What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grant Writer position at AbilityFirst?
About Us:
AbilityFirst provides a variety of programs designed to help people with disabilities achieve their personal best throughout their lives. We do this by: creating targeted programming to help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life.
AbilityFirst strengthens and cultivates skills that give our participants the tools to successfully navigate each transition in life, including building social connections and independence; employment preparation, training and experience; and, fun and engaging activities that offer families an opportunity to refresh and recharge.
AbilityFirst is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities reach their full potential.
Our Mission:
Looking beyond disabilities. Focusing on capabilities. Expanding possibilities.
Description of Role:
Responsible for researching, developing and writing grants for funding from corporations, foundations and government agencies. With the Director of Development and Chief Development Officer, helps manage short and long-term grants planning strategies, revenue projections and prospect development.
Primary Duties:
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive working knowledge of the types of funding (program-specific and general operating funds) available to AbilityFirst from corporations, foundations and government agencies; utilizes on-line libraries of information relative to sources of funds, participates in grant seminars, obtains and analyzes grant information from grantors and identifies where AbilityFirst needs and grantors’ goals match.
- Works with the Senior Staff members, department and center staff to obtain information relative to their financial, operating and program needs and matches these with prospective corporate, foundation and government grant opportunities; assists program staff to clearly identify program goals and objectives for grant applications.
- Coordinates the preparation of required documentation; obtains necessary financial data from program and/or accounting staff; writes grant proposals for government, corporate and foundation funds in accordance with their application requirements and deadlines; follows up to ensure receipt of all needed documents and monitor grant application status; maintains contact with prospective grantor through acceptance of proposal and awarding of funds.
- Manages a portfolio and conducts stewardship activities in collaboration with the Director of Development and Chief Development Director; maintain effective, long-term working relationships with grantors to facilitate approval of grants; ensures grantors are invited to special events, agency tours or related functions; maintains informal contacts through telephone calls, e-mail, personal notes and other methods.
- Participates in developing the specifications for monitoring programs for grantors; meets with accounting staff to identify accounting requirements for grant disbursement and ensures financial records comply with grant; participates in monitoring programs funded through grants and evaluating their success; gathers information and prepares reports on program implementation and progress for submission to the grantor.
- Sets up and maintains comprehensive records (Salesforce and hard copy) relative to grant activities; gathers data and prepares associated reports for management and/or grantors as appropriate; ensures accurate and timely acknowledgements of grant donations.
- Maintains a grants tracking report and reviews it monthly to ensure the revenue budget is met by year-end.
Supervisory Responsibility:
The incumbent in this position does not have supervisory responsibility for other staff.
Work schedule:
Full-Time
AbilityFirst
Team Values = Heart
Teamwork
AbilityFirst’s team draws its strength from a shared enthusiasm for each other’s success. We live our mission at work and away. In pursuit of that commitment, we enthusiastically build connections between us to continuously learn from one another and actively seek feedback to improve our approach to the work.
Kindness
We nurture a warm and engaging work environment with trust and respect for one another. Rooted in our mission, we approach each other with humility, humor, and generosity of spirit. We value diversity and cultivate open and honest communication to understand each other.
We Get the Job Done
AbilityFirst’s team members are open-minded and innovative leaders, guided by a strong moral compass. We approach problems with creativity and follow-through, holding ourselves and each other accountable for staying focused on the goals we set together.
