EdSource Announces Grants Manager Job Opening

How to Apply

Grants Manager

The EdSource grants manager will work closely with the executive director to form the fund development team, with support as needed from other staff. The person filling this position will be primarily responsible for managing the execution of the agency’s fund development program as outlined below.

Agency Background:

Established in 1977, EdSource's mission is to develop and disseminate clearly written and impartially researched information that will help to clarify California's complex K–16 public education issues. Located in Mountain View, California, EdSource has a small staff of 15 that includes researchers and policy analysts, communications and web specialists, and agency support staff in the areas of finance, grants, and administration. EdSource's program includes the production of eight publications a year, an annual public Forum and occasional other convenings, and the maintenance of several websites. Please visit www.edsource.org to learn more about us.

The majority of EdSource's annual revenues are from multi-year general support grants, supplemented by smaller grants to specific projects in the program. Most grants come from large and small private and corporate foundations; more recently EdSource has received grants from individual small or major donors. