The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is the largest grant and scholarship provider in southeastern Virginia. Our mission is to make life better in Hampton Roads through leadership, philanthropy, and civic engagement. Hampton Roads Community Foundation started in 1950 as the first community foundation in Virginia and connects donors from all walks of life with charitable causes, including arts and culture, education, environment, health, human service and scholarships. It also underpins key community initiatives as part of its mission to inspire philanthropy and transform lives. We believe that racial equity is essential to the success of our region and its people. We further believe that advancing a more equitable and inclusive community is core to the mission of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.
Position Overview
The Associate Vice President for Grantmaking (“AVP-G” or “Associate Vice President”) works closely with the Vice President for Grantmaking to support a comprehensive responsive grantmaking program at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation (“HRCF” or “Foundation”). They also have operational responsibility for managing HRCF’s robust scholarship program. The AVP-G reports directly to the Vice President for Grantmaking (“Vice President”).
The Associate Vice President for Grantmaking believes in the vision, mission, and values of the Foundation and, in principle and practice, is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They support HRCF’s strategic roadmap as the guidepost for realizing them.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
General
1. Administer the scholarship program, including relevant policy development and compliance, funding availability, application timelines and processes, and award notifications and monitoring.
2. Ensure exceptional customer service to scholarship applicants, a quality application process, strong interactions with school counselors, a robust and diverse applicant pool, and timely payments to institutions of higher education.
3. Establish and maintain close relationships with public and private school counselors, college faculty and financial aid departments, and other entities that can assist with distribution of scholarship information.
4. Maintain an up-to-date procedure manual for the scholarship program.
Annual Process
1. Determine the annual available funds for each scholarship administered through the Foundation.
2. Review the scholarship application form and collaterals annually, updating them as required.
3. Manage the review process for submitted applications, to include the establishment of review committees and readers where needed, ensuring a comprehensive and equitable consideration of each applicant.
4. Manage the selection and notification of scholarship awardees, processing timely scholarship payments to the receiving colleges and universities.
Internal Support and Communication
1. Provide guidance to the vice presidents for Development and Donor Engagement on establishing prospective new scholarship funds. Such guidance might involve research and language review for draft fund agreements.
2. Coordinating with the Vice President for Donor Engagement, provide periodic updates for donors who have scholarship funds with the Foundation.
3. Collaborating with Communications & Marketing staff, maintain the scholarship Facebook page and provide information to promote the scholarship program through HRCF’s social media platforms.
4. Collaborating with Communications & Marketing staff, ensure that HRCF’s scholarship webpages are current and reflect the Foundation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
GRANTMAKING PROGRAM
1. In collaboration with the Vice President, establish a robust and highly effective grants program that includes community grants, special interest grants, specialty grant programs, and programs to strengthen the non-profit community.
2. Establish and maintain a non-profit directory that provides a comprehensive list of community nonprofits with descriptive information that can be useful both internally and externally.
3. Maintain a working knowledge of best practices for grantmaking, apprising grantmaking staff on areas where HRCF can improve its processes and practices.
4. Review and analyze grant proposals, conduct site visits, prepare documentation for board presentations, monitor grants, and maintain communication with grantees throughout their respective funding period.
5. Conduct issue-based research and data analysis to augment HRCF’s understanding of community issues and identify service gaps and areas of need.
6. Manage one specialty grantmaking process per year, developing or revising the RFP, application, rubric, and application review and reporting processes.
7. Staff call-in days, providing accurate information to prospective grantees on HRCF’s grantmaking priorities and application process.
8. Produce summaries of the interim and final reports of the grantees for the Grant Tracking Report managed by the Grants Manager.
9. Based on the AVP-G’s expertise, offer at least two short-term training sessions per year for nonprofits.
10. Attend HRCF affinity group meetings, leading at least three such groups based on the AVP-G’s area(s) of community knowledge.
Other Duties
1. Contribute to HRCF publications and other printed materials by providing data, reports, content, and proofreading as needed.
2. Represent HRCF at meetings and events which may occur during or outside of normal work hours.
3. Participate actively in staff meetings and serve on internal committees as appropriate.
4. Performs additional duties as assigned by the Vice President or President & CEO.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. Clear understanding of and belief in the Foundation’s mission, with a demonstrated commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
2. Cultural competence, with a demonstrated ability to understand, collaborate, and navigate cross-cultural differences.
3. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
4. At least three years of successful, progressive experience in the non-profit environment.
5. Meticulous, with strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize.
6. Demonstrated experience in managing a successful project.
7. Excellent computer skills, with proficiency in Microsoft 365 and relational database/CRM programs.
8. Ethical standards above reproach.
9. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, be the consummate professional, and use good judgment.
10. Predisposition to the principles of good customer service, both internally and externally.
11. Strong written and oral communications skills.
12. Strong people skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with HRCF’s multiple stakeholders.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. In-depth understanding of at least one of HRCF’s areas of grantmaking focus.
2. At least three years of experience administering scholarships in a collegiate or non-profit setting.
3. At least three years of experience with grantmaking or grants management.
PERIODIC POSITION REVIEW
Part of a 2024 comprehensive restructuring of the Grantmaking functional area that, among other things, transferred HRCF’s scholarship program from Administration to Grantmaking, the Associate Vice President for Grantmaking is a new position. The Vice President for Grantmaking provided input on the job description. It was approved by the President & CEO on June 14, 2024.
Ssalary Range:
$95,000-$105,000
