Grants Manager

ABOUT WAYFARER FOUNDATION

Launched in 2021, Wayfarer Foundation is a Bahá’í-inspired philanthropic organization that partners with spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits to co-create peace and unity in the world. Steve Sarowitz, a Baháʼí philanthropist, Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), Director of Payescape, and partner in Wayfarer Studios, started Wayfarer as the philanthropic engine for his spiritual giving. In 2024, Wayfarer awarded over $24 million in grants, and 72% of our grantee-partner organizations were BIPOC-led. For more information about us, check out wayfarerfoundation.org.

POSITION DETAILS

Our Grants Manager will provide daily oversight of the foundation’s grantmaking and grant monitoring procedures—from initial application to closeout—under supervision of the Senior Grants Manager. The Grants Manager helps ensure the foundation’s grantmaking aligns with best practices in philanthropy in addition to IRS and legal requirements for private foundations. This person will be a strategic problem solver and detailed project manager demonstrating strong analytical skills and a commitment to partnership.

Reports to: Senior Grants Manager

Classification: Exempt/Full-time

Salary range: $80,759 - $102,587

Progression: Sr Grants Manager ($95,204 - $110,125)

Position Responsibilities:

Grants Review and Lifecycle Management

• Manages grant review and monitoring procedures and workflows to be utilized across the entire lifecycle of a grant, from initial application to closeout, under supervision of the Senior Grants Manager. Implements process improvements on an as needed basis.
• Implements due diligence, risk management (including tipping), monitoring, and file-keeping procedures to ensure the grant programs, individual grants, and foundation grantmaking practices are compliant with legal and IRS regulations.
• Oversees monthly grant payment process and authorizes individual grant installments, verifying all grantee requirements are met.
• Drafts grant award letters, agreements, and contracts in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Facilitates adjustments to grantmaking forms, templates, and applications, and any subsequent modifications, throughout the grantmaking lifecycle and on an as needed basis.
• Prepares all grant recommendations and supporting materials for approval by the Board, including board docket packet and financial reporting.
• Advises program staff on structuring of individual grants, to include recommended grant amounts, grant periods, payment schedules, and reporting requirements.
• Provides support to grantseekers on foundation policies and processes relevant to grant eligibility and application requirements.
• Support preparation of impact data for the foundation’s annual audit on an as needed basis.

Administration of Grants Management System(s)

• Conducts daily management of the foundation's grant management system (GMS).
• Ensures data and file-keeping integrity of all grant records including approvals/denials, grant letters and agreements, payment schedules, and giving history.
• Leads GMS functions relative to the grantmaking process, such as sending invitations to apply, updating the payment tracking module, updating contact records, running reports, and so on.
• Organizes formal training, including creation of related training tutorials, on grantmaking practices for staff.

Evaluation and Impact Reporting

• Supports production of evaluative data relative to the foundation’s impact for its Board of Directors and associated committees, including executive dashboards, impact reports, and other related materials as needed.
• Implements GMS coding and data collection strategies in grant applications and reporting to assess foundation impact.

Institutional Learning and Professional Development

• Stays abreast of best practices in trust-based philanthropy.
• Participates in and identifies opportunities for further professional development.

Team Management

• In the future, may oversee performance development plans for potential newly hired staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to and passion for Wayfarer’s mission: “We partner with nonprofits to co-create a unified world.”
• 3-5 years in a similar role with a grantmaking organization, preferably a private non-operating foundation, required. Experience in grants management strongly preferred. Direct experience working with BIPOC communities is a plus.
• Prior experience with Grants Management software (such as Blackbaud Grantmaking, GivingData, Salesforce Grantmaking, Temelio, and so on) required.
• Experience in preparing and understanding financial reports is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute work effectively without daily oversight from a supervisor strongly preferred. Previous project management experience and a proven ability to meet deadlines. Possesses a collaborative working style, caring outlook, and the ability to quickly shift from strategic thinking to granular implementation.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lens for all of your work.
• Appreciation for the spiritual dimensions of mission-driven work, especially Baháʼí-inspired practices.
• Excellent and creative verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to be vulnerable, emotionally intelligent, and service-oriented.
• Flexibility and adaptability as we continue to navigate the process of being a new and quickly growing nonprofit.
• Proficiency in and/or willingness to quickly learn WF tech platforms: GivingData, Microsoft 365,, etc.

