Grants Director

About Us:

The Sacramento Mountains Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization that promotes the health and well-being of individuals in Otero County, New Mexico. The Sacramento Mountains Foundation was founded on July 1, 2023 and was funded with the proceeds from the sale of Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center to CHRISTUS Health. One of the Sacramento Mountains Foundation’s missions is to provide support, guidance and leadership to Otero County governmental and nonprofit organizations. To support these organizations, SMF seeks a Grants Director who can assist these organizations in identifying, applying for, and obtaining grants and who can advise these organizations on the administration of grants from a wide variety of funders once obtained. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of one of New Mexico’s newest and largest foundations, impact many lives and make a lasting contribution to Otero County.

About Otero County:

Nestled beneath the wide expanse of New Mexico’s cerulean skies, from the vibrant desert flora to the magnificent White Sands, Otero County is a magical place. Here, the rugged peaks of the Sacramento Mountains dance with the serenity of the Tularosa Basin and the White Sands, weaving a tapestry of natural wonder that captivates the soul. Every corner of Otero County tells a story of resilience and beauty. Otero County ranks high in the annals of aerospace history, proudly boasting its title as the birthplace of the rocket program and the home of Holloman Air Force Base. Holloman Air Force Base is the product of the County’s enduring legacy in aviation and defense, serving as a vital center for training, research, and technological advancement. Otero County embodies a unique crossroads of cultures, where the rhythms of border life mingle with the timeless traditions of the Mescalero Apache people. It is a place where the past and present converge, offering a glimpse into a storied history and a vibrant tapestry of diversity that defines the essence of this captivating region. We are a prime location for outdoor enthusiasts – opportunities for hiking and camping are only minutes away in the Sacramento Mountains. Snow skiing, zip-lining, horse racing, plus metropolitan El Paso, Texas are all only about an hour away. In Otero County, the sky is not the limit—it is the launchpad for boundless possibilities.

Position Description

Primarily, the Grants Director will be responsible for the cultivation of grants and the flow of grant funds into Otero County. The Grants Director will work closely with the Foundation’s constituent organizations to develop opportunities for development by creating and managing a pipeline of grant funding through the identification of grant funders that align with the Foundation and its constituent organization’s values, missions and priorities. Through planned research, identification, development, cultivation, stewardship, compliance, and reporting activities, the Director will identify opportunities, develop funding plans, draft and submit grant proposals and advise these organizations in the management of awards. The Grants Director will be the lead writer for letters of interest, concept notes, proposals, reports, applications and other written materials seeking grants. The successful applicant will have significant experience creating content targeted at private foundations, governmental and institutional donors, and corporate philanthropic entities. The Grants Director will manage the writing process, including the planning, submission, and administration processes for the Foundation and its constituent organizations. As an excellent storyteller, the Grants Director will articulate the Foundation’s and its constituent organization’s history, impact, and vision to our community and proposal audiences.

About Us:

The Sacramento Mountains Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization that promotes the health and well-being of individuals in Otero County, New Mexico. The Sacramento Mountains Foundation was founded on July 1, 2023 and was funded with the proceeds from the sale of Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center to CHRISTUS Health. One of the Sacramento Mountains Foundation’s missions is to provide support, guidance and leadership to Otero County governmental and nonprofit organizations. To support these organizations, SMF seeks a Grants Director who can assist these organizations in identifying, applying for, and obtaining grants and who can advise these organizations on the administration of grants from a wide variety of funders once obtained. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of one of New Mexico’s newest and largest foundations, impact many lives and make a lasting contribution to Otero County.

