Opportunities
Job Summary
Partners for Sacred Places seeks candidates for the full-time position of Program Associate of the National Fund for Sacred Places. Program Associates (3 total) will work in close collaboration with the Director and Associate Director to oversee the annual application process as well as the management of active grantees. Each Program Associate will be assigned a focus area (planning grants or capital grant review, for example) and will assist with administrative tasks as well.
The National Fund, which is a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking significant capital projects. This program, supported by the Lilly Endowment, has served over 100 congregations to date; and is funded through 2028. There are several grants under the umbrella of the National Fund, including a planning grant and an emergency grant.
Responsibilities
- Use marketing tools such as Constant Contact to distribute information regarding the program.
- Respond to inquiries from congregations with questions about the program.
- Prepare presentation materials for annual informational webinar, advisory committee meeting, and training.
- Work with senior staff to plan and coordinate the annual training, which is offered each November to new grantees – including hotel, venue, and catering arrangements.
- Provide guidance and technical support to congregations completing the LOI and application.
- Read and evaluate LOIs and applications.
- Meet one-on-one with grantees quarterly and provide support throughout the program. On average, it takes a congregation two to three years to move through the program.
- Use grant management and project tracking software – including Foundant and Monday.com – to participate in the application process (Foundant) and to track the progress of grantees as they move through the program (Monday.com).
- Review construction documents, specifications, contractor bids, etc. to ensure compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
- Review completed work via final site visits (the goal of the final site visit is to showcase the work that’s been completed; to discuss the impact that the project has had on the congregation and community; and reflect on the experience of being part of the program).
- Represent the program at conferences and events as needed.
Skills
- Ability to work independently and in a variety of small and large group contexts.
- Comfortable working with folks from various sectors, including: religious leaders and congregational staff (preferably across a range of denominations and faith traditions), architects, preservationists, etc.
- Write and speak clearly and persuasively.
- Detail-oriented.
- Able to multi-task and provide support to multiple congregations.
- Confidently facilitate small group meetings and one-on-one conversations.
- Able to prepare presentation materials, eg., working with PowerPoint.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree; Preference for a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Divinity, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- At least three (3) years’ work experience.
- Experience working in a small to midsize nonprofit organization.
- Reside in, or willingness to move to, Philadelphia.
- Willing and able to travel domestically, monthly or sometimes more, and to work weekends and evenings to deliver Fund-related services on occasion.
- Fluency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Constant Contact; Willingness to learn how to use Foundant and Monday.com
Preferred
- Experience in managing grant and technical assistance programs.
- Familiarity with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
- Experience in delivering training and/or consulting services, especially to religious congregations.
Benefits: Paid Time Off, Health Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan
Salary $52,000 – 60,000
To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to rhildebrandt@sacredplaces.org. Please no phone calls.
Description
Partners for Sacred Places seeks candidates for the full-time position of Intervention Fund Director. The Intervention Fund Director will work in close collaboration with the Director of the National Fund for Sacred Places to operate and grow the Intervention Fund program.
The National Fund for Sacred Places, which is a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking significant capital projects. This program, supported by the Lilly Endowment, has served over 100 congregations to date; and is funded through 2028. There are several grants under the umbrella of the National Fund, including the Intervention Fund.
Intervention Fund grants are awarded in emergency situations when immediate and unanticipated work is needed to save a historic sacred place or a key element of a historic sacred place, such as when a fire or other natural disaster strikes. Eligible projects are those resulting from unanticipated emergencies, not problems generated by long-term neglect or deferred maintenance.
Key Responsibilities
- Build the pipeline of Intervention Fund candidates by networking with preservation organizations and judicatories across the US.
- Conduct outreach to congregations impacted by climate change and natural disasters across the US.
- Identify applicants; invite applications; review applications; and coordinate these activities with the larger National Fund for Sacred Places.
- Review applicants’ projects, including construction documents and specifications, bids, etc., to ensure that the projects we are funding meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
- Use grant management and project tracking software – including Foundant and Monday.com – to manage the application process (Foundant) and to track the grantees (Monday.com).
- Work with senior staff to develop workshops or trainings complimentary to the grant.
- Develop outreach materials and the program’s web presence.
- Refine and evolve the application process as the program grows.
