Program Associate, New Economy Initiative

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan • Detroit, MI

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The NEI Program Associate is responsible for supporting the day-to-day implementation of NEI-related programs, grantmaking operations, funder and partner engagement, and organizational coordination. The Program Associate will contribute to NEI’s 5.0 strategy by managing grantmaking administrative workflows, supporting calendar and scheduling functions for senior staff, coordinating events and convenings, and providing general programmatic support across NEI’s portfolio of initiatives. This role requires strong organizational skills, excellent written communication, and a commitment to equitable economic development in Detroit and southeast Michigan.

About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM):
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a dynamic, full-service philanthropic organization dedicated to creating lasting, positive change across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston, and St. Clair counties. Since its founding in 1984, CFSEM has distributed over $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants, supporting initiatives in education, health, the arts, economic development, and more. As a trusted convener and advisor, the Foundation builds endowments, fosters collaboration, and champions equitable access to opportunity—ensuring Southeast Michigan is a place where everyone can thrive

Requirements

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to write clearly and professionally for varied audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); comfort with electronic grants management systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to southeast Michigan.
• Collaborative working style with a customer-service orientation toward internal and external partners.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including business support organizations (BSOs), CDFIs, and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge of southeast Michigan’s seven-county region.
• Experience with grants management platforms (e.g., Fluxx, Salesforce NPSP, or similar).
• Knowledge of SEDI-owned business communities and the structural barriers they face in accessing capital and technical assistance.
• Bilingual or multilingual candidates encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day grantmaking workflows, including tracking application deadlines, coordinating review processes, and maintaining grant records in the Foundation’s electronic grant tracking system.
• Prepare written reviews and summaries of grant applications; assist in conducting due diligence on applicant organizations.
• Monitor grants for IRS and award compliance; review interim and final grantee reports for programmatic and financial performance.
• Pull, analyze, and prepare reports from the grants management system; ensure data integrity across the NEI portfolio.
• Prepare materials for grant review committee and advisory committee meetings, including dockets, agendas, and supporting documentation.
• Follow up with grantees on reporting requirements and track submission deadlines; flag compliance issues to senior staff.
• Represent NEI in meetings with grantseekers and grantees as assigned.
• Comfortable leveraging AI tools to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows
• Support the implementation of NEI programs across key focus areas, including capital readiness, second-stage practical assistance, procurement pathways, and ecosystem navigation.
• Assist in coordinating NEI’s BSO (business support organization) network activities, including NBI Worktable Action Groups, SourceLink, and the Microbusiness Policy Coalition.
• Conduct research and compile background information on community needs, sector trends, and ecosystem partner activities to inform program decisions.
• Assist in developing new grantmaking projects and collaborative funder initiatives, including conceptualizing programs, drafting proposals, and building relationships.
• Contribute to NEI publications, web content, and funder-facing communications as directed.
• Help synthesize program data and learnings for internal reporting and external funder updates.
• Manage calendars for one or more senior NEI staff, including proactive scheduling, conflict resolution, and meeting briefing preparation.
• Maintain NEI’s master program calendar, ensuring visibility across team members on key deadlines, grant cycles, events, and funder engagements.
• Coordinate logistics for internal and external meetings: prepare agendas, distribute materials in advance, capture notes, and track follow-up commitments.
• Assist with travel coordination and expense documentation for program staff as needed.
• Support planning and execution of NEI-hosted and co-sponsored events, including funder briefings, grantee convenings, ecosystem summits, and community listening sessions.
• Coordinate event logistics: venue, catering, AV/technology, registration, materials preparation, and on-site support.
• Prepare event briefings, agendas, and participant materials; capture notes and action items during meetings.
• Manage post-event follow-up including thank-you correspondence, resource distribution, and evaluation summaries.
• Staff volunteer advisory committees: prepare meeting materials, attend meetings, take and distribute minutes.
• Assist in preparing funder-facing materials including briefings, one-pagers, narrative updates, and grant reports aligned with NEI’s communications standards.
• Support tracking of funder relationships, meeting notes, and pipeline activity in coordination with program leadership.
• Help draft sections of grant proposals and stewardship communications under the direction of senior staff.
• Maintain NEI and organizational files; manage inquiries from nonprofits and individuals about NEI grant programs.

Benefits

• 20 days of vacation accrued monthly
• 5 personal days
• 11 holidays
• 9 sick days accrued monthly
• paid parental leave
• employer paid short/long term disability
• pension retirement program after 1 year of service which contributes 10% of salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed