Manager, Grants - National Office (Remote)

YMCA of the USA•Chicago, IL

10d•$75,000 - $89,000•Remote

About The Position

The Manager, Grants manages the execution of subgrants awarded by YMCA of the USA to local YMCAs in support of organizational and programmatic priorities. The role coordinates multiple stages of the subgrant lifecycle in partnership with internal teams and supports applicants and grantees throughout the grant process. The Manager advances Y-USA’s priorities by managing consistent subgranting processes and systems, ensuring timely execution, and providing responsive operational support to local Ys and internal stakeholders. The position is part of the Financial Development department, which secures and sustains philanthropic resources for the organization’s mission through fundraising strategies and donor partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
4–8 years of experience required.
Advanced functional skills.
Intermediate industry knowledge and experience.
Entry-to-intermediate managerial skills.
Ability to perform complex or advanced functional and operational tasks.
Ability to manage a team or function.
High degree of decision-making within the assigned area.
Ability to focus on policy and strategy implementation for short-term results.
Internal and external communication skills.
High influence over teams and within the function.
May set goals and objectives for team members to achieve operational results.

Responsibilities

Manage communication of subgrant opportunities, including application announcements, timelines, and applicant guidance, while identifying opportunities to improve clarity and applicant experience.
Build and manage subgrant timelines with project teams and grants leadership, aligning them with funding priorities and operational capacity.
Coordinate application and review processes, including eligibility verification, scoring, documentation of funding decisions, and communication of award outcomes; recommend workflow and process improvements where appropriate.
Manage subgrant execution, including payments, returns, modifications, extensions, and closeout activities, to ensure timely and accurate grant delivery.
Administer and configure the Y-USA Grants Portal (SmartSimple), including building forms and workflows, maintaining data integrity, managing user access, troubleshooting system issues, and supporting grantmaking operations; identify system enhancements and automation opportunities.
Lead applicant and grantee support by clarifying grant expectations, reviewing modification and extension requests, and ensuring inquiries receive timely and thoughtful resolution.
Provide technical assistance to applicants and grantees throughout the application and award process, including system navigation, documentation guidance, and readiness support; develop resources that strengthen applicant success.
Monitor grant activities, deliverables, and reporting for compliance with established requirements, and analyze trends to inform operational improvements.
Analyze applications and reports to identify trends and inform process improvements.
Collaborate with internal teams on reporting, communications, and grantmaking operations, and contribute to cross-functional initiatives and knowledge sharing.