Grants Manager

Job Posting 

Grants Manager 

Position: Grants Manager Department: Development 

Reports to:  Institutional Giving Officer Schedule: Full-time, Exempt 

Pay Range: $63,000-$70,000 

Under the direction of the Institutional Giving Officer, the Grant Manager will be responsible for developing and writing inquiries, letters, and proposals requesting funds to support The Contemporary Austin. The Grant Manager will also assist with tracking and developing reports, as required by each funder. 

Responsibilities: 

Application Development 

• Draft high-quality and competitive funding proposals to support an annual portfolio of institutional donors.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and updates in the field, paying particular attention to research findings to supplement compelling application narrative.
• Work cross-departmentally within the organization to aggregate data related to programming and organizational metrics.
• Work alongside program teams to define viable and measurable outcomes related to internal organizational metrics and participants’ interaction with the museum.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Giving Officer, as well as the museum’s finance department to develop grant budgets and financial narratives.
• Prepare supplementary administrative proposal documents, as requested by the funder.
• Ensure that all drafts and feedback from program staff and senior leadership are completed in a timely manner.

Post-Award Management 

• Write acknowledgement letters to corporate and foundation donors, as required.
• Oversee the development and submission of required narrative reports.
• Assist the Institutional Giving Officer with developing grant expense reports, ensuring that spending aligns with contracted use of funds.

Record Maintenance  

• Maintain accurate and updated electronic files of donors and prospects, including copies of correspondence, proposals, reports, and notes on significant phone conversations or donor visits.
• Work in conjunction with administrative and financial staff to ensure that corporate and foundation gifts are logged in Salesforce.

Additional Duties as Needed 

• Support prospecting efforts; participate in the ongoing expansion of the donor base at all levels through prospect identification and screening, research, and strategic solicitation.
• Represent The Contemporary Austin and the Development Department as needed, including assistance with special events.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum 3-5 years of grant writing experience

• Exceptional writing and verbal persuasion skills, with the ability to translate complex strategies and artistic concepts into compelling stories

• Familiarity with funding opportunities and application processes, particularly within the arts sector

• Working knowledge of research resources for foundation and government fundraising

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to build trusted relationships

• Budgeting acumen for the preparation of grant budgets in proposals and reports

• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information

• Working knowledge of Salesforce or another CRM preferred

How to Apply:  

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and 3 grant-related writing samples at the application link.  

Our Mission 
We invite you to discover contemporary art in settings that provoke thought and joy. Our programs join art with place in a pursuit of a deeper experience, a bigger conversation, and a closer community. 

Our Vision  
We believe in the capacity of art to transform lives. We dream of a future where more eyes, ears, hearts and minds are opened by contemporary art in all of its forms.  

Our Values 

Extending the Welcome – We want every person to feel like they belong here. Our invitation is completely open and inclusive. 

Always Caring - We know that details matter. We care deeply about the quality of our work and about the experiences of our guests, the artists we collaborate with, our staff, and all those we have yet to meet. 

Socially Mindful - We believe that contemporary art is a way for people to connect their personal experiences with the broader social and cultural dialogues of our place and time. 

Staying Curious - We observe closely, listen intently, and inquire sincerely because we have a boundless fascination with people, art and ideas. 

Making Progress - We always want to be better—to inspire more deeply, to engage more openly, and to serve more joyfully. We are mindful of feedback and committed to ongoing reflection and iteration. 

Being Here - A place can transform your experience of art, and art can transform your experience of a place. We activate our downtown exhibition space and our lakeside sculpture park in imaginative ways to serve Austin. 

Trying New Things - We believe in the importance of experimentation, play, and the surprise that often results from trying something new. We know that progress comes through both bravery and vulnerability. 

About The Contemporary Austin  

As Austin’s only museum focused on contemporary artists and their work, The Contemporary Austin offers exhibitions, educational opportunities, and events that start conversations and fuel the city’s creative spirit. Known for artist-centric projects and collaborations, The Contemporary invites exploration at both its urban and natural settings—downtown at the Jones Center on Congress Avenue, lakeside at the Laguna Gloria campus (including the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School, and the historic Driscoll Villa), and around Austin through the Museum Without Walls program.  

  

Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) 

The Contemporary Austin values a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and we seek to model these values in our hiring and engagement practices for all our artistic and educational programs. We welcome applications by BIPOC candidates as well as individuals who bring new perspectives in a host of ways. It is the policy of The Contemporary Austin not to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status and to take action to ensure that those seeking to do business with the Contemporary are treated fairly. The Contemporary Austin aims to create a safe, welcoming working environment and doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind.  The organization is currently pursuing a multi-year DEIA effort and seeks individuals who share our commitment to this work.