This role will foster strong relationships, bridging differences in perspective and background with the goal of advancing transformative investments that serve communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the Native nations that share the same geography. The grantmaking officer will engage with community members, source and review grant proposals, and guide grantees through the funding process.
The Bush Foundation is an issue-inclusive funder. Grantmaking officers are expected to be proactive ambassadors for Bush Foundation, consistently seeking out opportunities to listen and learn from a wide range of community voices. By fostering authentic connections and building mutual trust, grantmaking officers help ensure that the Foundation’s work is grounded in the real needs and aspirations of the people it serves. This approach not only strengthens the relevance of Bush’s grantmaking but also enhances its ability to make meaningful, lasting impact in partnership with communities throughout the region. Successful candidates will bring at least five years of experience in public, nonprofit or related private sector fields, ideally with direct exposure to housing, immigration, environmental and/or public policy-related work. To be considered, candidates must currently reside within the Foundation’s funding region of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or the 23 Native nations that share that geography. Candidates must have a current and active professional network in Minnesota, broad knowledge of the region, and familiarity with Bush Foundation’s program and strategies. The Foundation is always looking to add to the perspectives and skills of its staff, given the broad range of issues and communities that come forward through its grantmaking. Particular areas of interest at this time include experience or networks with Hispanic/Latinx communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, rural communities, Native communities and Greater Minnesota.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
- Proactively cultivate and maintain relationships with communities, organizations and individuals across the region through multiple strategies including the contact hub, office hours and program-specific outreach.
- Plan and conduct ongoing engagement strategies, which may include traveling throughout the region to host and facilitate in-person activities, in alignment with the Bush Foundation’s community engagement strategy.
- Intentionally connect with people and organizations in priority communities to advance the Foundation’s goals of sourcing new, innovative ideas. Participate in community-led activities to grow awareness of Bush’s offerings and raise its visibility in the region.
RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES
- Communicate thoughtfully and professionally with individuals and organizations seeking information aboutBush’s grant programs.
- Provide clear, constructive feedback on ideas and applications, including guidance when proposals are unlikely to be competitive. Where appropriate, recommend alternative funding sources or connections better suited to their objectives.
DOCUMENTING AND SHARING ACTIVITIES
- Enter and maintain information about engagement activities in the Salesforce database to ensure transparency, track progress and facilitate knowledge sharing across the organization.
EVALUATING AND ASSESSING PROPOSALS
- Conduct comprehensive evaluations of proposals and applications.
- Apply program criteria using independent judgment and collaborate with team members to test assumptions and refine analyses.
- Conduct extensive due diligence, preparing detailed analysis and recommendations for advancing proposals for funding consideration.
- Effectively present larger grant recommendations to the board of directors for approval.
- Communicate decisions to applicants and provide detailed, constructive feedback to explain the rationale behind the outcome and, when appropriate, prepare them for potential next steps.
IDENTIFYING TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
- Actively source and cultivate new ideas, organizations and individuals with the potential to drive transformative change in community problem-solving efforts.
- Design and implement targeted outreach efforts to identify high-potential candidates for programs such as Community Innovation, Bush Fellowship, Ecosystem or other Bush initiatives and partnerships.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of key issues affecting communities across the region.
- Share insights and learnings with colleagues to inform strategic decisions and enhance collective knowledge.
- Serve as a trusted resource and partner within the broader field, sharing Bush’s insights and lessons learned on collaborative problem-solving and community engagement — both internally and externally.
SUPPORTING AND GUIDING GRANTEES
- Manage a portfolio of grantees, providing ongoing guidance, support and encouragement throughout the duration of their grants or fellowships.
CONTRIBUTING TO CROSS-FOUNDATION INITIATIVES
- Actively participate in organization-wide initiatives, including strategic projects, community engagement activities, learning opportunities, equity efforts, work groups, events and internal committees.
UPHOLDING ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
- Actively demonstrate Bush’s operating values consistently in all work and external engagement efforts.
Founded in 1953, the Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them, advancing creative problem solving across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Native nations that share this geography. With a flexible, issue-inclusive approach to philanthropy, Bush is known for grounding its work in community voice, learning, and long-term impact.
- Experience reviewing grant applications and proposals is strongly preferred, with the demonstrated ability to apply research-informed, analytical thinking to a criteria-based grant selection process.
- At least five years’ experience in public, nonprofit or related private sector field, preferably with experience in housing, immigration, environmental and/or public policy-related work.
- Significant experience building and maintaining effective partnerships in the region served by Bush. Broad knowledge of and experience working with community-serving entities in Minnesota is required. Familiarity with rural communities and Native Nations is a plus.
- Demonstrated cultural competency, emotional intelligence and the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills ,adaptable to varying audiences and purposes. Ability to distill large amounts of information into salient, compelling narratives that illustrate the potential impact of an investment.
- Skills to successfully work in a hybrid work environment within a high-performing, relational organization. Self motivated, accountable and consistently intentional about communicating and building connections and rapport within the organization as well as ensuring their own work and expertise is visible to other staff.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks that require self-direction, attention to detail, effective time management and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to transition between highly relational work and in-depth analytical tasks.
- Strong due diligence and assessment skills, including:
- Understanding social change, identifying it in emerging ideas and coaching others to recognize and navigate it.
- Identifying credible sources of information and expertise, gathering information and independently conducting in-depth research.
- Synthesizing complex ideas and contextualizing them within larger frameworks.
- Applying critical thinking, discernment, balanced judgment and equity considerations to the analysis and development of grant proposals.
- Ability to embrace a collaborative decision-making approach that prioritizes collective goals over individual interests.
- Ability to respectfully engage in challenging conversations, consider divergent viewpoints, accept and offer critical feedback and challenge assumptions and personal biases.
- Ability to deliver difficult news and constructive feedback verbally, in a direct and supportive manner, maintaining professionalism and healthy personal boundaries. Rejection of grant proposals is a regular part of the job.
- Proficiency working with Microsoft Office products. Comfortable using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc. Experience with Salesforce or other CRMs/databases is a plus. Willing to learn and utilize any new software or technology as required for the work.
- Enthusiasm for Bush’s operating values and a willingness to reflect, learn and act in ways that align with them.
Bush’s main office is in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The work environment is hybrid, combining remote work and designated times for on-site and in-person collaboration. Twin Cities-based staff are required to work on-site one day per week with one additional designated in-person day each month. People based outside of the Twin Cities attend these sessions online, and travel to Bush’s Saint Paul offices at least once a quarter to attend in person. All staff are welcome to work on site more often if desired. Other adjustments to work schedules may be required to meet priority deadlines or participate in meetings and events.
Bush offers excellent benefits, including health, dental, life and disability insurance; generous retirement contributions; professional development and vacation, sick and holiday leave.
Grantmaking director, Ramla Bile
Bush Foundation recorded an informational webinar to provide more background about the organization and this role. Please view this recording before applying. Many of your questions will be answered!
