The Merchants Fund
Director of Grantee Support
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Philadelphia (Center City); hybrid
Classification: Full-time; salaried; exempt
Salary: $85,000-100,000/year (commensurate w/ experience)
Update: There has been substantial interest in this role! A strong application will require both management and small business coaching experience.
Since 1854, The Merchants Fund (TMF) has provided support to Philadelphia merchants during times of financial hardship. We envision a Philadelphia where merchants have the resources and support necessary to build lasting wealth for their families and communities, enabling them to contribute to a thriving, inclusive local economy.
We are seeking a new Director of Grantee Support to lead our Emergency Grant program and the Grantee Support team. You would direct and provide grantee and applicant outreach, as the team captain, alongside part-time staff and contractor coaches.
About the Position
TMF has three core programs:
- Stabilization Grant Program
- Emergency Grant Program
- Beyond the Grant: Everything we do to support grantees (and non-grantees!) that isn’t cash support — coaching, written resources, and resource referrals for applicants and grantees.
TMF has significantly increased our grantmaking. As such, we are engaging with a significantly increased number of grantees and applicants. The Director of Grantee Support (DGS) will lead:
- Managing the Emergency Grant Program, including inbound email and phone calls from potential applicants, supporting businesses through the application process, and leading grant decision-making.
- Coordinating support for all grantees (including stabilization grant awardees) through the Beyond the Grant program, including acting as case manager or coach for some grantees.
- Maintaining relationships and active communication with community partners and other small business resource providers.
Your ongoing responsibilities will include:
- Direct engagement with inbound applicants and grantee requests
- Developing consistent methods for engaging, no matter which member of the team they reach
- Clear tracking of outreach and review of outcomes, so no grantee or applicant gets left behind or forgotten
- Engaging with partner organizations and resources, including City departments, CDCs and additional resource providers
On an average week, the Emergency Grant program receives 1-3 applications. On a “crisis” week (like the recent plane crash in the Northeast), we will roll out support for 20-50 businesses. You become the point person for outreach, working between the Commerce Department, local CDCs, and direct merchant support!
Grantee Support is evolving as we grow. We hope you will take the lead on developing best practices as we expand beyond 1:1 coaching.
Qualifications
This role requires:
- Prior experience managing direct reports.
- Prior experience developing, deploying and training others on team processes
- Strong written and spoken language skills, with a focus on simple, clear communication
- The ability to read and explain the significance of business financial statements, tax returns, and basic business contracts, including leases
- Consistent daily engagement — task management, email and telephone — with grantees and applicants
We expect all candidates:
- Have a background in small businesses or small business support.
- Have a cool head, and know how to triage, prioritize, and manage bursts of activity.
- Can center their work in TMF’s core values – justice, service, relationships, courage, and simplicity.
You should be comfortable engaging with individuals and communities across the city, and can foster productive and respectful relationships across a range of ages, income levels, first languages, and backgrounds.
You can listen beyond the ask: the ability to hear what they may need, beyond just what they ask for, and provide assistance, is key to the role. You possess strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating warmth, empathy, and compassion in your interactions.
More than half of our grantees do not speak English as their first language. If you speak and/or write in more than one language, please let us know in your application!
Working for TMF
The Director of Grantee Support is a full-time position reporting to the Executive Director. The salary range is $85,000-100,000, commensurate with experience. You will have access to TMF’s regular suite of benefits, including health and dental insurance with 100% coverage for the employee and the ability to select self-funded dependent coverage. Employees can enroll in TMF’s 401k plan immediately; after one year of service, TMF will contribute 5% of your salary to the plan.
You will have 4 weeks of PTO, in addition to TMF’s two “holiday” weeks (the week of the 4th of July and the week between Christmas and New Year’s). TMF also recognizes all federal holidays and grants additional PTO for these days.
This is a hybrid role with a mix of remote work, time spent out in the community (at our grantee’s businesses and community partners), and onsite at our office at 16th and JFK. As such, this role requires a current driver’s license and regular access to a vehicle.
We work from a beautiful co-working space in Center City Philadelphia with an outdoor terrace overlooking Love Park. Workplace perks include a bright, light-filled office, showers w/ towel service, discounted gym membership, breakfast once/week, monthly happy hours, coffee/tea, and kombucha/beer on tap.
TO APPLY: We are considering applications on a rolling basis through August 5th for a September start date. Please email a statement of interest and your resume to …@merchantsfund.org, telling us a little about yourself, your experience with small businesses, and why you think you would be a good fit for this role.
About TMF
The Merchants Fund (TMF) is a 501c3 non-profit, charitable foundation that provides small grants to small commercial corridor businesses in Philadelphia. We are a small team, but are privileged to work with an incredible portfolio of small business grantees, as well as with community and economic development organizations, technical assistance (TA) providers, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to reach businesses that have the greatest need and bring value to the communities they serve.
TMF was founded in 1854 by Philadelphia merchants to support each other during times of economic hardship. It evolved from the Mercantile Beneficial Association, an organization dedicated to providing business advice, networking opportunities, and protection from financial failure or default due to illness, old age, or disability at a time in our nation’s history when there were no pension plans, or health or disability insurance. More about our work at www.merchantsfund.org
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Merchants Fund does not discriminate with respect to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other protected status.
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