Operations / Administration Grant Writer
Job Description
About Us: Golden Apple is a non-profit organization that works to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. To date, Golden Apple has recruited over 3,000 diverse, aspiring teachers into the teaching profession and is actively expanding to deliver an annual impact that systematically improves schools.
Summary: The Golden Apple Foundation is seeking a full-time grant writer to manage its growing grant portfolio. The grant writer will maintain between 30-50 active institutional relationships and manage a grant portfolio that requires the submission of 50-75 proposals a year and requisite reports.
Reports to: CEO with advice and guidance from the VP of Development
Responsibilities:
- Researches and identifies grant prospects at the state and national level.
- Determines proposal concept by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs, studying requests for proposal (RFPs), attending strategy meetings, participating in relevant staff meetings, and developing a strong understanding of the organization’s work, programs, priorities, innovations, history, mission, and results.
- Maintains grant deadlines and program tracker and enters relevant information into the organization’s database. Meets proposal deadlines by establishing priorities and target dates for information and shares information with the development team. Coordinates requirements with various program staff and contributes proposal status information.
- Has excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated history of appropriately handling communication with high-net worth donors and/or foundation representatives.
- Drafts, revises, and produces high-quality proposals and reports for multiple stakeholders by using templates and following proposal-writing standards including readability, consistency, and tone. Assembles information including project nature, objectives/outcomes/deliverables, implementation, methods, timetable, staffing, budget, standards of performance, and evaluation. Presents proposals in creative or required formats. Obtains approvals by reviewing proposals with key stakeholders, including various program and executive-level staff within the organization.
- Drafts content related to grant partners for general external communications such as newsletter articles, blog posts, and social media content.
- Assists with database management; is capable of pulling reports to meet various funder queries.
- Prepares presentations for current and prospective partners using text, graphics, videos and other imagery.
- Improves proposal-writing outcomes by evaluating and re-designing processes, approach, coordination, and templates.
- Accomplishes organizational goals by accepting ownership, working with a team, and exploring opportunities to add value to organization
Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred in Communications, Journalism, Media, Non-Profit Management, or related field
- Minimum of 5-years’ experience in grant writing, prospect research, general fundraising or comparable and transferable skills acquired in a professional setting
- Understanding of donor market, willingness to research markets outside of Illinois and nationally
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to engage in strategic planning and process improvement
- Strong entrepreneurial attitude including drive for results and proven ability to stay focused on goals; ability to prioritize competing priorities and meet deadlines
- Strong organizational skills, ability to follow processes and attention to detail
- Strong written communication and presentation skills
- Strong computer and Internet proficiency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Google G-Suite, social media tools, graphic design (i.e. InDesign or comparable platforms) and database applications
- Experience working in a fast paced, quick turnaround environment
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to work collaboratively and courteously with external partners
- High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information
GAF is in compliance with all applicable EEOC laws. Representation of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
