Community Grant Writer Assistant

Overview

The Community Grant Writer program helps nonprofits, municipalities, and schools identify and secure grant funding for priority community programs that align with the Avedis Foundation's vision to "measurably improve the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities."

The Grant Assistant works collaboratively with the Community Grant Writer to support partner organizations throughout the grant process, including identifying and assessing funding opportunities, developing competitive proposals and budgets, coordinating application requirements and submissions, and assisting with post-award reporting and compliance.

This position may be filled at different levels based on the selected candidate's education, experience, demonstrated skills, and ability to independently manage grant projects. The level of responsibility, complexity of assignments, and degree of independence will correspond with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Essential Duties

• Manage assigned applicants and grant projects, with the level of independence and complexity of assignments based on experience, from opportunity assessment through application development, submission, award notification, and post-award reporting.
• Assess funding opportunities for eligibility, competitiveness, strategic alignment, and organizational readiness; assist with or prepare funding recommendations and project-development plans.
• Meet with applicants and community partners to clarify program design, responsibilities, timelines, budgets, evaluation measures, sustainability strategies, and submission requirements.
• Research and develop grant narratives, budgets, budget justifications, forms, attachments, partner commitments, and other required application materials.
• Communicate with organizational leaders, community partners, funders, and other stakeholders as appropriate to assigned projects.
• Review and interpret federal, state, corporate, foundation, and private funder requirements; verify eligibility; maintain complete records; and support compliance and quality review.
• Coordinate draft and final submissions to meet deadlines, resolve barriers, and ensure application components are complete, consistent, and submission-ready.
• Maintain accurate grant trackers, monthly reports, project files, and documentation of decisions, next steps, outcomes, and grant-development results.
• Support post-award compliance, reporting, and sustainability by monitoring deadlines, collecting outcome information, providing technical assistance, and helping partners plan for continued funding.
• Participate in collaborative review of grant applications and other grant-related materials to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of submissions.
• Contribute to improvements in grant policies, templates, procedures, tracking systems, and other tools that strengthen the Community Grant Writer program's capacity and effectiveness.

General Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Characteristics

• Knowledge of or experience with budget development and monitoring.
• Philosophical agreement with the Foundation's mission and vision.
• Knowledge of or interest in issues related to poverty, community development, health, wellness, and quality of life.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills that support strong customer service and productive relationships with partners, funders, and team members.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities, resources, projects, and deadlines.
• Knowledge of or experience with outcome-based planning, program evaluation, and sustainability practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to assist partners with program, budget, compliance, and submission issues.
• Ability to make appropriate administrative and procedural decisions within assigned responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft programs, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence tools and the ability to use them ethically and responsibly.
• Willingness to attend trainings and overnight sessions and to work the hours necessary to meet deadlines and fulfill strategic requirements.
• Commitment to professional growth and the ability to remain flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and responsibilities.