Program Associate, New Economy Initiative in Detroit, Michigan at Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

NEI is a philanthropic collaboration and an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, working to build a regional support network for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our mission is to foster an inclusive culture of entrepreneurship that benefits all residents and strengthens the regional economy. Learn more at neweconomyinitiative.org

The NEI Program Associate is responsible for supporting the day-to-day implementation of NEI-related programs, grantmaking operations, funder and partner engagement, and organizational coordination. The Program Associate will contribute to NEI’s 5.0 strategy by managing grantmaking administrative workflows, supporting calendar and scheduling functions for senior staff, coordinating events and convenings, and providing general programmatic support across NEI’s portfolio of initiatives. This role requires strong organizational skills, excellent written communication, and a commitment to equitable economic development in Detroit and southeast Michigan.

About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM):
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a dynamic, full-service philanthropic organization dedicated to creating lasting, positive change across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston, and St. Clair counties. Since its founding in 1984, CFSEM has distributed over $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants, supporting initiatives in education, health, the arts, economic development, and more. As a trusted convener and advisor, the Foundation builds endowments, fosters collaboration, and champions equitable access to opportunity—ensuring Southeast Michigan is a place where everyone can thrive

Responsibilities:

Grantmaking & Grant Monitoring

• Manage day-to-day grantmaking workflows, including tracking application deadlines, coordinating review processes, and maintaining grant records in the Foundation’s electronic grant tracking system.
• Prepare written reviews and summaries of grant applications; assist in conducting due diligence on applicant organizations.
• Monitor grants for IRS and award compliance; review interim and final grantee reports for programmatic and financial performance.
• Pull, analyze, and prepare reports from the grants management system; ensure data integrity across the NEI portfolio.
• Prepare materials for grant review committee and advisory committee meetings, including dockets, agendas, and supporting documentation.
• Follow up with grantees on reporting requirements and track submission deadlines; flag compliance issues to senior staff.
• Represent NEI in meetings with grantseekers and grantees as assigned.

NEI Program Support

• Comfortable leveraging AI tools to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows
• Support the implementation of NEI programs across key focus areas, including capital readiness, second-stage practical assistance, procurement pathways, and ecosystem navigation.
• Assist in coordinating NEI’s BSO (business support organization) network activities, including NBI Worktable Action Groups, SourceLink, and the Microbusiness Policy Coalition.
• Conduct research and compile background information on community needs, sector trends, and ecosystem partner activities to inform program decisions.
• Assist in developing new grantmaking projects and collaborative funder initiatives, including conceptualizing programs, drafting proposals, and building relationships.
• Contribute to NEI publications, web content, and funder-facing communications as directed.
• Help synthesize program data and learnings for internal reporting and external funder updates.

Calendar & Scheduling Coordination

• Manage calendars for one or more senior NEI staff, including proactive scheduling, conflict resolution, and meeting briefing preparation.
• Maintain NEI’s master program calendar, ensuring visibility across team members on key deadlines, grant cycles, events, and funder engagements.
• Coordinate logistics for internal and external meetings: prepare agendas, distribute materials in advance, capture notes, and track follow-up commitments.
• Assist with travel coordination and expense documentation for program staff as needed.

Events & Convenings

• Support planning and execution of NEI-hosted and co-sponsored events, including funder briefings, grantee convenings, ecosystem summits, and community listening sessions.
• Coordinate event logistics: venue, catering, AV/technology, registration, materials preparation, and on-site support.
• Prepare event briefings, agendas, and participant materials; capture notes and action items during meetings.
• Manage post-event follow-up including thank-you correspondence, resource distribution, and evaluation summaries.
• Staff volunteer advisory committees: prepare meeting materials, attend meetings, take and distribute minutes.

Communications & Funder Relations

• Assist in preparing funder-facing materials including briefings, one-pagers, narrative updates, and grant reports aligned with NEI’s communications standards.
• Support tracking of funder relationships, meeting notes, and pipeline activity in coordination with program leadership.
• Help draft sections of grant proposals and stewardship communications under the direction of senior staff.
• Maintain NEI and organizational files; manage inquiries from nonprofits and individuals about NEI grant programs.

Qualifications:

Required

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to write clearly and professionally for varied audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); comfort with electronic grants management systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to southeast Michigan.
• Collaborative working style with a customer-service orientation toward internal and external partners.

Preferred

• Familiarity with Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including business support organizations (BSOs), CDFIs, and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge of southeast Michigan’s seven-county region.
• Experience with grants management platforms (e.g., Fluxx, Salesforce NPSP, or similar).
• Knowledge of SEDI-owned business communities and the structural barriers they face in accessing capital and technical assistance.
• Bilingual or multilingual candidates encouraged to apply.

The qualifications listed here represent what an ideal candidate may bring - not a strict checklist. We value potential, curiosity, and drive just as much as credentials. If this role excites you and you see yourself contributing, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits & Salary:

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan offers a robust total compensation package The targeted salary for those entering this role is $57,000 - $72,000. In addition to a competitive base salary, benefits include but aren’t limited to 20 days of vacation accrued monthly, 5 personal days, 11 holidays, 9 sick days accrued monthly, paid parental leave, and employer paid short/long term disability. This position requires the ability to work in a hybrid environment, with an average of 3 in-office workdays per week, with Wednesday being a required in-office day.

The Community Foundation also offers a pension retirement program after 1 year of service which contributes 10% of salary.

Application Instructions:

This position is being recruited on an expedited timeline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is strongly encouraged. The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026. To apply, visit www.cfsem.org/careers and look for "Current Opportunities". Please submit your application, including your cover letter through the online portal.

To provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, political or union affiliation, disability or any factor prohibited by law or any factor prohibited by law.