The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Manager of Public Funding & Grants to be based at its Philip Merrill Environmental Center headquarters located in Annapolis, MD.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

This position is responsible for raising State & Federal government funding to support the Chesapeake Bay Foundations (CBF) operating goals and additional support of CBF’s supplemental activities from public and some private sources, as assigned. Primary responsibilities include the solicitation, management, reporting and stewardship of all public grants, and select private foundation grants. The Manager of Public Funding & Grants is a fundraising position reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and is a members of the Grants Management Team. The position will be the primary point of contact with funding agencies. Work will focus on writing and coordinating cross-departmental proposals and programmatic reports.
The position involves close working relationships with all of CBF’s programmatic departments. It is a member of a highly collaborative interdepartmental team of professionals including field staff, scientists, policy experts, budget managers, accountants, as well as development and communications colleagues. A successful Manager of Public Funding & Grants will be able to balance being responsive to program department needs while staying consistent with fundraising goals and monitoring all state and federal grants. The position supports grant compliance with successful shepherding of government funding opportunities along the grant cycle of discovery, solicitation, management, and closeout.

Salary: $70,000

Essential functions include:
1.Raise public funds in support of CBFs annual operating needs, campaign initiatives, and supplemental activities:
• Identify new and recurring sources of public grant funding to maintain average annual revenue of at least $1 million.
• Review Requests for Proposal (RFP) opportunities online and contact State and Federal agencies and pass-through organizations to obtain grant guidelines and make pre-proposal inquires.
• Identify and solicit grant matching opportunities.
• Oversee and manage all aspects of the internal proposal generation and approval process including:
O Circulate opportunities and set internal deadlines for program staff to generate project plans and proposals.
O Write, review and edit all proposals for ensuring compliance with proposal guidelines and cohesiveness.
O Develop and submit proposals by working with CBF program departments and Finance grants team to obtain proposal information such as project work plans, budgets, methodology, timelines, and evaluation procedures/outcomes.
O Prior to submission secure approval for public grant proposals and award agreements from appropriate senior management through a specific internal proposal routing process.
• Maintain a calendar of recurring annual proposal opportunities as well as research and assess potential new opportunities.

2. Steward each public grant and agency, overseeing grant management activities throughout the grant period and cultivating for future support:
• Utilize relational database to manage public grant portfolios, maintain contact information, and track action items and reporting requirements.
• Work closely and creatively with program staff to write programmatic reports.
• Submit all programmatic and funding reports on time and as required by working in tandem with program managers, budget managers and the Finance department, especially during heavy reporting periods.
• Serve as official CBF liaison to donor/granting agency, communicating any changes or challenges, as well as successes, under the grant.
• As appropriate, invite agency participation in grant-related activities, occasionally meeting face-to-face to build and strengthen relationships, and participate in occasional relevant events or conferences.
• Ability to identify suitable matches between CBF programs and a public agency’s funding objectives.

3. Serve as a resource to other departments on public grants.
• Work pro-actively with CBF program departments on public grant fundraising strategies.
• Coordinate with the Development department to advise on appropriate stewardship plans – reviewing contact information for supplemental report mailings, acknowledgments, or other activities as needed.
• Share relevant grant information with Development department about public grant matching opportunities to help strategically raise new and additional private support.
• Work as needed with CBFs Washington, D.C. office to provide information on current public grants.
• Contribute to a collaborative work environment with shifting priorities.
• Miscellaneous projects and duties as assigned by the CFO.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, development, or donor communications. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex projects and programs into targeted fundraising requests. Exceptional project management, time-management and organizational skills are needed to plan, prioritize, and coordinate multiple concurrent projects with strict deadlines. Must possess strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions and policies and procedures. Ability to work effectively with cross departmental staff members and affiliated organizations. Exceptional interpersonal skills with the willingness to initiative work both independently and collaboratively across a multi departmental organization. Proficiency in computer systems and MS Office software is required. Knowledge of Blackbaud Luminate CRM (Salesforce-based) or similar constituent relationship management software.

• Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
• Work to ensure that systems, organizational culture, and practices are aligned with CBF’s mission, values and commitments related to DEIJ.
• Develop and refine programs and activities to ensure equitable practices and support the development of a diverse and effective team.
• Ensure an inclusive working environments that supports diverse populations.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter no later than April 6, 2021.

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred retirement plan.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE

Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.

To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
· Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
· Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
· Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
· Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.

CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.