Intervention Fund Director

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.