Do I have to be a Baháʼí to apply?

• While we are guided by the spiritual principles of the Baháʼí faith, we respect and celebrate all religious devotions and differences and provide equal employment opportunities for all. We only ask you to come to the role with an open heart, mind, and interest in learning more about Baháʼí beliefs and the role diverse spiritual traditions can play in creating social change.

WORKING AT WAYFARER

• Benefits: We offer a holistic package that aims to care for our team in body, mind, and spirit; it includes: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement savings plan (after one year)
• Time off: Unlimited PTO and National Holidays
• Baha’i Holy Days (up to 9/year)
• 4 days/year for community service (1/quarter)
• Organization-wide Winter Break
• Professional development stipend (conference, books, trainings, etc.) wellness stipend (spiritual retreats, body care, therapy, etc.), “boundary bonuses,” and matching nonprofit donations.

Culture:

• You can expect The mindfulness of a house of worship: We engage in spiritual practices as a team, explore how spirituality can drive social change, and strive to treat one another with compassion and kindness.
• The energy of a startup: As a new organization, we are in an organic learning mode and value risk, innovation, and experimentation.
• The passion for justice of a grassroots non-profit: We celebrate the gifts of diverse individuals, communities, and institutions. We also stand up for justice for those excluded because we know that together, without -isms, we can find solutions to our most pressing problems.

Where will I work?

• We are a hybrid organization; we work 2-3 days at home and 2-3 days in our office in Wilmette, IL (easily accessible by the CTA purple line). You may be asked to travel a few times a year.

TO APPLY

We will review applications on a rolling basis until this position is filled. We anticipate that this person will begin in June 2025.

A brief cover letter. In your cover letter include the following:

1) Why do you want to work with us?

2) Please describe your previous work with BIPOC communities 3) What are the responsibilities of the individual in regard to issues of social justice?

4) What are your thoughts about working in this kind of workplace that centers spirituality, and how might you see yourself both using it for your growth and contributing to it as a leader/staff member?

1. A 1-2 page resume with 3 references listed.

WAYFARERFOUNDATION.ORG GRANTS MANAGER 6 @WAYFARERFOUNDATION

Wayfarer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Baháʼí, and other underrepresented applicants. We value diverse candidates; your gifts and lived experience matter more to us than titles or numbers.

ABOUT WAYFARER FOUNDATION

Launched in 2021, Wayfarer Foundation is a Bahá’í-inspired philanthropic organization that partners with spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits to co-create peace and unity in the world. Steve Sarowitz, a Baháʼí philanthropist, Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), Director of Payescape, and partner in Wayfarer Studios, started Wayfarer as the philanthropic engine for his spiritual giving. In 2024, Wayfarer awarded over $24 million in grants, and 72% of our grantee-partner organizations were BIPOC-led. For more information about us, check out wayfarerfoundation.org.

POSITION DETAILS

Our Grants Manager will provide daily oversight of the foundation’s grantmaking and grant monitoring procedures—from initial application to closeout—under supervision of the Senior Grants Manager. The Grants Manager helps ensure the foundation’s grantmaking aligns with best practices in philanthropy in addition to IRS and legal requirements for private foundations. This person will be a strategic problem solver and detailed project manager demonstrating strong analytical skills and a commitment to partnership.

