
About Pisces Foundation
The Pisces Foundation works to advance a world where nature and communities thrive. The Foundation is a resource for problem-solvers seeking the tools to address global environmental challenges and build a vibrant San Francisco. The foundation is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with grantee partners across the globe. The foundation has updated its strategy and organizational structure to support advancing collective action through field building, movement infrastructure, and collaborations–all indispensable ingredients of the influence and alignment needed for significant social change. More information on the Pisces Foundation’s updated strategy can be found here.
The Opportunity
The Grants Manager leads the Foundation’s grantmaking operations to drive impact and ensure compliance. The Grants Manager owns the Foundation’s grants management process, policies, systems, and tools. This role collaborates closely with the Program team and is a thought leader for the Foundation on grants process and best practices. The Grants Manager will lead a grants team of two that centralizes grants process work. This role manages a Grants Associate and reports to the Operations Director.
Key Responsibilities
Excellence & Effectiveness of Grantmaking Operations
- Grantmaking policies, processes, tools, and workflow to support the Foundation’s strategy through the grant lifecycle from inquiry to close with consultation from the program team as appropriate
- Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) for charitable giving to support personal philanthropic goals
- Application and reporting processes, including technical support to grantees where needed
- Decision workflow on grant proposals and agreements
- Documentation practices for grantmaking decisions, legal review, and future learning
Compliance with Internal & External Policies
- Ensure private foundation compliance with IRS, other applicable regulations, and internal policies through the full grant lifecycle
- Lead due diligence for DAF grants in compliance with IRS, other regulations, and internal policies in partnership with DAF providers
- Manage legal review of grants including collaboration with program staff, Operations Director, legal counsel, and grantees; document all legal review
- Provide Operations Director and outsourced accounting team with accurate and timely financial reports, grants payments, audit, and tax filings
Foundation Support & Internal Thought Leadership
- Maintain and enhance close working relationship with the program team; support Program Director with technical expertise and best practices to elevate budget management, strategic development, and consistent grantmaking practices
- Provide President, Operations Director and Program Director with position-appropriate context and overviews of trends and best practices
- Maintain currency and fluency in key issues in the field, including best practices for grantmaking and compliance; share knowledge within the Foundation related to grantmaking trends and research
- Conceptualize, design, and conduct grantmaking training for staff; onboard program staff to the Foundation’s practices and provide guidance to program staff on structuring grants
- While maintaining a stable process, continuously improve grantmaking processes based on best practices in the field, including demographic data collection, reporting, and due diligence
- Develop practices for strong documentation across the integrated program team
Workflow, Grant Budget, Learning & Evaluation Management & Support
- Provide Program Director with grant dockets for quarterly board meetings
- Steward grant approvals from the President to the board
- Provide Program Director with grant budget reports
- Support the Foundation’s Learning and Evaluation practices, including the annual review and ongoing grant reporting, in partnership with the Program Director and with support from the Program Analyst
- Execute on special projects as assigned; this might include designing processes for special initiative development and implementation (e.g., request for proposals)
- Analyze DAF proposals, capital campaign plans, and reports to make recommendations based on best practices
- Provide DAF budget projections to outsourced accounting team to support fund management
Data & Technology
- Oversee grants management Salesforce platform in partnership with the Operations Director to ensure alignment with foundation wide technology approach and delivery of essential grants management data requirements. In the near term this includes:
- Manage the final stages of the implementation the foundation’s transition to a new custom Salesforce grants management platform following the sunset of foundationConnect. Manage consultants (if necessary), test and train to create a smooth transition.
- Proactively update the grants management platform to best support any adjustments to the Foundation’s grantmaking process.
Management, Learning, & Collaboration
- Supervise the Grants Associate. Ensure clarity of role, authority, consultation with program, customer service for grantees, Trustees, and other family members. Create an inspiring and creative operations team culture with open communication and learning across teams; provide effective management, guidance, coaching and mentoring. Define clear team goals and delegation of tasks as appropriate.
- Collaborate with the Operations Director to ensure smooth team operations and effective collaboration to maximize impact.
