Non-Profit Program Manager
Role summary
The Braven Foundation seeks a full-time, onsite Program Manager in Long Beach, CA, to lead its core community initiatives and grant-writing efforts. This strategic role involves managing the Small Business Program and tech partnerships, driving high-level strategy, tracking performance metrics, and securing funding. Responsibilities include grant writing, budget management, KPI tracking, curriculum development, event planning, partnership development across 11 states, and conference strategy. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in program management, grant writing, or non-profit leadership, with a proven track record in budget management, securing funding, and managing relevant programs. Strong skills in strategic execution, partnership building, data-driven decision-making, communication, and autonomous ownership are essential.
Job Title: Program Manager
Organization: Braven Foundation
Location: Long Beach, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: $55k - $65k
About the Role
The Braven Foundation is seeking a strategic, results-driven Program Manager to own the execution and growth of our core community initiatives and grant-writing portfolio. Reporting directly to the Director of Operations, you will hold primary accountability for the success of our Small Business Program and our tech partnerships.
As a manager, you will move beyond daily task execution to drive high-level strategy, manage program execution, track hard performance metrics, and secure the funding required to scale our impact. This role requires a leader with a demonstrated passion for empowering underrepresented communities and fostering small business entrepreneurship, coupled with the business acumen to deliver measurable results.
Key Responsibilities & Concrete Deliverables1. Grant Writing & Strategic Account Management
- Develop and execute an annual grant funding strategy (local, state, federal, and private)
- Build and manage a robust grant pipeline (LOIs, proposals, renewals)
- Serve as the primary account manager for institutional funders
- Ensure on-time, zero-defect compliance reporting (financial + programmatic)
- Lead quarterly sponsor reviews to demonstrate impact and secure renewals
- Translate program outcomes into compelling narratives and reports
2. Small Business Program Management
- Recruit, onboard, and graduate small business cohorts annually
- Own and manage program budgets, forecasting, and ROI optimization
- Build and maintain a KPI dashboard (graduation rates, revenue growth, jobs created)
- Continuously audit and upgrade curriculum (biannual updates)
- Develop case studies, impact reports, and success stories
- Ensure high-quality participant experience and measurable outcomes
3. Workshop Programs & Operations
- Plan, market, and execute:
- 7–10 virtual workshops/webinars per month
- 1–2 in-person workshops per month
- Own event performance metrics (attendance, replay views, engagement)
- Drive year-over-year growth in certifications and program participation
- Maintain and manage a multi-state event calendar
- Coordinate post-event replay campaigns and engagement strategies
- Optimize attendance growth (target: increasing average attendance and reach)
4. Strategic Partnerships & Outreach (CORE GROWTH FUNCTION)
- Identify and secure partnerships (across 11 states) with:
- Chambers of Commerce
- SBDCs
- Nonprofits
- Economic development organizations
- Trade associations
- Conduct structured outreach (email, calls, social)
- Build and maintain a CRM of partners across multiple states
- Lead partner discovery calls and onboarding
- Provide partners with co-marketing kits (email copy, social assets, flyers)
- Ensure partners actively promote workshops and drive attendance
- Maintain a rolling 90-day outreach pipeline
5. Conference Strategy & Market Expansion
- Identify business conferences and speaking opportunities
- Pitch workshops and speaking engagements to event organizers
- Secure conference placements quarterly across key markets
- Expand Braven Foundation’s presence across Western U.S. regions
- Track deadlines, submissions, and outcomes for opportunities
6. Performance Tracking & Reporting
- Track and report on:
- Workshop volume and attendance
- Partner performance
- Grant pipeline progress
- Program KPIs
- Deliver:
- Weekly pipeline and outreach reports
- Monthly performance summaries
- Continuously optimize based on data and performance insights
Qualifications & Skill Set
Experience:
- 3–5 years of professional experience in program management, grant writing, or non-profit leadership.
- Proven track record of managing program budgets large and consistently meeting or exceeding programmatic deliverables.
- A demonstrable portfolio of secured grant funding, encompassing corporate, foundation, and/or government applications.
- Direct experience managing small business incubators, economic development programs, or corporate-community tech partnerships
Core Competencies:
- Strategic Execution: Ability to manage multiple work streams across programs, partnerships, and funding simultaneously
- Partnership & Relationship Building: Strong ability to build trust and influence across organizations
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Comfortable using metrics to optimize performance and drive growth
- Communication & Storytelling: Can translate impact into compelling narratives for funders and stakeholders
- Autonomous Ownership: Self-starter who thrives with minimal oversight and full accountability
- Operational Excellence: Highly organized with strong systems for tracking outreach, events, and reporting
Success Metrics (What Winning Looks Like)
- Consistently securing 7–10 workshops/month + 1–2 in-person events
- Growing attendance and replay engagement
- Building a strong multi-state partner network
- Meeting or exceeding grant funding targets
- Delivering high-performing small business cohorts
- Maintaining 100% on-time reporting and compliance
Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person