CRANKSTART
POSITION DESCRIPTION: MANAGER - GRANTS AND OPERATIONS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
ABOUT CRANKSTART
Crankstart is one of the largest foundations in San Francisco, with approximately $4 billion under management and distributing over $200 million each year to nonprofits primarily in the Bay Area. Crankstart is devoted to bolstering the foundations of a just society — access to a quality education, jobs with prospects for advancement, housing security, social welfare, and the protection of civil rights.
Culturally, Crankstart operates with the efficiency of a lean team, while maintaining the rigor and professionalism of a much larger organization. We value curiosity, humility, excellence, and action.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Why we need you
To support substantial growth in the volume and complexity of our grantmaking, Crankstart is seeking a nimble, detail-oriented systems thinker to serve as our Manager - Grants and Operations. Reporting to our VP of Operations and partnering closely with our Program team and a core group of external vendors, you’ll be the operational backbone of our grantmaking — ensuring that every grant, from conception to final report, flows seamlessly through our systems.
This is an opportunity to build something meaningful at a foundation that takes both its mission and its operations seriously. You'll have real ownership over core systems and processes, with the autonomy to drive improvements and the support to implement your vision. You will be a crucial individual contributor working with a small but mighty team of colleagues who are passionate about their work and committed to excellence.
Who you are
You are collaborative, excel at designing efficient, user-centric processes, eagerly leverage technology and automation to enhance operations, and are knowledgeable and passionate about grantmaking. You’re an excellent communicator who can build and manage strong relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. You believe that operational excellence is a form of respect, find joy in creating systems that function seamlessly, and want to utilize your skills in the service of social good.
eSSENTIAL responsibilities
Grants administration (~35%)
Manage end-to-end grants administration — ensuring that grants move efficiently from recommendation to close-out
Serve as Crankstart’s functional lead on grants management and internal expert on grant structuring, compliance, and risk management (working in partnership with our external grants management vendor and outside counsel)
Own preparation of all materials for grant approval meetings (including meetings of our board of directors)
Grants data integrity and systems management (~25%)
Serve as the primary owner for grants data quality and integrity in Salesforce, ensuring accuracy and completeness of records spanning the entire grant lifecycle (pipeline, approvals, reporting, payments, renewals)
Partner with external consultants and our VP of Operations to continuously enhance our grants management system, ensuring it meets our evolving operational needs
Support internal data and reporting needs, ensuring our systems provide meaningful insights for learning and decision-making
Grantmaking process management and improvement (~20%)
Conduct Crankstart’s grantmaking calendar, ensuring that grantmaking processes are intentionally and efficiently ordered throughout the year
Partner with VP of Operations to design, document, and refine end-to-end grantmaking processes — aiming for clear workflows, minimal complexity, and user-friendliness for both staff and grantees
Identify and execute on opportunities to leverage technology and automation to improve our grantmaking processes
Team enablement (~10%)
Train and support Crankstart team members in grantmaking processes and procedures
Ensure smooth partnership and handoffs between the Program team and grants operations
Create documentation and resources that empower the team to work efficiently — elevating the broader teams’ knowledge and capability in the realm of grants management
Other operational support (~10%)
Contribute to other ops-related initiatives across Crankstart
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
Core Competencies
Grantmaking expertise. You “get” grantmaking: You bring a sophisticated understanding of the grants lifecycle, with knowledge of grantmaking processes and related compliance and financial requirements. You’ve likely worked in philanthropy (at a foundation or family office) or in a transferable role in a nonprofit or consulting. (But if you haven’t and still think you’d be great for this role, we’d love to hear from you.)
Technology & systems. You’re technically adroit, with a human touch. You’re adept with technology and have experience working with a grants management system (specific experience with Salesforce is a major plus). You’re also deeply attuned to users’ needs and bring a service-oriented mindset to your work.
Systems thinking. You’re comfortable in the weeds — and at 30,000 feet. You sweat the technical details without losing sight of the bigger picture. You pair systems thinking with operational know-how to redesign processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
Stakeholder management. You’re exceptional at stakeholder management, and likely have substantial experience working with external vendors or partners. You can hold others accountable for outcomes while maintaining empathy and providing support. You understand that process improvement is as much about people as it is about systems.
Project management. You excel at breaking complex initiatives into manageable components, navigating competing priorities, setting clear milestones, and efficiently driving projects to completion. You know when to push forward and when to adjust course, and keep multiple stakeholders aligned throughout the process.
Data orientation: You’re a data-driven thinker — comfortable pulling, analyzing, and visualizing data to inform decision-making and to communicate with others.
Communication. You’re an excellent communicator. You can present complex materials clearly to diverse audiences — from board members to grantees to program staff.
LOCATION
This is a full-time, hybrid role located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Candidates must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco) and be able to travel to San Francisco three times a week.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
At Crankstart, we use a leveling framework to ensure fairness in promotions and compensation. The compensation range for this position is $165,000 - $180,000. We offer exceptional employee benefits, including 100% health premium coverage for employees and their dependents, fully covered dental and vision plans, a 15% employer contribution to a 401(k) plan, generous vacation and paid holidays, an Employee Giving Alignment Program, and more.
equal opportunity statement
Crankstart is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. Crankstart also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees in any of these protected categories.
TO APPLY
Martha Montag Brown & Associates, LLC has been retained to conduct this search. Interested and qualified candidates should apply by 1) submitting a resume and a cover letter describing their interest and relevant qualifications, experience, and expertise to the candidate application portal, and 2) emailing a copy of the resume and cover letter to search@marthamontagbrown.com. All correspondence will remain confidential. Questions about the search and application process should be directed to search@marthamontagbrown.com.
