The most important skill needed for this position is superior writing ability. The ideal candidate will be able to represent the needs of LAYC's community in compelling ways and accurately describe LAYC's various programs. Qualified candidates should have experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and a willingness to work in partnership with various contributors to ensure high-quality grant applications. This is an exciting opportunity to work at a nationally recognized youth-serving organization and to learn the principles of fundraising and advanced writing techniques from a seasoned Grants team of professionals.
Latin American Youth Center’s (LAYC) mission is to empower youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths’ social, academic, and career needs. To achieve this mission, LAYC provides services and opportunities to approximately 4,000 individuals annually to support academic achievement, promote healthy behavior, and guide youth towards successful adulthood.
We believe in a future where all youth pursue their dreams, reach their goals and acquire the skills and self-confidence to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution and joy.
COMPETITIVE BENEFITS
In addition to a friendly work environment, we are pleased to offer the following benefits to our employees.
- Medical, dental, and vision plans with prescription coverage.
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Voluntary long-term disability and supplemental life insurance
- Matching 401(k) program beginning at hire
- 3 weeks paid vacation leave per year; PTO is accrued, increasing to 4 weeks with tenure.
- 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days paid sick leave per year and 4 wellness days. Sick and wellness days are
- prorated during your first year based on your start date, then available in full in subsequent years.
- Eight weeks paid parental leave, including adoption and foster care.
- Health club discounts
- One to two days per week of telework for most positions (eligible after first 60 days).
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Write, revise, and submit grant applications and/or reports in collaboration with program staff in response to government, corporate, and foundation funding opportunities for LAYC.
- Manage rotating teams of LAYC program staff to create and/or compile grant narratives, grant budget requests, and other grant documentation in accordance with funder requirements.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge about LAYC programs and financing of those programs.
- Coordinate with LAYC's Learning and Evaluation team on programmatic data to supplement grant applications and/or reports.
- Understand and interpret program data, evaluation of metrics, and logic models when using data in grant applications and reports.
- Coordinate with LAYC’s Finance department to understand financial reports and other financial attachments included in grant applications and reports.
- Coordinate with LAYC’s Development department to help manage relationships with major donors and key institutional funders.
- Support LAYC’s Grants department in ongoing data entry to track grant submissions and awards.
- Collaborate with other LAYC Grants team members to uphold and maintain LAYC style and messaging across all external grant communications.
- Collaborate with other LAYC Grants team members to establish and maintain grant policies, boilerplate language, and continuous process improvement initiatives.
- Bachelor’s degree required; preferably in a writing-intensive major such as English, communications, or journalism.
- At least one- three years of successful grant writing experience required.
- Experience with DonorPerfect or other Client Relationship Management (CRM) software a plus.
- Flexible, energetic, positive individual with commitment to youth development in a high quality, respectful environment.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write accurate, well-organized analytic, and descriptive text.
- Ability to work and problem-solve independently as lead on grant applications and/or reports.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to organize and lead a team of individuals as part of the grant application process.
- Robust attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
- Ability to understand and write about youth program objectives and outcomes.
- Ability to understand and describe program budgets.
- Readiness to function in a fast-paced, hybrid work environment and meet multiple deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Ability to conduct online research and use results in writing.
- Familiarity with grant database entry and report creation.
- Ability to work well and communicate with culturally diverse populations.
- Complete criminal and child abuse/neglect clearances.
This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 10 lbs. May require the ability to travel locally and/or regionally.
LAYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing opportunities without regard to age, race, color, pregnancy, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or status within any other protected group.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Please submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume.
AI Disclosure: Applicant is required to disclose if AI tools were used in development of documents submitted for potential employment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, communications, journalism, or another writing-intensive major
- One to three years of successful grant writing experience
- Superior writing ability and excellent communication skills
- Ability to write accurate, well-organized analytical and descriptive text
- Ability to understand and describe youth program objectives, outcomes, metrics, and logic models
- Ability to understand and describe program budgets
- Strong organizational, leadership, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills
- Ability to conduct online research and use findings in grant writing
- Familiarity with grant database entry and report creation
- Ability to work with culturally diverse populations
- Completion of criminal and child abuse/neglect clearances
- Experience with DonorPerfect or other CRM software
- Cover letter, writing sample, and resume
What We Do
Latin American Youth Center is a Washington, D.C.–area youth and family development nonprofit serving young people of all backgrounds, ages 11–24. It helps youth transition successfully to adulthood through academic, arts and recreation, job-readiness, safe-housing, and health and wellness programs. Its approach combines individualized support, mentoring, and connections to employment and postsecondary opportunities across D.C. and Maryland’s Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.
