Call for Applicants: CMP Learning and Grants Manager (FT)

Job Title: Learning and Grants Manager
Reports To: Chair, CMP Executive Committee
Average Hours Per Week: 40
FLSA Status: Exempt

Colorado Media Project is seeking a creative, flexible, motivated individual to serve as Learning and Grants Manager for the next phase of CMP’s life cycle. This is a highly strategic but behind-the-scenes role, as we strive to keep CMP grantees and partners center stage and coalition funders actively engaged in making strategic and responsive grants in this rapidly evolving field for philanthropy.

The CMP Learning and Grants Manager must have demonstrated experience managing complex, innovative projects from ideation to execution and bringing together diverse coalitions of partners to make collective impact. The strongest candidates will bring experience in philanthropy, fundraising and grantmaking, convening, public policy, civic media, technology, strategic communications, community engagement, and/or other fields germane to CMP’s mission.

ABOUT COLORADO MEDIA PROJECT

Colorado Media Project (CMP) is a community-informed philanthropic initiative housed at Rose Community Foundation. We support people, projects, and organizations working to build a healthier civic news and information ecosystem for all Coloradans. We envision a future where all Coloradans can make well-informed decisions about important issues facing their families, local communities and the state, with access to high-quality local news and information that they trust and inclusive opportunities to actively participate in a healthy, robust public square.

Since 2018, CMP has served a catalyst, funder, and advocate for innovations that help make Colorado's local civic news and information ecosystem more sustainable, collaborative, solutions-focused, inclusive, and accountable to the diverse communities it serves. Our primary roles and activities in our next three-year phase (2022-24) include:

  • CATALYST: We join with partners to convene broad-based, cross-sector conversations that surface new and sustainable approaches to strengthen local public-service journalism, address civic news gaps, combat mis/disinformation, and increase civic participation in democracy and public accountability.

  • FUNDER: We pool funds and offer grants to stimulate innovation, impact, and equity in civic news and support a more inclusive, functional, solutions-oriented public square.

  • ADVOCATE: We commission research, share learning, and leverage our collective influence to help bring more knowledge, allies and resources into the movement to strengthen and reimagine civic news and build a healthier public square.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CMP Learning and Grants Manager oversees CMP operations and works closely day-to-day with the CMP Chair, colleagues at Rose Community Foundation, grantees, and other ecosystem leaders to strengthen coordination and communication among stakeholders. The Learning and Grants Manager also provides vital support to help ensure that CMP funders are well-informed both by journalists in the field and by the communities they serve, as Executive Committee members make decisions on CMP grantmaking and initiated projects.

The primary responsibilities of this role fall into four areas: operations and management; funder support and engagement; CMP grantee and project support; and strategic communications and advocacy.

Operations and Management

  • Support meetings and drive follow-up for stakeholder groups including the CMP Executive Committee and Funder Table, strategic advisors, grantee selection committees and working groups

  • Oversee CMP relationship with Rose Community Foundation as fiscal sponsor

    • Work closely with staff members at Rose Community Foundation to streamline CMP operations and ensure fiscal responsibility

    • Work with Rose Community Foundation staff on grantmaking processes, including development of timeline, application and reporting materials, grantee support, etc.

    • Manage budget and cash flow for CMP operations, pooled funds and grantmaking, including budget monitoring, submitting expense reports, etc.

  • Manage CMP independent contractors, including payments and oversight of work products

  • Work closely with CMP evaluators and grantees to track and share impact

Funder Support and Engagement

  • Support the CMP Executive Committee in strategy setting and grantmaking

    • Work with CMP Chair to draft funder MOUs, operational and grantmaking budgets, grantee agreements, pooled fund RFPs, and grantee/project impact reports for EC review and approval

    • Conduct due diligence and prepare written briefs, presentations, and other materials for EC review and decisions

    • Prepare EC members for presentations and meetings with other funders and/or civic leaders

  • Grow the field of Colorado funders and civic leaders who are knowledgeable and active in this area of increased philanthropic need and civic importance

    • Develop learning opportunities that engage and educate funders and civic leaders about issues, needs and opportunities in civic news and information

    • Research, engage and follow-up with funders who have interest in local news (focus on foundations, family funds, institutional, and hyperlocal philanthropy)

    • Raise support for CMP’s pooled funds, core grantees, and new initiatives

CMP Grantee and Project Support

  • Work closely with the Colorado News Collaborative, the Colorado News Conservancy, and other core partners to advance shared goals, joint projects and new initiatives

  • Coordinate and promote CMP open-call grant opportunities (#newsCOneeds, Informed Communities/Advancing Equity, Public Accountability funds, etc.)

    • Develop internal and external communications materials

    • Coordinate applicant recruitment and grantee selection process

    • Work with partners to develop coaching/programmatic support plans for grantees

  • Support CMP grantees and the field with capacity-building opportunities and connections

  • Work with COLab, CPA and/or national best-in-class providers to develop and offer grantees capacity-building support related to CMP objectives

  • Nominate grantees for additional capacity-building or revenue opportunities (eg: national fellowships, grant programs, etc.)

  • Provide staff support for CMP-initiated projects or ecosystem working groups

    • Work with Executive Committee, Funder Table, strategic advisors, and grantees/partners to identify unmet needs and new opportunities

    • Help recruit grasstops and grassroots leaders into working groups

    • Lead, participate in and/or provide staff support for multi-stakeholder working groups or projects

Strategic Communications and Advocacy

  • Write or oversee the production of strategic communications that amplify issues and share ecosystem learning with Colorado and national audiences

    • Manage all CMP communications channels; write and distribute regular updates to CMP audiences via email, website and social media channels

    • Draft and publicize grant opportunities (with COLab, CPA, field leaders)

    • Write or commission blog posts, essays and op-eds on behalf of CMP leaders

    • Write or commission case studies and share lessons learned from grantee work

    • Use strategic communications to advance public policies that support civic media sustainability and innovation

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

  • Bachelor’s Degree or higher

  • At least five years of experience managing and implementing high-impact, multi-stakeholder programs or projects in the nonprofit, philanthropic or public sectors

  • Topical expertise in journalism, strategic communications, media technology, product design, finance, community engagement, advocacy and public policy are all a plus

  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills are required; demonstrated ability to communicate clearly in meetings, in correspondence, and through formal work products

  • Experience working on multi-stakeholder projects or collective impact initiatives to convene partners with varied interests and advance common goals is preferred

  • A demonstrated ability to work effectively and respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures is required, along with a deep understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles and practices

  • An understanding of basic grants management processes and requirements, both as a funder and a grant recipient

  • Competence creating and interpreting basic financial documents common among nonprofits and foundations

  • Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, follow through, and track multiple projects under deadlines

SUPERVISOR RELATIONSHIP AND WORKPLACE
The CMP Learning and Grants Manager is employed by Rose Community Foundation, CMP’s fiscal sponsor, and reports to the Chair of the CMP Funder Table, which is a coalition of local and national funders that make grants both independently and through CMP as a vehicle to maximize impact in Colorado’s local news and information ecosystem. The Learning and Grants Manager does not have administrative support or direct reports.

The CMP office is located in the COLab Newsroom at Rocky Mountain Public Media in downtown Denver. Currently most of this role can be performed remotely, but some in-person meetings are required. Eventually we would like this employee to work at least three days per week in the CMP office at COLab. The person hired for this position will be expected to submit proof of full COVID vaccination on their first day of employment.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Colorado Media Project is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our staff, volunteers, programs, and partners. We encourage applicants of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and life experiences to apply. CMP also is committed to equal employment opportunities and prohibits the unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for this full-time position is $75,000 to $85,000. Through its fiscal sponsor, Rose Community Foundation, CMP offers a competitive benefits package including employer-supported health, dental, vision, and life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan and generous paid time off.

HOW TO APPLY

Colorado Media Project is accepting applications for this position via Open Media Foundation’s Career Engine service. Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to careerengine@openmediafoundation.org before January 5, 2022 for priority consideration, though applications received through January 15, 2022 may be considered.

For questions about this position, please contact Open Media Foundation at careerengine@openmediafoundation.org.

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