About Otero County:

Nestled beneath the wide expanse of New Mexico’s cerulean skies, from the vibrant desert flora to the magnificent White Sands, Otero County is a magical place. Here, the rugged peaks of the Sacramento Mountains dance with the serenity of the Tularosa Basin and the White Sands, weaving a tapestry of natural wonder that captivates the soul. Every corner of Otero County tells a story of resilience and beauty. Otero County ranks high in the annals of aerospace history, proudly boasting its title as the birthplace of the rocket program and the home of Holloman Air Force Base. Holloman Air Force Base is the product of the County’s enduring legacy in aviation and defense, serving as a vital center for training, research, and technological advancement. Otero County embodies a unique crossroads of cultures, where the rhythms of border life mingle with the timeless traditions of the Mescalero Apache people. It is a place where the past and present converge, offering a glimpse into a storied history and a vibrant tapestry of diversity that defines the essence of this captivating region. We are a prime location for outdoor enthusiasts – opportunities for hiking and camping are only minutes away in the Sacramento Mountains. Snow skiing, zip-lining, horse racing, plus metropolitan El Paso, Texas are all only about an hour away. In Otero County, the sky is not the limit—it is the launchpad for boundless possibilities.

Position Description

Primarily, the Grants Director will be responsible for the cultivation of grants and the flow of grant funds into Otero County. The Grants Director will work closely with the Foundation’s constituent organizations to develop opportunities for development by creating and managing a pipeline of grant funding through the identification of grant funders that align with the Foundation and its constituent organization’s values, missions and priorities. Through planned research, identification, development, cultivation, stewardship, compliance, and reporting activities, the Director will identify opportunities, develop funding plans, draft and submit grant proposals and advise these organizations in the management of awards. The Grants Director will be the lead writer for letters of interest, concept notes, proposals, reports, applications and other written materials seeking grants. The successful applicant will have significant experience creating content targeted at private foundations, governmental and institutional donors, and corporate philanthropic entities. The Grants Director will manage the writing process, including the planning, submission, and administration processes for the Foundation and its constituent organizations. As an excellent storyteller, the Grants Director will articulate the Foundation’s and its constituent organization’s history, impact, and vision to our community and proposal audiences.

Education:

· Bachelor’s degree is required.

· Candidates with masters degrees or with a professional certificate in grant writing will receive preference.

Qualifications:

· 5 years of recent grant development experience working with a wide variety of recipients and funders.

· Strong understanding of best practices in grantmaking.

· Proven record of grant writing success.

· Excellent customer service and communication skills.

· Self-starter, comfortable in working independently.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point) required. Proficiency with graphics and publishing software (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Illustrator etc.) highly valued.

· Excellent ability to organize and prioritize daily work and multiple requests/assignments.

· Proficient writing, editing and proofreading skills with the ability to gather and organize information appropriately.

Responsibilities:

· Work closely with governmental and nonprofit entities in Otero County to identify their needs and match these needs with grant opportunities from a variety of funders that would be of benefit to them.

· Research and identify public and private grant funding sources that are compatible with the purposes and goals of the Foundation’s constituent organizations.

· Develop and implement a system for the timely distribution of information on funding programs and opportunities to the Foundation and appropriate constituent organizations.

· Develop strong rapport and working relationships with a wide variety of funders. Develop a close working relationship with public and private program offices, congressional offices, and federal and state reviewing and/or approving agencies.

· Originate grant proposals and draft, edit, proofread and submit grant applications based on needs identified by the nonprofit and governmental organizations.

· Confer with other institutions, agencies, or organizations in cooperative and/or collaborative agreements related to grants.

· Conduct grant proposal development workshops and other training for constituent organizations and others as requested.

· Assist the constituent organizations with administration of grants, including, where appropriate, tracking dates and reporting requirements of grants procured.

· Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Foundation and constituent entities.

Location:

· Candidates who reside in, or who are willing to relocate to, Otero County are preferred; however, strong remote candidates will be seriously considered. If not residing in Otero County, at least 15% of the individual’s time will be devoted to traveling to Alamogordo and meeting with the Foundation’s constituent organizations.

· Responsive during regular business hours

Compensation:

· Salary dependent upon qualifications. Initial target salary is $80,000 with strong upward potential.

· Generous benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), and a liberal paid time off policy.

The Sacramento Mountains Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunity to its employees and applicants for employment on the basis of fitness and merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or handicap.