Position Summary

The Grant Development Officer will spearhead the fund development process for assigned accounts, focusing on securing new and renewal gifts primarily from foundation and government sources. Key responsibilities include prospect research, donor engagement, proposal development, and stewardship. Utilizing tools like the Foundation Directory Online Professional, the Officer will identify potential donors and cultivate relationships through discovery meetings and strategic ask opportunities. Existing donor relationships will also be assigned. Crafting compelling proposals and budgets in collaboration with the finance and proposal creation teams will be essential, with a significant time commitment dedicated to the proposal submission process.

The Grant Development Officer will prioritize long-term donor relationships, emphasizing stewardship and personalized communication to maintain sustainable funding. This includes regular engagement with $1,000 donors through various tailored approaches, such as personalized emails, video recordings, donor events, and face to face meeting opportunities (in person/virtual.) Additionally, the Officer will fulfill grant reporting responsibilities in partnership with the finance team.

Maintaining ongoing communication with funders to keep them informed of organizational progress is crucial, and the Officer will work collaboratively within an internal team environment to ensure efficient communication and coordination. The primary focus will be on foundations, with government sources as a secondary target market. The Officer will manage a portfolio of existing accounts while also providing support to other account managers/marketing functions as needed.

Most donor relationships will be with nationwide funders based in the United States. Funding is also secured from St. Louis based donors for the National Center’s direct service affiliate, Show Me Strong Families, serving children in the City of St. Louis and Normandy, Missouri. The Philanthropy Team, in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, maintains a comprehensive list of funding opportunities, including program enhancements, expansion initiatives, research projects, technology investments, advocacy efforts, and curriculum additions.

In summary the Grant Development Officer will engage in all aspects of the fund development process:

• Identify prospect donors.
• Attract prospect/renewal donors by identifying relationships among supporters (board members, staff, funders), conducting “discovery meetings”, strategizing “ask” opportunities with internal proposal creation team, determining best strategic approach, focusing on personal contact and cultivation.

• Secure donor support by crafting the ask, developing the budget with finance team, creating the proposal with input from proposal creation team.

• Keep donors for sustainable long-term funding with stewardship and relationship building vs. transactional interactions, moves management, tailored approaches for unique audiences, fulfill grant reporting responsibilities working in partnership with the finance team.

Essential Functions

• Grant Writing: (45%) Collaborate with the VP & additional staff to develop and update program logic models, activities, objectives, and outcomes and develop successful grant proposals that meet funder guidelines and giving priorities. Manage multiple grant writing timelines and oversee the grant schedule to ensure timely submissions. Ensure all submitted proposals are in-line with PATNC values. Occasionally assist with fundraising appeals and donor-focused publications, including year-end appeals and special communications.
• Grant Reporting: (20%) Track implementation of grant commitments by other departments (programming) to ensure deliverables are met on time. Track all grant report deadlines, complete follow-up reporting and program evaluation. Maintain and record information in the donor database.
• Prospect Research: (15%) Research and identify funding opportunities available from private and public sources. These include foundation, corporate and government (federal & select state/local) giving opportunities. Coordinate with other departments to assess funding needs and feasibility for potential grants. Create timely reports on the status of grant funding efforts (# proposals submitted, # funded, # new.)
• Relationship Management: (15%) Provide stewardship to assigned accounts ensuring at least quarterly personalized communication and an invitation to meet face-to-face, 1 on 1 annually.
• Fiscal Responsibility: (5%) Manage financial activities (e.g., budgeting, credit card processing, financial review, and internal controls) assessed by the accounting operating division. Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a relevant field. Grant Professionals Certification preferred.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in non-profit grant writing with demonstrated success securing public, foundation, and corporate grant funding, preferably with social services agencies.
• Previous grant budget development and management experience
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and leadership to think strategically.