Grants Manager

Description

JOB TITLE: Grants Manager

DEPARTMENT: Community Philanthropy

REPORTS TO: Chief Development Officer

LOCATION: Bellevue

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: $64,500 - $80,000 per year DOE 

We understand that many cultural and historical factors can inhibit candidates from negotiating a salary offer. Therefore, we have worked to ensure an equitable approach to compensation across the organization; using our salary ranges and compensation philosophy to ensure transparency in earning potential as well as placement on the range. The salary range may be inclusive of several career levels and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors, including the candidate's experience, skills and qualifications.

Happy, healthy staff are essential to our success. Therefore, our staff enjoy benefits that contribute directly to their professional and personal well-being. This full-time, non-exempt, position is eligible for the following:

Comprehensive well-being programs which include:

• 100% employer-paid medical, life and AD&D and LTD insurance benefits.
• Optional dental and vision insurance benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Programs
• 401k with 3.0% match of annual salary
• Professional development opportunities
• 9 Business Holidays a year
• Vacation, Sick, and Personal Holiday paid time off

SCHEDULE:

• Hybrid, 2 days in-office and 3 days remote

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt, Regular Full Time

LAST REVIEWED: August 2026

Our Mission:

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is to create and support 1-to-1 mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. It is our vision that every kid graduates with a plan for their future and a mentor whose impact lasts a lifetime.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is the oldest and largest mentoring organization in the State serving approximately 2,000 youth and mentors each year in King, Pierce, Kitsap, Snohomish, and Island Counties. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound partners with volunteer mentors, families, and the community so youth in our programs—particularly young people furthest from opportunity—can achieve higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, positive behavior choices, improved mental health, and educational success. We accomplish our mission through programs held in schools, workplaces, and the community.

Each employee in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound helps to extend the mission of the agency in particular ways as outlined in the Job Summary and Responsibilities.

Job Summary:

The Grants Manager leads the process of grant seeking from public and private funding sources (including public sector funders, private foundations, and corporate foundation sources). The individual in this role both initiates grant work and receives assigned funding opportunities; in both cases, they are responsible for vetting, preparing, and writing Letters of Intent or Letters of Interest ( LOIs) and proposals as well as impact reports. The Grants Manager records all grant reporting deliverables and serves as the primary external point of contact for grant-funders.

The Grants Manager partners with the executive leadership team to align grant requests with the agency’s strategic plan and mission. This role requires staying current on agency programs, upcoming initiatives, and organizational priorities.

The Grants Manager is part of the Community Philanthropy Team, with colleagues dedicated to individual giving, corporate partnerships, events, gift processing, and data analysis. The Grants Manager reports to the Chief Development Officer and works collaboratively across philanthropy, programs, finance, and marketing to achieve fundraising goals. Contract grant writing may be used to support additional work as needed.

The nature of Community Philanthropy work requires flexibility and availability on some nights and weekends to meet deadlines, help with special events, and to support the overall work of the organization.

Essential Functions, Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Manage and track all steps of grants process including research, inquiry, application, stewardship and reporting
• Research and identify potential private, corporate, city, state and federal funding sources
• Work closely with the CDO, CEO, the Director of Corporate Partnerships, and additional members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound team to identify, develop, and submit grant applications aligned with agency priorities and budget
• Ensure that funding applications and deliverables are commensurate with agency capacity
• Write and submit proposals based on grant guidelines and submission deadlines
• Maintain accurate record keeping in CRM system to track applications, awards, and reporting requirements
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders through relationship-building activities, site visits, meetings, phones calls and professional networking opportunities
• Upon award notification, coordinate timelines, deliverables, and other grant requirements with leadership team and program, marketing, and finance staff for implementation and administration
• Oversee grant award process including completion/signing of contracts, issuing acknowledgments, writing and submitting reports, and coordinating with programs and finance teams regarding proposal and programmatic budgets
• Maintain accurate electronic grant files in SharePoint and CRM (Bloomerang), including creation of digital versions of physical files
• Collect and maintain organizational documentation for external use, such as board lists, program outcomes, budgets, etc.
• Maintain agency accounts including funder websites, donor portals, government connection points, such as Sam.gov, Charity Navigator, and other related registrations
• Attend agency fundraising events and provide support as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, Marketing, Communications, Sociology, Political Science, or a related field, or a combination of education and related professional experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including strong proficiency in synthesizing complex information from multiple sources
• Strong analytical skills; demonstrated ability to manage and interpret data for varied audiences 
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity/equitable practices and supporting diverse communities and/or populations 
• Detail-oriented, organized self-starter; able to prioritize and perform multiple tasks with varying levels of urgency to meet deadlines with no loss in accuracy
• Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality in sensitive, complex, and/or controversial situations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercising good judgment, decision-making and problem-solving skills to achieve team goals
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Experience using internet-based research tools, source citation, and practicing strong judgment and discernment. Comfort and familiarity using AI tools to achieve maximum efficiency and accuracy
• Valid US driver’s license, insurance coverage, and consistent access to a reliable mode of transportation: the job requires occasional travel for local meetings and events
• Available to work evenings and weekends when needed to support fundraising events and meet work deadlines.  

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• 3 - 5 years of successful grant writing and grants management experience, including public sector grants, fundraising, or program delivery working with youth, their families, volunteers, and educational institutions
• Comprehensive knowledge of the local funding landscape and familiarity with those decision-makers
• Knowledge of national funders in the areas of youth mentoring, mental health, career exploration and workforce readiness, and academic success

COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION: We seek to hire for, and further develop with each employee, the following competencies that we have identified as critical to success for individual employees and for achievement of the BBBSPS mission:

Core Competencies

• Accountability / Workload Management
• Customer Service Orientation
• Growth Mindset, Adaptability
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Collaboration
• Expertise in Area of Focus

Leadership Competencies

• Develops & Motivates Others
• External Relationship Builder
• Team Effectiveness
• Emotional Intelligence
• Organizational Growth Orientation
• Problem-Solving
• Initiative & Results Driven

Work Environment:

The environmental conditions described are representative but not all-inclusive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Hybrid work environment for the foreseeable future, with 2 days in-office and 3 days remote
• Position is based in Bellevue, with ability to work from satellite offices as needed
• Physical demands: while performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, physical demands and required skills. BBBS Puget Sound may at its discretion add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

Employment with BBBS Puget Sound is “at will,” meaning that either the employee or BBBS Puget Sound may end the employment relationship at any time and with or without cause.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BBBS Puget Sound is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all qualified individuals. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties & responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.