ABOUT ARTS COUNCIL OF WINSTON-SALEM & FORSYTH COUNTY

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the chief advocate of the arts and cultural sector in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. With a $3 million annual operating budget, Arts Council’s goal is to serve as a leader in lifting up, creating awareness and providing support to grow and sustain the arts and cultural offerings throughout our region, ultimately bringing our community together and making it a great place to live, work and play. We acknowledge that it takes every voice, every talent, and every story to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Arts Council is committed to serving as a facilitator, organizer, and promoter of conversations that are authentic, inclusive, and forward-thinking.

 

FAST FACTS

  • Arts Council was founded in 1949 and is the oldest Arts Council in the United States
  • Raises $2M annually to support arts organizations, arts programming, arts in education and individual artists in the community
  • Offers free exhibitions, concerts, and arts events
  • Operates and maintains a community Campus and extension facility in the heart of Downtown Winston-Salem that is used by 400+ organizations annually
  • The annual economic impact of the arts and cultural sector in our community is significant (pre-pandemic study, 2016):
    • 800,000 art experiences in Winston-Salem
    • Arts enrichment for 31,000 students in WS/FCS
    • $156.8 million economic impact on Forsyth County
    • 5,559 equivalent full-time jobs

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Arts Council respects and values the full spectrum of self-defining differences among people and is committed to reflecting that diversity in the composition of its Board and staff, and throughout all aspects of Arts Council’s operations, including in the outcomes and other impacts of its work. Anchored by that core commitment, Arts Council strives proactively to promote an environment and experiences in our community that includes, celebrates, and supports, in an equitable manner, the needs, perspectives and contributions of all people in our diverse community.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grants Manager is a member of the Advancement team and is responsible for researching, preparing, submitting, and managing grant proposals and reports that support the organization’s goals and meet funder guidelines and criteria. This includes but is not limited to corporate, private foundations and government grants and project proposals. This person serves as the primary grant writer, manages funder/grantor relationships, engages in compliance reporting, and supports special project initiatives. This position requires strong writing, data analysis, program budgeting, and project and time management skills, with an emphasis on outcome and impact measurement.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead grant proposal development and submission—prepare and organize materials for proposals, and submit and monitor grant applications:
  • Research new funding opportunities on a local, state, and federal level
  • Maintain and build relationships with funders and other strategic partners on a local, state, and national level
  • Draft proposals/LOIs, grant application narratives, and budgets and collaborate to finalize with program staff, finance, advancement, and the President & CEO
  • Submit grant applications via paper or online portals, and maintain list of passwords
  • Meet with funders and Arts Council staff to explore funding opportunities
  • Maintain a master calendar of grants and prospects and all associated files and correspondence
  • Maintain library of grant support documents including resumes, bios, IRS forms, Board/staff diversity lists, etc.
  • Execute thank you letters and facilitate grant contracts/agreements
  • Ensure acknowledgment of funders/investors via website, e-newsletter, and social media, etc.
  • Maintain grant compliance and reporting, including impact and outcome measurement and grant budgeting. Take responsibility for meeting high standards of effectiveness, timeliness, and completeness:
  • Monitor and maintaining funder and investor reporting schedules and requirements
  • Track progress toward organizational and programmatic outcomes and goals
  • Draft compelling progress reports and targeted program updates (blog posts, press releases, social media posts, etc. – in partnership with CAO and marketing and communications manager) to funders that fully capture programmatic success
  • Assemble all necessary supporting materials and documents including budget reports, outcome measurements, success stories, etc.
  • Submit reports to funders and investors
  • Research statistics, trends and data for grant proposals and community advocacy:
  • Research and data-gathering—both from external sources and Arts Council program data
  • Assist in development of presentations for various stakeholders
  • Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND KEY SKILLS

The Grants Manager must be an individual of impeccable integrity and trustworthiness who possess the following skills or attributes:

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, grant writing, or grants management
  • Strong interest in the arts and cultural sector, and the ability to demonstrate that interest with a reasonable level of confidence and knowledge to donors and funders
  • Team player who works well with others
  • Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, and the ability to engage effectively with people of varying backgrounds and educational and experiential profiles. Strong ability to convey complex information in a clear manner
  • Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to self-start, to handle and supervise multiple and varied projects, and to coordinate with others to ensure that deadlines are met, and project results are promptly conveyed
  • Strong competencies in (a) Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and (b) grants research; (c) donor development/CRM systems a plus
  • Familiarity and experience working with national and governmental funders a plus
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and collegially with others across lines of responsibilities
  • Intellectual curiosity and objectivity, and the capacity for self-reflection, critical self-evaluation, and proactive self-improvement
  • Must be able to work a flexible schedule that regularly includes evenings and weekends to attend community and partner programs and presentations, and other events as required. This includes activities sponsored by Arts Council, as well as representing Arts Council at community events as needed
  • Political astuteness, professionalism, and grace under pressure

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary for the Grants Manager is $50,000-$55,000. Company-wide employee benefits offered include medical, dental and vision insurance, 403B company match after one (1) year of employment, and four (4) weeks of paid vacation with additional sick leave and holidays.

Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is committed to building a staff that reflects the community served by our mission and strategic priorities. We invite applications from diverse candidates and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information and veteran or disability status.

SUBMISSION AND DEADLINE

Interested persons should submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Katie Hall, Chief Advancement Officer at khall@intothearts.org as soon as possible. Submissions will be considered as they are received.

Katie Hall
Chief Advancement Officer
Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County
251 N. Spruce Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

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