Operations / Administration Grant Writer (Chicago/Hybrid)
Job Description
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago is the leading nonprofit in Chicago dedicated to removing barriers so that students can unlock their potential and stay on the path to graduation. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Our vision is to ensure that every public-school student in Chicago graduates from high school prepared to succeed.
Our organization’s core values are Impact, Integrity, Relationships, and Social Justice. CIS of Chicago was founded in 1988, and is an affiliate of Communities In Schools, Inc., a national nonprofit organization with offices in more than 150 different cities.
OUR EXPECTED IMPACT IN 2022-23
During the current 2022-23 school year, CIS of Chicago is partnering with 200 Chicago Public Schools and expects to connect whole-school essential services and programs that reach more than 65,000 young people. At 30 of these schools, we also embed full-time Student Supports Managers to provide approximately 1,350 students at the highest risk of falling off track in school with direct, intensive, and tailored case management support.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CIS of Chicago 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.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: GRANT WRITER
The Grant Writer is a member of our Development Team, which centers its work on raising funds in support of our mission and programming. The Grant Writer is focused on growing an institutional giving portfolio (comprised of foundation, corporation, and public funding supporters), as well as stewarding existing partnerships from our loyal donor community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage and Grow a Portfolio of 40–60 Institutional Funders (Foundation, Corporate, Government):
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate connections with prospective supporters whose grant-making priories are aligned with our areas of focus.
- Engage in all aspects of the proposal-writing process, including conducting research and analysis and developing letters of intent, proposal applications, and reports.
- Project-Manage highly complex applications that require cross-team collaborations and high-level research and analysis.
- Provide targeted and engaging funder stewardship that is donor centered.
- Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals, with a primary focus on achieving six-figure grants.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive donor information.
- Manage the Development Team’s Institutional Grants Calendar, working in collaboration with the Team to ensure grant application, reporting, and compliance materials are submitted, as scheduled.
- Support organizational leaders as needed in their major gift solicitations, as well as mentor and coach development staff, as needed.
- Represent CIS of Chicago at external industry, community-based, and networking events.
- Support the Team in the planning and execution of donor cultivation and fundraising events.
- Complete other duties as assigned, as part of a collaborative team.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIRED SKILLS
- Fundraising and Professional Experience: demonstrated success with achieving six-figure grants (institutional giving) and being directly responsible for successful management and submission of highly complex requests; demonstrated progressive responsibilities; bachelor’s degree required.
- Communications: excellent writing skills, be comfortable communicating professionally with diverse audiences, and have strong presentation skills.
- Project Management: demonstrated success with setting and achieving goals, multi-tasking and balancing competing project demands, adapting to changing dynamics, and meeting deadlines.
- Critical Thinking: strong observation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Technical Skills: advanced ability to use Microsoft Office, Public Funding Grant Tools, and donor management systems; be comfortable using virtual meeting tools, such as Zoom.
- Commitment to our Organizational Values.
REPORTS TO
The Associate Director of Development
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The position is full-time. Currently, the work environment is hybrid (20 hours at CIS of Chicago headquarters/20 hours remote), which may be adjusted at the discretion of CIS of Chicago leadership. Candidate must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends.
