Grant Manager

Position Summary 

The Grants Manager is an instrumental piece in the advancement, development and compliance of programs at GCYC. Leading the Center’s efforts in fundraising through grant writing, this role is essential in supporting the organization with fundraising goals and raising the profile of the Gary Comer Youth Center to grow our impact. Working closely with program leaders, the Database and Compliance Administrator, and the Grants Accountant, the Grants Manager will guide all matters pertinent to the grants portfolio at GCYC.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Grants Management:
  • Lead grant writer for organizational proposals and submissions, persuasively communicating the organization’s mission and programs to potential funders
  • Aide in developing relevant materials such as logic models, letter templates, partner agreements, impact reports, outcomes, etc.
  • Assemble and submit all materials for grant proposals and applications
  • Maintain calendar of grant priorities, deadlines, and reporting to ensure prompt submission of all relevant/required materials
  • Communicate deliverables and contract requirements to GCYC finance and program teams for program audits, reports, and funder meetings
  • Ongoing prospecting and research to identify funding opportunities that offer a favorable return on investment, management and oversight of the shared Grants inbox
  • Collaborate across teams and departments to ensure accurate data collection and tracking for relevant reporting and grant-funding initiatives
  • Support organizational leaders as needed in major gift solicitations
  • Contribute to the preparation of materials for stakeholders (e.g. Board of Directors, Executive Director, etc.)
  • Ensures the timely and accurate entry of data into internal data systems (e.g. Salesforce, Financial Edge)
  • Responsible for special projects assigned by direct supervisor or Executive Director.
• Organizational Leadership:
  • Seek out partnerships and relationships that will create deeper, more relevant, and more impactful experiences for program participants and create funding opportunities
  • Represent GCYC at external events and opportunities, including fundraising, partnership opportunities, conferences, and other engagements
  • Responsible for managing and executing deliverables and compliance for grants assigned directly and grants assigned to subordinates

• Culture/Values:
  • Embrace/demonstrate the values of the Comer Education Campus: 
    • Youth Power
    • Innovation
    • Wellbeing
    • Community Commitment
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Joy
  • Contribute to and execute strategies to create and maintain a productive and engaging work environment where employees feel safe, comfortable, engaged, and capable to be successful.
  • Believes in continual improvement and has high expectations of themselves and their colleagues
  • Develop and implement ways to support employee collaboration, celebration, and team building.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree required.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of demonstrated growth mindset through increasing responsibility. A significant portion of this should be in roles advocating for and supporting youth and young adults especially with individuals facing barriers to economic stability.
• Demonstrated success with achieving six-figure grants and being directly responsible for successful management and submission of highly complex requests
• A proven commitment to delivering quality work, budgeting, operations, and execution.
• 3+ years experience with grant writing, compliance, and reporting.

Core Competencies  

• Strong project management and organizational skills.  Must be able to initiate and finish projects.
• Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication. 
• Must enjoy working with teams but can also work independently. 
• Enjoys being the leader but is also confident enough to take directions from others. 
• Must be able to take initiative and problem solve.  Must be a creative thinker. 
• Demonstrates strong accuracy in all areas of work and possess adaptive vitality. 
• Demonstrates an understanding of guidance and discipline principles & conflict resolution strategies. 
• Must have basic computer literacy skills – including Microsoft Office, independent use of the internet and ability to learn and properly utilize software systems.  
• Abides by the employee handbook and established GCYC policies and procedures. 

Physical Work Requirements & Environment:  

The GCYC environment is consistently bustling with youth and community members.  The Center’s work is fast paced and varied.  Our work is done on site where our youth and families are.   Therefore, it is required that team members meet the following requirements: 

• Have the ability to lift up to 25 pounds. 

• Able to complete administrative work in a shared office space within a youth center.