- Supervise the Intervention Fund Associate.
Skills
- Ability to work independently and in a variety of small and large group contexts.
- Comfortable working with folks from various sectors, including: religious leaders and congregational staff (preferably across a range of denominations and faith traditions), architects, preservationists, etc.
- Write and speak clearly and persuasively.
- Detail-oriented.
- Able to multi-task and provide support to multiple congregations.
- Confidently facilitate small group meetings and one-on-one conversations.
- Able to prepare presentation materials, eg., working with PowerPoint.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree; Preference for a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, or a related field.
- At least five (5) years’ work experience.
- Program management experience.
- Familiarity with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
- Reside in, or willingness to move to, Philadelphia.
- Willing and able to travel domestically, and to work weekends and evenings to deliver Fund-related services on occasion.
- Fluency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Constant Contact; Willingness to learn how to use Foundant and Monday.com
Preferred
- Experience in managing grant and technical assistance programs.
- Experience in delivering training and/or consulting services, especially to religious congregations.
- Ability to interpret and apply the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
Benefits: Paid Time Off, Health Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan
Salary $65,000
To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to rhildebrandt@sacredplaces.org. Please no phone calls.
Description
Partners for Sacred Places seeks candidates for the full-time position of Technical Assistance Associate of the National Fund for Sacred Places. The Technical Assistance Associate will work in close collaboration with the Director and Technical Assistance Coordinator to deliver consulting services to National Fund grantees.
The National Fund, which is a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking significant capital projects. This program, supported by the Lilly Endowment, has served over 100 congregations to date; and is funded through 2028. There are several grants under the umbrella of the National Fund, including a planning grant and an emergency grant.
All grantees are eligible to receive one pro bono consulting service in addition to the capital grant and planning grant they receive from the National Fund. The services (Capital Campaign Support, Communications Support, Economic Halo Effect Study, and Community Engagement) are delivered by a combination of National Fund staff, including this role, and other Partners’ staff. The services offered via the National Fund are intended to help congregations that are in the midst of large capital projects advance the planning and fundraising efforts they undertake as part of the program.
Key Responsibilities
- During the first 6-9 months on staff, learn to deliver some of Partners’ core consulting services by shadowing current staff who are working in the field throughout the country.
- Work with the Technical Assistance Coordinator and other staff to deliver pro bono consulting services to National Fund grantees (such as economic impact studies and community engagement conversations) for the 2025 cohort and future cohorts.
- Report to and remain in close communication with the Technical Assistance Coordinator, keeping them informed on the status of each project.
- Help to answer inquiries from interested congregations throughout the application process and participate in the application review process.
- Provide assistance, as needed, with special projects related to the National Fund or other Partners’ programs.
Skills
- Able to work independently and in a variety of small and large group contexts. Work collaboratively and collegially with a range of staff across Partner’ offices
- Able to work with individuals from various sectors, including religious leaders and congregational staff across a range of denominations and faith traditions, architects, preservationists, etc.
- Experience in delivering training and/or consulting services, especially to religious congregations
- Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively
- Confidently facilitate small group meetings and one-on-one conversations
- Detail-oriented
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Facility Management, or a related field
- At least three (3) years’ work experience
- Experience working in a mid-size nonprofit organization or similar
- Experience working with congregations or faith communities or an appreciation of historic religious buildings and community-serving congregations
- Fluency in Google Workspace and Adobe Creative Cloud
- Reside in, or willingness to move to, Philadelphia
- Willing/ able to frequently travel domestically, and to work weekends and evenings to deliver National Fund-related services as needed
Salary: $52,000-60,000
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to rhildebrandt@sacredplaces.org. No phone calls, please.
About Partners for Sacred Places
Partners for Sacred Places, founded in 1989, is the only national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization focused on building the capacity of congregations of historic sacred places to better serve their communities as anchor institutions, nurturing transformation, and shaping vibrant, creative communities. Places of worship play vital roles in their neighborhoods and the broader community. They are significant landmarks, places where people access programs and community services, and a focus of neighborhood physical and social identity.
Partners for Sacred Places provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
If you are interested in future volunteer opportunities with Partners for Sacred Places, please send an email to partners@sacredplaces.org and include some background information about yourself and your areas of interest.
