The Kalamazoo Community Foundation is seeking action-oriented candidates with a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, innovation, social awareness and judgment who have the ability to build collaboration among various community-wide initiatives and to think in a multifaceted way for a current opening.
The Kalamazoo Community Foundation is seeking a Community Investment Officer, Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo Initiative.
The person who assumes this full-time position reports to the Vice President of Community Investment.
Qualified candidates may express interest in this position by submitting their completed employment application and resume to the
Human Relations department. A link to the employment application is available on the Kalamazoo Community Foundation website.
Responses must be received by Aug. 22, 2012.
General Description:
Supports the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo (LNGK) and the community to ensure the capable management and coordination of multiple projects. In doing so, coordinates facilitates, develops, and oversees the implementation of community leadership initiatives to address significant community issues of pressing need and launch strategic, comprehensive, long-range efforts to create new solutions and effect systemic change. Assists the Community Transformation Team/Executive Team of the LNGK in distributing resources for comprehensive community leadership initiatives. Develops and proposes frameworks and processes to identify and evaluate opportunities for new initiatives. Coordinates, develops and manages the communications efforts of the LNGK Works with other community partners and functional areas within the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to develop partnerships related to Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo.
Position Functions:
• Coordinates, develops and manages the activities and community leadership projects of the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo initiative, as required by their specific budget and funding sources. In doing so:
-- Identifies and secures funding from external sources as appropriate.
-- Develops comprehensive proposal and evaluation of programs for the Board for annual progress and funding review.
• Serves as staff to the Community Transformation Team and Executive Team of the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo. In doing so:
-- Troubleshoot project issues
-- Serve as liaison to evaluation team.
-- Develops and manages evaluation of past and current initiatives and establishes a system and process for identifying and collecting information regarding the effectiveness and impact of community initiatives.
-- Assist the Community Transformation and Executive Teams of the LNGK in determining its own ongoing membership and functions.
• Coordinates, develops and manages the communications efforts of the LNGK, in doing so:
• Develops and maintains a strong communications network with and among a diverse group of professionals, citizens, elected officials and community stakeholders.
• Communicates with Vice President of Community Investment, President/CEO and Board of Trustees regarding initiative progress and members of LNGK.
• Manage public communications within and across multiple structures of the LNGK.
• Communicates requests for funding and support to executive and CTT.
• Serves as main contact with grant seekers and consultants
• Administers grantmaking, contracts and Memorandums of Understanding for the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo including the following:
-- Develops and distributes Requests for Proposals, including community notification and proactive outreach.
-- Provides guidance and outreach to nonprofit organizations as needed.
-- Provides technical assistance to community groups through such activities a reviewing letters of intent and proposals; meeting with grant seekers to discuss the application process; developing project goals, objects and evaluation plans; and ensuring applications are complete.
-- Reviews proposals and prepares written analysis for Community Transformation and Executive Teams of the LNGK and/or President/CEO as appropriate.
-- Manages and facilitates committees to formulate recommendations.
-- Communicates results of decisions to grant seekers and consultants.
-- Creates and/or revises grantee report forms to reflect uniqueness of projects.
• Oversees contracts/grant compliance and communicates to TLN
• Monitors and reports progress and impact of funded programs to the appropriate individuals, committees, and/or funders.
• Assists the Vice President, Community Initiatives and President/CEO with the development of the Initiative budget.
• Utilizes Initiative expenses in accordance with Community Foundation policies and procedures.
• Oversees the work of outside consultants such as the Evaluator or a Workshop Design Consultant.
• Identifies and matches contracts/grants to outcomes identified by LNGK.
• Links/coordinates managers of projects to create synergies, new ideas, and learning:
-- Works with other community partners and functional areas within the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to develop partnerships related to community initiatives.
-- Champion and coordinate the process for identifying and evaluating opportunities for new initiatives including an assessment of staff capacity, congruency with Community Foundation mission and priorities and other community partners.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Required:
• Masters Degree or an equivalent combination of training and relevant work experience in the following areas:
• Public policy and political awareness/agility in the public sector.
• Consultation skills with individuals, groups, and organizations.
• Computer literacy in Windows environment
• Program planning, development, and administration.
• Knowledg eof the nonprofit sector, public sector, and philanthropy including experience in grantmaking or grant seeking.
• At least two to four years of progressively more responsible experience in the following areas:
• Grant writing or grant review
• Writing, verbal and interpersonal skills
• Working with boards of directors and broad range of constituencies
• Representing organizational positions within community settings
• Developing recommendations based on organizational mission and values
• Working both independently and as a team member
• Prioritizing multiple projects and working under pressure
• Research and evaluation
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals from a wide range of cultures.
• Ability to discuss cultural difference with colleagues and clients.
• Ability to assess ones own cultural strengths and limitations or challenges and integrate this understanding into interpersonal interactions.
Preferred:
• Ability to select and develop appropriate methods, skills and techniques attuned to people’s cultural, multicultural or marginal experiences in their environments.
• Ability to effectively employ multicultural approaches in resolving problems.
Established in 1925, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is one of the oldest and most successful community foundations in the country. With assets of more than $300 million, Kalamazoo Community Foundation each year invests more than $15 million in the community in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations. About 40 percent of its assets are unrestricted, which provide resources to support nonprofits addressing immediate community needs, as well as those looking for long-term solutions to persistent challenges.
Kalamazoo Community Foundation offers a competitive benefits package, team-oriented, performance excellence atmosphere, and opportunities to collaborate with people from cultural backgrounds other than your own. Kalamazoo Community Foundation believes the strength of its organization depends on its commitment to value, respect and embracing diversity.