For more than 40 years, Main Street America (MSA) – a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation – has led a transformational movement, working with 2000+ communities around the country to revitalize and re-energize their older and historic downtown commercial districts. We are dedicated to helping communities understand the connection between creating quality urban places and economic competitiveness and equipping them with the tools to make that connection a reality. Since its inception, the MSA’s approach has earned a reputation as one of the most powerful community-based economic development tools in the nation, generating over $65 billion in reinvestment in downtown areas.
Main Street America is a small, but growing, geographically dispersed team. This dynamic group is passionate about Main Street’s mission, with ambitions to significantly scale and deepen our impact in communities across the country. We are results-driven, high-performing, entrepreneurial, and exceptionally team-oriented. Several of our staff have young children or elder care responsibilities, and we strive to make our organization one in which team members can thrive in both their professional and personal lives by offering flexible work arrangements.
This position is a key member of Main Street America’s development team, which is responsible for overseeing over $3 million income annually. The Development Manager position will be focused primarily on preparing applications to secure federal and state government funding, though this position may also be called on to prepare applications to private funders including foundations, corporations, and individuals as need. As a member of Main Street America’s small fundraising team, the Development Manager will contribute to the development of and implementation of the organization’s fundraising strategy.
In cooperation with key staff, this position will be responsible for leading the preparation of grant applications, grant reports and conducting all grant program tracking, including managing proposal submission deadlines and deliverables.
A successful candidate will be, first and foremost, a great writer with a passion for Main Street America’s mission. This individual should possess an ability to translate Main Street America’s research and on-the-ground expertise to meet funder guidelines and program priorities. These activities include engaging and collaborating with program staff, synthesizing existing material for applications, and creating new compelling concepts and content for funders. This position is vital to the long-term financial stability and growth of the organization.
In addition, the candidate must be highly detail oriented and possess an ability to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously, meet deadlines and be adept at adjusting to the changing priorities of a small but nimble team.
While Main Street America is headquartered in Chicago, this position can be filled on an in-house, hybrid or remote basis from anywhere in the U.S.
- Responsible for managing all applications and renewals for current and new government grants, including writing grant proposals, collecting and finalizing all necessary paperwork, and coordinating the interdepartmental grant application process.
- Collaborate on writing all grant application budgets in conjunction with the Director of Development and the Chief Financial Officer and tracking and reporting on all grant financial requirements
- Ensure compliance with grant agreements.
- Complete all required grant reporting, including narrative and financial reports, working with program, research, finance, and other staff to ensure timely submission.
- Oversee recognition and stewardship process such as timely acknowledgment letters to donors.
- Manage communications with prospects and supporters.
- Assist President and CEO, Managing Director, and Director of Development presentations for prospects and funders.
- Attend strategy meetings, participate in relevant staff meetings, and develop a strong understanding of the organization’s work, programs, priorities, innovations, history, mission, and results.
- Assist with other internal and external writing projects as needed such as website content, fact sheets, reports, and case studies.
- Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.
- Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
Approximate Time Distribution of Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- 50% - Write and prepare grant applications and grant reports
- 20% - Liaise with program directors to translate and document a wide range of material into content for applications
- 15% - Develop funder pipeline through research.
- 10% - Assist with other external writing as projects as needed
- 5% - Assist in stewarding foundation partners especially new funders to build relationships
- Minimum 5 years of overall experience with at least 3-5 years in grant writing, grant management, or related work within the field of nonprofit development/communication
- Exceptional grant writing skills, including a proven track record of success writing winning proposals
- Experience with grant management and knowledge of grant stewardship best practices
- Experience with grant budgeting and knowledge of the basics of nonprofit finance/accounting including proficient in understanding budgets attached to funder proposals and grants.
- Experience with grant project management tools and donor databases
- Experience with, and/or knowledge of, the institutional/foundation giving landscape
- Excellent research/prospecting skills and experience using online grant databases
- Experience with, and/or knowledge of, the community revitalization, urban planning, community development, and racial equity arenas. Understanding of, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, the terminology and trends in the community revitalization field.
- Intermediate project-management skills with ability to achieve results with general supervision. Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.
- Experience successfully managing key stakeholders and relationships. Proven ability to collaborate across departments to and achieve results. Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with multiple stakeholders.
- Effective presentation skills. Excellent writing, spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills, as well as strong verbal communication and customer service skills.
- When working in the office, public contact and ability to work successfully in close proximity to others required. When working off site, ability work effectively in a remote environment, maintaining productivity and communications to meet deadlines and goals, is required
- Excellent computer proficiency, including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Google Suite and internet research skills, with proven ability to continually develop skills related to use of rapidly changing technology and communications best practices.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely fashion. Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment. Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions required. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
- Ability to work independently and to conduct assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices
- Ability to develop materials (proposals/one-pagers/partnership concepts) through a race equity and DEI framework Experience writing about identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, or gender in plain, specific terms as they relate to cultural heritage and community redevelopment issues.
- Regular and reliable attendance required, whether in person or virtually.