Position Title:                  Grant Program Associate

Location:                          Remote, Hybrid, or at Headquarters in Rapid City, SD

Application Deadline:  January 31, 2024

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Director of NDN Foundation, the Program Associate provides programmatic and grantmaking support to the NDN grantmaking team and assists the Associate Director in planning, organizing and implementing grantmaking opportunities and programming. Primary responsibilities include assisting with the grant process including application review and selection, scheduling and programming.

WHO WE ARE

NDN Collective is the most ambitious, systemic effort to empower Indigenous Peoples in the history of philanthropy. We are creating a paradigm change in how society invests in Indigenous Peoples by dramatically scaling up investment and shifting decision-making power. We are doing four key things to create a new ecosystem that supports Indigenous self-determination:

1. We are dramatically increasing philanthropic investment into Indigenous-led organizations, with the goal of giving out $50M per year in grants.
2. We are creating an Indigenous-led CDFI to move $100M of for-profit investment into projects led by and serving Indigenous communities.
3. We are building capacity in Indigenous communities to be able to absorb this new influx of capital.
4. We are advocating for Indigenous rights and policy changes that will enable our peoples and communities to thrive.

What Sets Us Apart

• We represent the people we serve—we are Indigenous-led and support Indigenous people and organizations
• We think in systems and recognize the interconnectedness of all living things
• We are changemakers that have and model a mindset of abundance
• We believe in the power of Indigenous self-determination to create a just, equitable world for all people and the planet
• We integrate culture and ceremony into our work
• We acknowledge and pay respects to our elders and past while taking ownership and control of our future.

THE POSITION

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Grantmaking Support:  Assists the Grantmaking team with scheduling, meeting support, documentation, grantmaking selection, and tracking systems and tools to support the grantmaking review process. Supports the planning and implementation of all NDN Grant Programs including: NDN Changemakers Fellowship Program, Radical Imagination Artists Program, Community Self-Determination Program, Community Action Fund, Collective Abundance Fund, and others to be developed.
• Community Engagement and Outreach: Assists in the recruitment, outreach, assessment, and relationship management of partner-grantees. Responds to inquiries regarding grant programs and provides information and feedback to grantseekers. Assists with grantee-partner convenings, Advisory Board and other meetings, or site visits, virtually or in-person.
• Program Support:  Assists the grantmaking team in providing grantmaking and programmatic information to grantee-partners and grant-seekers, including reporting and data analysis and the creation of promotional materials that aid in the grant application process. 
• Grants and Reporting systems:  Supports the grantmaking team in coordinating the workflows of the grants management system, including following up with grantseekers and grantee-partners. Assists the Foundation team in its collaboration with the Director of Research & Evaluation in evaluating the outcomes and impacts of grant programs. Assists in analyzing and synthesizing grants data for continuous improvement and refinement of all programs and processes.
• Internal team collaboration and coordination:  Supports the grantmaking team by exchanging information regarding and in coordination with grantmaking/programming activities and processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHO YOU ARE

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree with 1-2 years of professional experience preferred.
• Experience working with non-profit organizations or in a tribal or philanthropic setting, preferably with grants and administration programs.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a range of groups, including staff/teams, donors, consultants, and community members/grantees/partners.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines while paying attention to detail.
• Experience working with Gmail Suite, Microsoft Word, and online database software, i.e. Fluxx or similar.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong ability and desire to work collaboratively in a team environment which may include remote/virtual work.
• Strong motivation and ability to take initiative.  
• Working knowledge or fluency in Spanish and/or French preferred. 
• Outstanding research and analytical skills

Personal Characteristics

• ACTIVATOR: You are a self-reliant person and are strong at making things happen by turning thoughts into actions.
• LEARNER: You have strong learning agility and are able to rapidly understand and analyze new situations. You learn from your successes and failures and improve processes in your work.
• COMMUNICATOR: You are an exceptionally strong communicator who can create high-quality materials and deliver compelling messages and presentations.
• ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT: You are ambitious and creative and enjoy the process of building something from the ground up.
• SOCIALLY & EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT: You are able to work efficiently and respectfully with others. You understand how individuals, groups, and societies work and you build rapport through being trustworthy and empathetic. 
• DETAIL ORIENTED: You strive for perfection and are able to move from the high level of a project to its smallest details. 
• FLEXIBLE: You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are flexible when it is necessary. You are willing to travel when needed and excel in a remote worksite.

This position is salaried at a GS Level 11 with a salary ranging from $58,465 – $76,000. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as 401(k) retirement plan, a wellness program, personal leave and professional development.

HOW TO APPLY

Send an email to jobs@ndncollective.org with the subject line “INSERT JOB TITLE – [YOUR NAME].” In the email, please include:

As a single PDF attachment, include:

• Your resume
• 1-page cover letter explaining your interest in the organization and position
• Short answers to the following questions:
  • How does your indigeneity inform your current work and your interest in the position?
  • What is your philosophy about the position?
  • What would you be most nervous about going into this role if you were offered and accepted the position?
  • NDN Collective conducts background checks, is there anything you want to share with us about your background?
  • What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
• In the body of the email, please copy and paste the content of your short answers and include your name, phone number, and email address.
• During the month of December we freeze all hiring. Though applicants may be contacted for interviews during this time, please understand that we will not hire any new employees until January. 

As attention to detail is critical for success in this role, only applicants who follow these specific application guidelines will be considered.

Note: Please apply to one position only.

NDN Collective is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination.  It is NDN Collective’s policy to comply with all federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity. In keeping with that policy, NDN Collective is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and harassment and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any of our employees or others present at our facilities by anyone, including any NDN Collective supervisor, co-worker, vendor or client.