Director of Grants Management

ABOUT Resources Legacy Fund (RLF): 

Resources Legacy Fund builds the architecture behind lasting environmental progress. From climate resilience to land and water conservation to community well-being, we help visionary ideas take shape—offering the steady support and strategic know-how to turn complex challenges into collective victories. 

We deliver transformative outcomes for our planet and its people through trusted partnerships and creative campaigns. Rooted in California and expanding across Western North America and beyond, we have a 25-year track record of supporting initiatives at every scale. We also host fiscally sponsored projects that reach across the globe, reinforcing the efforts of change makers worldwide.  

Addressing three interconnected crises — climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental injustice — requires creativity, collaboration, and fast reflexes. With deep operational expertise and the confidence of donors and partners, we enable lasting solutions to rise. 

Position Summary 

The Director of Grants Management provides strategic direction to and oversight of RLF’s grants management function, which processes approximately 1,000 outgoing grants and contracts totaling about $90 million annually. The Director designs and implements best practices, policies, and procedures for outgoing funds across all three related 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities (Resources Legacy Fund, Fund for a Better Future, and Shared Ascent Fund), their fiscally sponsored projects, and their donor advised funds.  

The Director leads a team of approximately 20 staff, and plays an essential role in fostering a collaborative, transparent, and supportive culture within the team and across RLF.

 We seek a director who is nimble and responsive to grantees and donors, while both modeling best practices and ensuring legal compliance. This position requires flexible thinking and an understanding of where there can be creativity in program administration versus when legal constraints or best practices indicate a specific course of action.

This is a remote, exempt position with U.S. travel as needed, at a minimum quarterly. It reports to the Chief Finance and Administration Officer (CFAO). 

Key Responsibilities 

Oversee Grantmaking Systems and Processes in line with Best Practices and Organizational Values 

• Champion grantmaking best practices and process improvements to increase efficiency, democratize data management, and improve data transparency. 

• Serve as a point of consistency across multiple programs and fiscally sponsored projects, the subject matter expert for grant and contract administration policy and procedures, and a resource to staff processing outgoing grants and contracts.

• Address and propose creative, values-aligned solutions to grants management- questions.

• As a member of the senior Leadership Team, elevate cross-programmatic and cross-divisional issues to build alignment on grantmaking strategies that support RLF’s purpose and values. 

• Identify training needs and oversee training to foster organization-wide competency in philanthropic processes and the grants management system, along with related templates, policy and procedure documents, and training materials.

Manage the Grants Management Team 

• Lead nearly 20 staff members, including Deputy Director of Fiscal Sponsorship & Grants Management, Grants Manager, and multiple Grants Coordinators/Senior Grants Coordinators.  

• Foster a collaborative, transparent, supportive and trusting culture aligned with RLF’s values.  

• Actively solicit input from staff, encouraging and inspiring team members to proactively contribute ongoing process improvement ideas.

Support Legal & Fiscal Compliance Processes  

• Collaborate closely with in-house and outside counsel to mitigate risk and address legal compliance in grants and contracts processing, balancing programmatic needs and promoting values-aligned practices. 

• Partner with the Finance team to ensure fiscal and audit compliance.

• Address and triage inquiries regarding legal and fiscal compliance, due diligence, risk mitigation. 

Own and Administer Integrated Data System 

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for RLF’s Salesforce system as it pertains to outgoing funds, ensuring efficient, effective, equitable, and values-aligned grantmaking, and support the Development team in aligning with incoming funds processing.

• Ensure system configuration changes reflect a comprehensive understanding of both the human system and the technology system.  

• Oversee system architecture, evaluate releases and third-party tools, ensure smooth upgrades, and advise the Executive and Leadership Teams about system-related process questions.  

• Act as a central point of contact for staff and grantee feedback regarding system enhancements. 

Promote Knowledge Management and Data Reporting 

• Promote a culture of learning and development.

• Iteratively assess reporting, dashboard, and other data-related needs, ensuring colleagues have access to the data they need for their level of decision-making; support the Salesforce Analyst to provide trainings as appropriate. 

• Provide data-driven findings to inform decisions and external storytelling.  

Qualifications
Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

• A minimum of 5-10 years as a Grants Management Director or otherwise  demonstrated experience developing and implementing grants management strategies.

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ direct supervisory experience, with a passion for leading teams, mentoring individuals, as well as regularly facilitating meetings and trainings.  

• Strong understanding of best practices in grantmaking; deep and broad experience implementing grant management processes, procedures, and policies within a foundation or other grantmaking organization.

• Experience leading grants management systems optimizations and implementations.

• A leadership and management style that enables colleagues to do their best work on behalf of the organization’s grantees, fiscally sponsored projects, and donors. 

• Outstanding decision-making, problem-solving, and analytical skills, with experience providing oversight for grantmaking compliance.  

• Experience overseeing complex grantmaking portfolios at multi-entity organizations (e.g., 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, donor advised funds, and fiscal sponsorship organizations) strongly preferred.  

• Ability to balance the technical aspects of making a database work for all users, while helping users discover how the system can best support teams and projects.

• Proven project management and change management skills.  

• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts in business terms, evaluate requests across grants management and business systems, and work with colleagues at all levels to assess their needs, build consistency, generate buy-in, and promote consistent adoption of business processes. 

• General computer literacy and proficiency in the Microsoft suite, along with the ability to learn new technology quickly and thoroughly. Strong commitment to good data management and data governance practices. Strong technical skills including administration, system configuration, maintenance of GMS and/or CRM systems, are required.  

• Salesforce experience highly preferred. Familiarity with analytics tools, such as Power BI, and experience with grantee portal implementation or other major system implementations is a strong plus.  

• Professionalism and accountability, strong collaboration and communication (verbal and written) skills, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

• Self-starter with strong prioritization and time management skills, organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task in an environment with high expectations of responsiveness. Meanwhile, as RLF is an innovative, constantly expanding environment, the ideal candidate will bring an attitude of positivity, comfort with ambiguity, and a commitment to RLF’s mission, its grantees and fiscally sponsored projects, and its funder clients.  

Commitment to Nondiscrimination  

We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that a welcoming culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world.  

COMPENSATION 

Director of Grants Management starting salary range is $180,000 - $210,000. Salary commensurate with related work experience and qualifications.

We have an alternate Fridays off work schedule and offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits and approximately 16 paid holidays per year. 

TO APPLY 

Please provide a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills and experience align with this position. 

Recruitment Schedule
October 28th – Recruitment Launches
November 11th – Application deadline (applications received after this date may still be considered)
Early December – Screening interviews

RLF participates in E-Verify, you can review the information here and here.