Reports to: Senior Grants Manager

Classification: Exempt/Full-time

Salary range: $80,759 - $102,587

Progression: Sr Grants Manager ($95,204 - $110,125)

Position Details:

Grants Review and Lifecycle Management

• Manages grant review and monitoring procedures and workflows to be utilized across the entire lifecycle of a grant, from initial application to closeout, under supervision of the Senior Grants Manager. Implements process improvements on an as needed basis.
• Implements due diligence, risk management (including tipping), monitoring, and file-keeping procedures to ensure the grant programs, individual grants, and foundation grantmaking practices are compliant with legal and IRS regulations.
• Oversees monthly grant payment process and authorizes individual grant installments, verifying all grantee requirements are met.
• Drafts grant award letters, agreements, and contracts in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Facilitates adjustments to grantmaking forms, templates, and applications, and any subsequent modifications, throughout the grantmaking lifecycle and on an as needed basis.
• Prepares all grant recommendations and supporting materials for approval by the Board, including board docket packet and financial reporting.
• Advises program staff on structuring of individual grants, to include recommended grant amounts, grant periods, payment schedules, and reporting requirements.
• Provides support to grantseekers on foundation policies and processes relevant to grant eligibility and application requirements.
• Support preparation of impact data for the foundation’s annual audit on an as needed basis.

Administration of Grants Management System(s)

• Conducts daily management of the foundation's grant management system (GMS).
• Ensures data and file-keeping integrity of all grant records including approvals/denials, grant letters and agreements, payment schedules, and giving history.
• Leads GMS functions relative to the grantmaking process, such as sending invitations to apply, updating the payment tracking module, updating contact records, running reports, and so on.
• Organizes formal training, including creation of related training tutorials, on grantmaking practices for staff.

Evaluation and Impact Reporting

• Supports production of evaluative data relative to the foundation’s impact for its Board of Directors and associated committees, including executive dashboards, impact reports, and other related materials as needed.
• Implements GMS coding and data collection strategies in grant applications and reporting to assess foundation impact.

Institutional Learning and Professional Development

• Stays abreast of best practices in trust-based philanthropy.
• Participates in and identifies opportunities for further professional development.

Team Management

• In the future, may oversee performance development plans for potential newly hired staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to and passion for Wayfarer’s mission: “We partner with nonprofits to co-create a unified world.”
• 3-5 years in a similar role with a grantmaking organization, preferably a private non-operating foundation, required. Experience in grants management strongly preferred. Direct experience working with BIPOC communities is a plus.
• Prior experience with Grants Management software (such as Blackbaud Grantmaking, GivingData, Salesforce Grantmaking, Temelio, and so on) required.
• Experience in preparing and understanding financial reports is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute work effectively without daily oversight from a supervisor strongly preferred. Previous project management experience and a proven ability to meet deadlines. Possesses a collaborative working style, caring outlook, and the ability to quickly shift from strategic thinking to granular implementation.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lens for all of your work.
• Appreciation for the spiritual dimensions of mission-driven work, especially Baháʼí-inspired practices.
• Excellent and creative verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to be vulnerable, emotionally intelligent, and service-oriented.
• Flexibility and adaptability as we continue to navigate the process of being a new and quickly growing nonprofit.
• Proficiency in and/or willingness to quickly learn WF tech platforms: GivingData, Microsoft 365,, etc.

Do I have to be a Baháʼí to apply?

• While we are guided by the spiritual principles of the Baháʼí faith, we respect and celebrate all religious devotions and differences and provide equal employment opportunities for all. We only ask you to come to the role with an open heart, mind, and interest in learning more about Baháʼí beliefs and the role diverse spiritual traditions can play in creating social change.

WORKING AT WAYFARER

Culture - you can expect:

• The mindfulness of a house of worship: We engage in spiritual practices as a team, explore how spirituality can drive social change, and strive to treat one another with compassion and kindness.
• The energy of a startup: As a new organization, we are in an organic learning mode and value risk, innovation, and experimentation.
• The passion for justice of a grassroots non-profit: We celebrate the gifts of diverse individuals, communities, and institutions. We also stand up for justice for those excluded because we know that together, without -isms, we can find solutions to our most pressing problems.

Where will I work?

We are a hybrid organization; we work 2-3 days at home and 2-3 days in our office in Wilmette, IL (easily accessible by the CTA purple line). You may be asked to travel a few times a year.

TO APPLY

We will review applications on a rolling basis until this position is filled. We anticipate that this person will begin in June 2025.

Wayfarer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Baháʼí, and other underrepresented applicants. We value diverse candidates; your gifts and lived experience matter more to us than titles or numbers.