Grants Coordinator

Position Summary:The Grants Coordinator works to cultivate, solicit, steward, and grow a diverse portfolio of
corporate, foundation, and governmental funding partners through the development of
proposals and memos, narrative and financial reports, and programmatic and organizational
updates.

The Coordinator will write strategically, persuasively, and quickly for long and short answer
formats using the highest writing standards. Additionally, the Coordinator ensures on-time
fulfillment of requests and report deliverables and facilitates collaboration and workflow across
functional internal teams.

This person will collaborate with the Managing Director of Development & Communications on
the strategy and implementation of a comprehensive grants and institutional giving program.
The Grants Coordinator will maintain a robust tracking system for application and reporting
deadlines to ensure expected funding is never missed. Other essential competencies include a
high degree of personal accountability, an ability to work independently on multiple projects
simultaneously, and exceptional time management skills.
 
Essential Responsibilities / Functions:

Grant Management and Fundraising:● Assist with the creation and execution of strategies to acquire and cultivate corporate,
governmental, and foundation funding relationships through best-in-class prospecting,
cultivation, and stewardship.
● Collaborate with the Managing Director to manage and enhance a diverse portfolio of
grantors and regularly connect via phone, video conference and in-person meetings and
events.
● Execute letters of interest/intent, grant proposals, applications
● Oversee stewardship and reporting for the portfolio of grantors
● Create presentations, proposals, decks and reports for grant solicitation and
stewardship.
● Contribute to annual budgeted fundraising goal ($2 - $3M annually).
● In collaboration with the Managing Director, educate Program Directors in their
understanding of grantor’s interest and relevant deliverables as it regards funding
opportunities.
● Identify and qualify corporate, foundational, and governmental prospects and perform
continual research (online and via visits and calls) for new grant opportunities to write
proposals that match interests.
● Provide ongoing stewardship to funders – updating them on programs of interest and
facilitating sponsorship/recognition opportunities when needed.

Records Management:● Maintain an accurate and up to date donor database, purging old accounts & keeping a
record of all communications.
● Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of grantor program officers, board contacts,
and other key personnel, record cultivation/stewardship activities and other relevant
data within organizational CRM
● Input necessary data into the database to create reports that ensure stewardship goals
are met.
● Address donor questions and concerns related to fund administration and beneficiaries,
gift acknowledgments, and report requirements.

Education Skills & Experience:

Required:● Bachelor's degree from four-year college/university or 5 years related experience.
● At least 2 years of experience in grant management, donor relations, communications,
or some other related fields
● Exceptional writing and communication skills, mastery of proposal elements - ability to
transform internal ideas, metrics and strategies into easy-to-understand and compelling
language for donor audiences and grants.
● Experience of successfully writing grants of $25,000 or more and a solid understanding
of major foundation giving patterns and landscape within Chicagoland.
● Strong analytical, organizational, prioritization, and project/time management skills.
● Proficiency in working with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite and CRM Systems
● Highly effective collaboration and influencing skills across a variety of stakeholders.
● Demonstrated ability to work both independently and cooperatively with other staff and
volunteers.
● Ability to work with and speak effectively to and with diverse audiences.
● Firm belief in engaging and empowering rising entrepreneurs in underinvested areas of
Chicago to build their businesses and transform their communities.
● Ability to successfully exercise discretion and independent judgment to reach goals.

Preferred:● Nonprofit Industry experience: 3 years
● Knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of cultural and socioeconomic dynamics
present on the South, West and far North sides of Chicago where Sunshine works
● Direct experience with Salesforce or comparable Donor Relationship Management
software