What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grant Writer & Communications Associate, Foundations & Strategic Partnerships position at UJA Federation of New York?
Several years ago, UJA created a Director of Foundations and Strategic Partnerships role to cultivate foundation partnerships, identify new funding opportunities, and work with colleagues throughout UJA to develop initiatives that attract philanthropic investment. As a result of our increased engagement with foundations, we are regularly presented with funding opportunities that require quick turnaround, tailored proposals, and ongoing stewardship. Foundations often require specific proposals in their portals, which takes care and skill to draft.
At the same time, UJA’s Capital Gifts & Special Initiatives department has significantly grown its campaign, raising nearly $30M this year. This has happened without a parallel expansion of this department’s writing team, which is responsible for drafting funding menus, proposals, reports, talking points, and other communications to individual donors and foundations.
The Grant Writer & Communications Associate will ensure we have the capacity to pursue funding opportunities effectively and maximize philanthropic support for UJA’s priorities. This professional will also help maintain strong relationships with funders after grants are awarded through ongoing reporting and stewardship.
Major Responsibilities:
- Write letters, proposals, reports and other communications to facilitate all phases of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-capacity foundations; all material will be individually customized to meet each foundation’s specific interests.
- Prepare remarks, talking points, and speeches for meetings and events
- Prepare general project descriptions and project “sampler menus”
- Work closely with fundraising and planning colleagues to gather required information, ask the right questions, and synthesize complex information to clearly articulate UJA’s strategy and opportunities for partnership.
- Design material so that it is visually compelling
Qualifications and Competencies:
- Strong writing skills
- 3-5 years of fundraising-related writing experience
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work seamlessly with others in a team environment
- Excellent organizational and project management skills
- Ability to see the full picture and determine what information needs to be shared to achieve a desired outcome
- Ability to organize and write both formal proposals and informal communications
- Ability to review and analyze a program budget
- Ability to work well under pressure, and flexibility to shift gears and juggle assignments
- Familiarity with the nonprofit field and organizational life
- Familiarity with Jewish life and Israel
- Commitment to the mission of UJA-Federation, and strong desire to use talents and skills to advance that mission
- Ability to communicate tactfully and clearly
- A good graphic sensibility and the ability to use Microsoft Office products to enhance the appearance of proposals and other documents
- A Bachelor of Arts is a must; more education and life experience is a plus
Reports To: Director, Foundation & Strategic Partnerships
Salary Range: $77,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications listed above.