Institutional Giving & Grants Manager

About the role

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 50+. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $8.4 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC. Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Penland School of Craft, we believe that fostering a climate of equity, inclusion, diversity, and antiracism are essential to our work. We are committed to creating a campus community free of discrimination, and we welcome everyone who supports this commitment. Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background. Position Summary The Institutional Giving & Grants Manager secures and stewards foundation, corporate, and government support for Penland's operations, special projects, and strategic initiatives. The position manages all aspects of the institutional giving lifecycle, including prospect research, proposal development, sponsorship cultivation, reporting, and grants administration. This role manages a diversified portfolio of institutional funders and collaborates across departments to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities. This position contributes to advancement planning and institutional fundraising strategy across foundation, corporate, and government funding sources. Prior experience in nonprofit grant writing and grants management is strongly preferred; experience in the arts is a plus. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong attention to detail, and proficiency with relevant computer and database systems. This position is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of institutional support that contributes significantly to Penland's annual operating, programmatic, and strategic fundraising goals. It will manage a portfolio of 35 - 50 funders and prospects. This position is well-structured and is expected to manage and influence approximately $1M-$2M in annual philanthropic revenue. This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) and serves on the development team, which includes 7 staff members. This is a full-time, year-round, exempt, benefits-eligible position. We are looking for an individual willing to work at our Penland campus due to on-campus and team expectations. Penland is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an hour from Asheville, NC. It is a vibrant, artistic rural community. Primary Responsibilities Institutional Giving Stewardship and Solicitation Researches and identifies corporate and foundation prospects and opportunities. Assists the CAO and Executive Director (ED) in developing engagement strategies for current and potential institutional donors. Supports strategic donor outreach and communications, and maintain regular correspondence with key funding representatives. Manages a portfolio of 35-50 active institutional funders and prospects. Conducts and documents 75-150 meaningful institutional funder engagements annually, including proposals, reports, meetings, and strategic communications. Cultivates, solicits, and stewards institutional funders through strategic engagement, including virtual and in-person meetings, site visits, proposals, and stewardship activities. Prepares for and participates in annual legislative visits. Identifies and pursues corporate sponsorship opportunities for programs, exhibitions, events, and initiatives. Works with events staff and other department staff to identify and pursue corporate sponsorship opportunities for our annual auction and other events. Develops sponsorship packages and proposals in collaboration with advancement, programs, and marketing teams. Manages sponsor recognition, benefits fulfillment, and ongoing stewardship. Supports campaign readiness and strategic fundraising initiatives through institutional prospect development and stewardship. Grants Writing and Management Develops and manages a comprehensive grants strategy aligned with organizational goals and revenue targets. Builds and sustains a pipeline of prospective institutional funders by researching and identifying new grant prospects. Serves as lead writer and coordinator for foundation, corporate, and select government grant proposals and reports. Manages the grant submission process, including collecting and synthesizing data, completing proposals and budgets, tracking and reporting, and corresponding with foundation and corporate donors. Ensures timely submission o

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Make lives meaningful through making.

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