FPI is an equal opportunity employer. FPI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, FPI complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
LOCATION & HOURS:
This is a full-time, exempt position based in the Los Angeles, CA-area.
Fundamental is currently working via a hybrid model (three days in-person, two remote). Our offices are located in Culver City, CA. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am – 6pm PT, with core operating hours effective between 10am-4pm PT.
In addition, the Grants Manager should anticipate some work hours that shift during busy grantmaking seasons, and you may be asked to support program convenings or field events in the evening or weekend. Travel is anticipated to comprise approximately 5% of this role (with flexibility).
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
The salary range for this position is $95,000 - $115,000.
We care deeply about our team and ensuring folks remain healthy and focused on their wellbeing so they can bring their whole selves to work.
Our compensation package includes:
100% employee coverage for medical, dental, vision and life insurance
401k plan after one year of service (no match needed; minimum 7% employer contribution)
Major holidays observed, and floating holidays available
Paid weeklong summer and winter breaks (office closure)
Paid vacation / personal time off
Paid sick, mental health, and wellness time off
Paid parental leave (starting at 12 weeks)
Paid sabbatical (two months, following seven years of service)
Professional development budget
Hybrid schedule
HOW TO APPLY:
Deadline: Rolling, through February 28th, 2026.
Interested candidates should submit a résumé and a letter of interest detailing relevant experience. In your letter, please also include a brief statement on your specific interest(s) in working with Fundamental and The Hearthland Foundation.
Please submit all application materials to Andrea Sorin at hiring@fundamental-inc.com.
Please note that no telephone calls are accepted. All inquiries, including any assistance or accommodation requirements due to a disability should be emailed to Andrea Sorin.
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
Qualified candidates will be contacted for an initial screening conversation. Those candidates who advance through the interview process should expect approximately 2-3 rounds of interviews. A presentation or assignment may be requested from candidates as part of the process. Reference checks will be conducted at the conclusion of the process for two finalists. Interviews will take place virtually and in-person in Los Angeles.