- Create a culture of learning within the Foundation, including developing ongoing learning agendas for staff and trustees, and preparing presentations and written and oral analyses.
- Lead occasional foundation-wide projects that advance the Foundation’s organizational goals.
Internal Relationships & Leadership
- Support the integration of a shared Foundation strategy, ethos, and approach.
- Serve as trusted thought partner to the Program Director and across the program team to ensure strategies and processes are integrated, learning from each other, and amplifying in their impact. Provide technical expertise and recommendations based on best practices
- Provide excellent change management and internal communications to support transitions.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a strategic and detail-oriented grants management professional who excels at building and refining systems to support effective, compliant, and equity-centered philanthropy. The Grants Manager will bring deep knowledge of the full grantmaking lifecycle, including domestic and international compliance and Donor Advised Funds, and is adept at aligning grant processes with evolving organizational strategies. With a strong command of grants management platforms, this leader is well-positioned to oversee system transitions and enhancements that improve functionality and data integrity.
A thoughtful collaborator and experienced people manager, this individual brings a consultative approach to working across teams and mentoring staff. They are energized by the opportunity to strengthen internal capacity, improve practices, and support impact through operational excellence. The ideal candidate is motivated by a commitment to social and environmental change and is excited to contribute to a learning-driven, mission-oriented foundation advancing field-building and collective action.
Qualifications
With the understanding that no one person will offer every desired skill and characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer much of the following:
- 5+ years of professional grants management experience. Private foundation, DAF experience a plus.
- Expert in grants database management. Experience with Salesforce a plus.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability and desire to help create a thought-leading, world-class philanthropy.
- Strong judgment. Demonstrated ability to think and work independently and effectively plan, prioritize, follow through, and track multiple work streams under deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent organization skills, strict attention to detail, accuracy, follow-through and commitment to high-quality work.
- Excellent manager with demonstrated success in building and elevating teams and individuals as direct reports, collaborators, or peers.
- Self-starter; highly motivated and resourceful team-player. Comfortable with ambiguity and the ability to work through solutions when there is no obvious path.
- Strong team orientation and the demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within and across teams to reach common goals.
- Ability to represent the Foundation and build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, family office, board and family members, and partners with a respectful and authentic manner.
- Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Flexibility, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to help others.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively to a range of audiences in meetings, over email, and through formal work product and presentations. Experience adapting communication style to different cultural environments.
- Demonstrable commitment to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Excellent analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills with attention to detail and commitment to high quality work.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Commitment to the Pisces Foundation’s mission and strategy
We know there are strong candidates who may not have all the qualifications above. If you have skills and experiences that we have not thought of and would be an asset to the role, please apply. The Foundation encourages people of color, those from under-resourced communities, immigrants, LGBTQ+, and others with diverse backgrounds and with a variety of skills, experiences, and ideas. We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Location and Salary
To promote collaboration and a dynamic work experience, the Pisces Foundation operates with a hybrid schedule, working out of the Foundation offices in downtown San Francisco, currently three days a week. Candidates must live in the San Francisco Bay Area or be willing to relocate and must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Pisces Foundation offers an excellent compensation package including platinum-level health, dental, and vision insurance; a Flexible Spending Account; life insurance; bereavement leave; paid time off; and holidays.
The starting salary for this role is $100,000 – $115,000 depending on skills and experience. Our salaries are competitive, reflect our geographic location and field, and are commensurate with experience. Pisces Foundation participates in multiple compensation surveys for grantmaking organizations and conducts an annual review of market-based salary trends.
The Foundation offers a supportive and values-driven environment where professional growth is encouraged.
To Be Considered
Please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest in the position and fit for the role via the Become a Candidate button. Letters may be addressed to Martens Roc.
Applicants applying by Friday, August 22nd, will be given priority consideration, with the position open until filled.

GoodCitizen has been exclusively retained by Pisces Foundation to lead this search. For questions, please contact:
Martens Roc
Managing Director
Direct: 202.933.7616
martens@goodcitizen.com
Cody McCarthy
Engagement Manager
Direct: 206.309.5591
cody@goodcitizen.com