Grants Associate

Lloyd A. Fry Foundation • Chicago, IL

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation seeks a Grants Associate to support the accurate and timely processing of grants across all Foundation program areas. The Grants Associate is a high-trust role responsible for moving grants through the pipeline from submission to payment, maintaining data integrity in the Foundation’s grants management system, and serving as a professional and responsive point of contact for grantees and board members. This role requires exceptional attention to detail and follow-through, strong written communication skills, and the discretion and judgment to represent the Foundation well in external interactions.

Requirements

• Post-secondary degree and 2–3 years of experience in a foundation, nonprofit, or professional services environment preferred
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy; strong follow-through on tasks and commitments
• Excellent written communication skills; able to correspond professionally and clearly on behalf of the Foundation
• High level of discretion and professional judgment
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Experience with grants management systems (SmartSimple or similar) a plus
• Genuine interest in the Foundation’s mission and the communities it serves

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grants management systems (SmartSimple or similar) a plus

Responsibilities

• Fully process Foundation grants across all program areas, including program, director, family, and discretionary grants — from submission through payment
• Create and maintain proposal folders; run compliance checks including nonprofit status verification, demographic data, and other required documentation
• Ensure data accuracy and completeness in SmartSimple, the Foundation’s grants management system; respond to data requests and support program staff with system questions, report pulls, and grantee follow-up on outstanding submissions or requirements
• Serve as a first point of contact for grantee inquiries related to the application process, portal questions, and grant requirements; manage the Foundation’s applications and reports inboxes
• Support letters of inquiry processing, including preparing decline letters and summary materials
• Manage annual conflict of interest forms and vendor demographics survey
• Serve as a reliable and responsive point of contact for board members, providing timely assistance with meeting logistics, materials, and general inquiries
• Support board book preparation and assembly in coordination with the Senior Grants Manager
• Coordinate board meeting logistics, including managing invitations, reminders, and support for setup and materials
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and other educational programs when directed
• Maintain confidentiality of all grant related information
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned

Benefits

• 3 weeks of vacation
• paid sick days
• employer-paid health and dental insurance (85% of the premium)
• A 403B retirement plan is available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree