The Count Basie Center for the Arts, in the ever-growing and beautiful downtown Red Bank, New Jersey, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Grants Manager to support the organization’s funding goals.

Founded in 1926, The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts and its commitment to being a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) performing arts organization is at the core of our mission to Inspire, Educate and Entertain.

As part of that commitment, the Count Basie Center has established a staff DEI task force as well as a board DEI committee. Our purpose is to intentionally embrace and amplify positive change toward diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in every area of our organization, including programming, education, staffing, board recruitment, and community engagement.

The Count Basie Center is determined to provide an inclusive environment in which all who walk through our doors can do so as their most authentic selves. We firmly believe that everyone of all backgrounds and identities deserves access to experience the enrichment that the arts contribute to a full life.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Grants Manager is an effective storyteller who can bring our arts, education, operations and DEI work to life through strong writing that inspires potential partners’ investment of financial resources. They will be a creative writer who is passionate about the arts, who leverages their project management skills and maintains, deepens, and renews existing Count Basie Center relationships. They will conduct independent outreach via targeted prospecting to build a robust pipeline of grant support.

• Target opportunities that meet Development department goals and fundraising strategies, i.e. arts education programs and Basie Center partnerships.

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of all Count Basie Center departments, projects, programs and priorities by attending classes, performances, special events and meetings with partners.

• Work with Basie Center leadership to create outlines for proposals and facilitate the development of project budgets.

• Draft and review grant proposals/applications and grant required reports (pre and post funding) for funders, tailored to fit specific program areas and interests of the funders, in a timely manner.

• Coordinate and monitor the full grant cycle, with department leadership, to ensure program compliance with grantor guidelines.

• Develop and maintain an ongoing pipeline of potential grant and foundation funders to identify funding opportunities and cultivate donor relationships by having significant interaction with grantors before, during and after the grant process.

• Monitor state and federal legislation that may affect availability of grant funds.

• Attend trainings and conferences about new or existing funding opportunities and professional development.

• The Department’s Development Assistant will support the Grants Manager with grant-related administrative tasks, i.e. maintaining a grants calendar, grant tracking and reporting, updating the donor database, etc.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• As part of the Development team, be available to attend events in the evenings and weekends as needed.

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in grant writing, technical writing, proof-reading, editing, copy writing, or equivalent written communication format.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent non-traditional educational experience.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Knowledge of grant funding policies and procedures and applicable local, state and federal funding opportunities and requirements.

• Highly organized with the ability to implement systems and follow-up processes.

• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work collaboratively and independently with purpose and accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to work effectively under pressure.

• Eagerness to learn new things and able to adapt to constantly changing circumstances.

• Strong research skills – ability to identify and research grant & foundation prospects.

• Experience with a donor database preferred, such as Raiser’s Edge and Instrumentl.

This is a full-time, exempt position and eligible for The Basie’s competitive benefits package that includes paid time off (personal, sick and vacation), insurance (health, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability) and a 401(k)-retirement plan including company match. This position operates on a hybrid schedule that allows for remote work 2 days a week. The annual salary range is $50,000-$62,000 commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should apply on The Basie website at https://thebasie.org/jobs/.Applicants please include a recent grant proposal.