Grants Manager

Location: Milwaukee, WI (remote candidates will not be con

Status: Exempt

The Florentine Opera is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on all legally protected status. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

The Florentine Opera is looking for a Grants and Communications Manager, who will play a key role in managing a robust grant program while assisting in the project management of annual giving. A successful candidate must thrive on change and collaboration, with a detail- and people-oriented approach. An effective candidate is not only strategic and creative, but also willing to roll up their sleeves on all aspects of the position. We are specifically looking for someone with strong writing and interpersonal skills, interested in a quickly evolving organization.

The Florentine team is looking for:

• Project management: align and map upcoming deadlines and goals
• Strong organizational, analytical, research and writing skills, along with a knack for making a compelling case for support.
• Ability to write reports and proposals in a clear, concise, and easy-to-read manner. Comfortable working in Google Drive and with project management software.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

• Maintain and grow our annual pipeline of grants based on previously developed relationships and by soliciting new foundations and corporations for grant funding, ensuring a goal-focused approach.
• Actively manage grant proposals.
• Manage applications and reporting for foundation/corporate donors, including securing, preparing for, and proactively scheduling cultivation meetings, writing proposals, and assembling reports.
• Get requirements out to the broader team quickly, giving them time to build thoughtful responses in their areas of expertise.
• Actively maintain the tracking and recognition process.
• Ensure timely and accurate grant success reporting through a centralized grants management process. Ensure proper documentation of project milestones and deliverables. This includes government grants and contracts, including application renewals and compliance obligations.
• Research and identify additional funding opportunities that align with The Florentine’s objectives.
• Monitor changes in federal, state, and private grant policies to ensure proactive compliance.
• Provide guidance to and make timely requests from internal teams on grant-related compliance and budget management.
• Stakeholder and relationship management.

Fundraising/Development

• Support donor cultivation plans per a “moves” management structure, as well as donor motivation and donor readiness frameworks.
• Collaborate with the entire development team to ensure that our donors’ experiences are excellent and consistent across all levels of giving.
• Assist in implementing effective annual fundraising for institutional giving, individual donors, UPAF and corporate support. Support the development team in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, including fall/spring mail campaigns.
• Monitor and maintain accurate donor listings and sponsorship recognition.
• Support development operations, including gift processing, acknowledgments, campaign tracking, and integrity of the donor database in partnership with Box Office and Database manager, to ensure that all donors receive appropriate and timely recognition.
• Support annual development and fundraising and events.
• With the marketing team, maintain brand-aligned fundraising communications and promotion strategy.

Administration

• Inform and uphold the values and mission of the company.
• Work with the finance team to reconcile donations with financial records, as well as coordinating the annual audit with the whole devo team.
• Help prepare monthly and annual progress reports for the CEO, Development Committee and Board of Directors, and attend board meetings when requested.
• Coordinate relationship with UPAF, keeping other team members informed and enabling their fulfillment of UPAF assistance requests.
• Be prepared to work performances and events, and other public-facing responsibilities.
• As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as company leadership identifies a need at any time.

• This position requires independent judgment, decision-making, creativity and analysis of problems, and a high degree of diplomacy and discretion. It requires leadership and planning skills, cooperative teamwork and the ability to interact with a variety of people working on diverse levels across the organization. The ideal candidate has a high level of discernment and professionalism at all times. Adherence to industry code of ethics and donor confidentiality.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Fundraising, Business Administration, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Administration, or related field preferred.
• 2 years of professional experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in a development function, successfully planning and executing grants.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with donors, staff, Board members, volunteers, community groups, and other related agencies.
• Persuasive communicator with strong verbal and written skills.
• Self-starter, able to work independently under limited supervision. Ability to plan, schedule, prioritize, coordinate, delegate, and manage multiple work activities.
• Working knowledge of fundraising event management a plus.
• As a performing arts organization, we have evening/weekend performances. These are scheduled far in advance, but as part of the Development team, you would need to be available at those times.
• Passionate about opera and/or the performing arts.
• Computer literate. Especially in fundraising databases/software with fluency in Google Workplace (and the appropriate apps). Familiarity with and reliance upon CRM for relationship management.

The job sometimes requires six-day work weeks, including evenings during performance periods. We offer comp time in those circumstances.

Sitting and standing for extended periods of time.

Ability to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and to handle other office equipment.

Ability to transport and set up keyboards and other musical equipment (carry up to 30 pounds).

The Grants and Communication Manager is a 32-hour/week, full-time exempt position (salary range $34,000-$36,000 based on experience). The Florentine Opera offers generous benefits and an excellent working environment.

Downtown paid parking

Health care stipend

Hybrid location (3 days in the office, 1 day work from home) - flexible hours

Delta Dental, self-paid

Eyemed/Delta Vision, self-paid

Life Insurance, $50k flat paid by The Florentine Opera

Short-term and Long-term disability insurance - 100% employer paid contribution

403b retirement plan

Complimentary and Discounted Tickets

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to Daniel Grambow, dgrambow@florentineopera.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.