Position Description: Grant Program Officer
About the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation:
Founded in 1975, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation expands opportunities for people and communities on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We do this through intentional giving, a commitment to place, and working with people to make this region and its future better for everyone.
Our work is guided by these values:
- The Power of Place: We seek to honor the history of the North Shore and act with integrity and respect for people’s cultures, traditions and beliefs.
- Education: We have seen and believe that education can transform lives and in doing so transform families and communities.
- Relationships: We understand the power of partnering, we know the importance of active listening and responding to the diverse needs of the North Shore.
- Stewardship: We are intentional with the foundation’s resources, as well as the valuable and vital human and natural resources of the North Shore.
- A Just and Equitable Region: We will direct our resources where needed and work to reduce barriers to ensure that all people and communities have the opportunity to flourish.
Since establishing formal operations in 2007, the foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants and $1 million in scholarships. The foundation has an annual grantmaking budget of approximately $1.4 million per year. The foundation also operates a scholarship program for high school graduates in Cook County.
Position Summary:
The Program Officer supports the grantmaking activities of the foundation. Grantmaking activities are conducted through cultivating and stewarding relationships with community members and organizations, analyzing and identifying grantmaking opportunities, and collaborating with staff and board members to meet the mission of the foundation. This is a full time, 32-hour a week position that reports to the Executive Director. You’ll be part of a 4-person team that works collaboratively across functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Community Relationships
- Maintain open lines of communication with nonprofit organizations across the foundation’s service area, both initiating contact and responding to requests for dialogue and information.
- Be knowledgeable about issues and trends in the community that impact the work of the Identify emerging trends in the service area to inform the board of community needs and potential granting opportunities.
- Build and steward strong professional relationships with past and current grantees, and other partners.
- Convene grantees as appropriate for listening sessions, networking opportunities, and/or professional development opportunities.
- Seek out and participate in community meetings and events throughout the foundation’s service area related to Program Officer job responsibilities that inform and promote the foundation’s philanthropic interests.
- Be responsive and accessible to organizations and other stakeholders that can demonstrate a connection to the foundation’s grantmaking priorities and provide technical assistance and referrals to other resources as appropriate.
- Work with the Executive Director to explore and take advantage of opportunities to share the foundation’s work with a larger audience through communications, workshop and conference presentations, panel discussions, etc., and engage other staff and board members in these efforts as appropriate.
Grantmaking Activities
- Communicate grant opportunity information (quarterly and small grants) to potential grantees, and advise them as to eligibility, and application process.
- Field inquiry conversation requests from potential grantees at the beginning of each grant round and conduct initial screening for eligibility. Schedule and conduct inquiry conversations with Document inquiry conversations for foundation records.
- Consult with the Executive Director on inquiry conversations and written inquiries as to encouragement or discouragement for grant round and requested amount. Document decision for foundation records and communicate decision and next steps to applicant.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for applicants throughout the grant cycle, advising as to inclusion of supporting documents, answering questions about grant content, and assisting with technical issues.
- Review all full applications and complete due diligence on requests, prepare for distribution to board members before site visits.
- Coordinate with applicants and board members to schedule and conduct site visits, gathering supplemental information to grantee application to further inform board granting decisions. Debrief with board member in attendance post-site
- Work with Executive Director on recommendations for dissemination to board of directors in preparation for board meeting and board granting decision for each grant round.
- Communicate Board decisions to applicants and work with the Administrative Support Specialist to send out grant agreements and other post award communications.
- Serve as main point of contact for requests of grant extensions from grantees, work in consultation with Executive Director to approve, and process appropriate paperwork and communications with grantee.
- In coordination with the Administrative Support Specialist, communicate with grantees regarding deadlines for grant final reports. Review submitted final reports and expenditures. Communicate with grantees regarding any inconsistencies, or any unspent funds needed to be Compile quarterly board updates summarizing final reports.
- Manage the grants process for small grants that provides quick turnaround grants of up to $3500. Field, screen and conduct inquiry conversation with grantees. Consult and advise Executive Director as to encouragement or discouragement.
Grants Management
- Coordinate with Administrative Support Specialist to optimize use of database as a tool for both foundation and applicants, and to maintain ongoing integrity of database.
- Working with Executive Director, support board of directors in their grantmaking capacity, identifying opportunities for education, engagement, and process adjustment.
- In partnership with Executive Director, review foundation funding priorities including: remaining apprised of best practices in foundation grantmaking, working with board to clarify and amplify foundation values, and regular dialogue and tools to ensure that the foundation’s resources are being used for the greatest community impact.
- Maintain and track data on grantmaking to support organization learning and understanding of impact of grants.
Key Qualifications:
Broad understanding of nonprofits and their work in our region: opportunities, challenges, trends, management structures, fundraising approaches, etc.
- Familiarity with and appreciation for the strengths, challenges, and unique qualities of the are served by the foundation: Southern Saint Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties, and the Grand Portage Nation.
- Past experience working in the nonprofit sector within the interest areas of the foundation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen carefully and build connections with diverse communities with cultural humility and a willingness to learn.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically about the broad goals of the foundation while remaining focused on the detail-oriented work and follow-through required in this position.
- Strong analytical skills, and the ability to understand the feasibility, possibility, and pitfalls of a wide range of grant proposals.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and both formal and informal.
- Ability to plan, organize, and accurately follow through on grant management activities.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 apps.
Jobs Data:
Classification:
Exempt, Full Time (32 hours/week).
Starting Salary:
$60,000/year
Benefits:
We offer retirement contributions to a company sponsored SIMPLE IRA plan; vacation, sick and holiday leave; and cover 80% of the cost of the premium for an individual health plan.
Location: T
his position is remote/hybrid based. The successful candidate should be based within the service area of the foundation (Duluth area, Lake and Cook Counties, and Grand Portage Nation) and have access to reliable broadband service. Ideally, this candidate will be a resident of Cook County.
Schedule:
The position is for 32 hours a week and will require flexibility with the schedule. Evening and weekend work may be required on occasion. The position will involve significant regional travel.
Start Date:
Start date is negotiable with a preference to begin the position no later than August 3, 2026.
To Apply:
Send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to hello@lkjf.org with Program Officer in the subject line. Applications are due Friday May 29th by 4:00 pm.