Foundation Manager

Application deadline: April 10, 2026

Anticipated start date: May 2026

About the position

Can you write winning grant proposals and find funding opportunities to help protect the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau?

The Grand Canyon Trust is seeking a foundations manager to lead our foundation fundraising efforts. In this role, you'll build and deepen relationships with foundation partners, craft compelling proposals and reports, and help secure resources that power our conservation and environmental justice work across the Colorado Plateau.

You'll collaborate closely with our conservation, finance, and development teams to identify funding priorities, tell our story with clarity and impact, and grow our foundation portfolio. The ideal candidate is a skilled writer with a knack for relationship-building, a passion for the natural world, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines with grace. We're looking for someone who brings both strategic thinking and genuine warmth to their work — someone who understands that great fundraising starts with great partnerships.

This is an opportunity to join a strong, mission-driven team with a 40-year track record of delivering results for the land alongside the people of the Colorado Plateau.

What does this position entail?

• Develop a strong understanding of the Trust’s programs and collaborate with conservation and finance directors to identify funding priorities.
• Craft high-quality and compelling case statements, proposals, reports, and project budgets working closely with program and finance staff.
• Manage the grants calendar and ensure all proposal and reporting deadlines are met.
• Steward all foundation relationships through regular communication and meaningful opportunities for engagement, including multiday field trips.
• Research, cultivate, and secure new foundation partners, with a goal of increasing foundation support by 10% annually.
• Manage a heavy volume of writing assignments on a variety of topics and with tight, externally driven deadlines.
• Maintain accurate and detailed information in Salesforce related to each foundation partner, including proposals, reports, and all associated communications.

Desired qualifications

• 4+ years of experience with grant writing and foundation fundraising work.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated success developing and producing proposals, reports, grant budgets, and other development materials.
• Adeptness in cultivating and nurturing relationships with foundation partners that lead to increased engagement and long-term support.
• Knowledge of best practices in foundation fundraising, with an understanding of emerging trends and opportunities in the field.
• Background in conservation, with a preference for experience grounded on the Colorado Plateau. Familiarity with environmental justice advocacy is a plus.
• Sensitivity and proficiency working in multicultural spaces — both in the workplace and in community.
• Proficiency with relevant technology and applications, including Salesforce (or similar customer relationship management software), Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom.

Note that experience includes lived experience, traditional knowledge, volunteer experience, school or coursework, work experience, and other related qualifications, skills, and experience.

No candidate will meet every requirement. If you're excited about the position and think you may be a good candidate, we encourage you to apply.

The nitty-gritty

Flexibility and paid time off

• Flexible scheduling
• 12 paid holidays
• Two weeks paid vacation and two weeks paid sick leave
• 12-14 weeks of paid parental leave

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid employee medical and dental insurance (50 % employer-paid for qualified dependent premiums)
• 4% automatic employer contribution to 401K retirement plan plus up to 2%match
• Employer-paid long-term disability insurance
• Professional development opportunities
• Paid community service time, sabbatical leave, and more

Location

Position can be based in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, or New Mexico with a strong preference for proximity to Flagstaff, Arizona. A hybrid schedule and office space is available for those in Flagstaff. Remote work is available for candidates based elsewhere in the Four Corner states. Travel between 10% and 20% of the time is required.

Compensation

Up to $57,609 - $76,420 annual salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Who would my supervisor be?

Chris Glick, development director

How do I apply?

Please send your resume and cover letter to careers@grandcanyontrust.org. The application deadline is Friday, April 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. MT. If you need  a reasonable accommodation, contact careers@grandcanyontrust.org

The Grand Canyon Trust is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of our organization. We work actively to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of identity including but not limited to: Race, ethnicity, gender, parental status, national origin, age, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We actively seek diversity in our candidate pools. Applicants of all identities are encouraged to apply.