Reports to: Director of Development
Salary Range: $47,500 Salary
Location: On-Site/In-Person
Status: Exempt – Full-Time, Salaried

Position Summary

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center seeks a highly organized, strategic, and accomplished Grants Manager to lead the organization’s institutional fundraising efforts. This role will cultivate and steward relationships with foundations, corporations, and government partners while securing philanthropic support that advances Oklahoma Contemporary’s mission to encourage artistic expression in all its forms through education, exhibitions, and performance.

The Grants Coordinator is responsible for the organized, timely, and accurate management of a comprehensive portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities. This includes maintaining grant calendars and deadlines; conducting prospect research; coordinating proposal development and submission; managing stewardship and reporting requirements; tracking supporting documentation; and ensuring compliance with all funder requirements. The position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational systems, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

This is an on-site position based at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center and requires regular in-person collaboration with staff and organizational leadership. Working closely with the Executive Director, Director of Development, Development Department, and colleagues across the organization, the Grants Coordinator serves as a central point of coordination for institutional fundraising efforts, helping ensure opportunities, deadlines, deliverables, and funder relationships are thoughtfully and consistently managed.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional writer and highly organized project manager who brings structure, accountability, and follow-through to the grants process. They will have the ability to translate Oklahoma Contemporary’s mission, programs, and impact into compelling proposals; proactively identify new funding opportunities; coordinate information across departments; and cultivate meaningful relationships with institutional funding partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage a comprehensive annual grants program aligned with Oklahoma Contemporary’s fundraising goals, strategic priorities, and programmatic needs.
• Conduct ongoing prospect research to identify and evaluate foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities, with an emphasis on expanding regional and national support.
• Develop, prepare, and submit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, applications, and supporting materials in accordance with funder guidelines and deadlines.
• Maintain a highly organized and accurate grants calendar and institutional funding pipeline, tracking prospects, applications, awards, declinations, reporting requirements, renewal opportunities, and key deadlines.
• Coordinate closely with program, Finance, and other departmental staff to develop strong proposal narratives, budgets, measurable outcomes, and required supporting documentation.
• Manage awarded grants from acceptance through completion, ensuring timely reporting, appropriate stewardship, and full compliance with grant agreements and funder requirements.
• Cultivate and steward strong relationships with current and prospective institutional funders through thoughtful correspondence, meetings, site visits, program updates, and other engagement opportunities.
• Proactively communicate significant funding opportunities, changes in grant cycles, award decisions, reporting requirements, and other developments that may affect institutional fundraising strategy.
• Provide informed recommendations and strategic guidance regarding institutional funding priorities, prospect cultivation, and opportunities for growth.
• Maintain complete and accurate grant records and provide regular reporting on pipeline activity, secured revenue, upcoming deadlines, pending decisions, and progress toward annual fundraising goals.
• Collaborate across departments and participate actively in grant planning and strategy meetings to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely execution.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of Oklahoma Contemporary’s mission, fundraising goals, and organizational priorities.

Performance Expectations

The Grants Coordinator is expected to bring a proactive, strategic, and highly organized approach to institutional fundraising. Success in this role will be measured by growth in grant revenue and the institutional funding pipeline; cultivation of new and strengthened funding relationships; timely, accurate, and compelling proposal submissions; effective grant administration, compliance, and reporting; strong cross-departmental collaboration; and meaningful contributions to Oklahoma Contemporary’s broader fundraising goals, strategies, and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in grant writing, grants management, institutional fundraising, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear and compelling narratives.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines with accuracy and consistency.
• Experience developing or interpreting program budgets and collaborating on grant-related financial reporting.
• Working knowledge of grant compliance, reporting, stewardship, and funder relationship-management practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong working relationships with colleagues, organizational leadership, and external partners.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented, with demonstrated initiative and the ability to move projects forward independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with CRM databases, grant-management platforms, and prospect-research tools preferred.
• Familiarity with and demonstrated interest in emerging artificial intelligence technologies, including the thoughtful and responsible use of AI tools to support research, writing, organization, workflow efficiency, and other aspects of grants management.
• Ability and willingness to adapt to evolving technologies and identify appropriate opportunities to incorporate new tools and systems into institutional fundraising practices.
• Commitment to Oklahoma Contemporary’s mission and enthusiasm for contemporary art, arts education, and performance.

Limitations and Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Other Requirements and Working Conditions

• Use of a car required; legally registered and insured for daily use.
• Use of a computer, telephone and printer/copier daily.
• Team environment with frequent group meeting participation and collaboration necessary.
• Physical requirements: combination of sitting, standing, walking and driving on a frequent basis. Lifting modest weights (up to 30 pounds) may be required occasionally.
• Other duties as assigned.

Oklahoma Contemporary is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, different abilities, gender identity, or veteran status.

About Oklahoma Contemporary

Oklahoma Contemporary is an inclusive center for the arts where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience art, encounter new ideas, and ignite their creative potential. Through visual art exhibitions, performances, public programs, community-building initiatives, outdoor installations, and special events, Oklahoma Contemporary creates opportunities for everyone to come together in celebration of contemporary culture and artistic expression. With year-round classes and seasonal youth camps across multiple disciplines, the arts center’s education programs encourage youth and adults to express their ideas across a variety of media and learn new skills. Oklahoma Contemporary believes that art is for everyone and places accessibility and education at the center of all programming. Admission to exhibitions is always free. Oklahoma Contemporary is a regional 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by businessman and philanthropist Christian Keesee and Kirkpatrick Foundation Director Marilyn Myers. 

Inclusion

Oklahoma Contemporary strives to demonstrate leadership by modeling excellence and best practices for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We believe in the power of human creativity and value the opportunities for connection and learning that exist when cultures and communities come together in collaboration and understanding.

We commit to championing policies and practices that value diversity, foster cultural equity, and create an accessible and inclusive environment. Oklahoma Contemporary does not discriminate based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion. We recognize our strengths lie in the broad range of people who contribute their time and talents to our mission and are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive place for them to explore creativity.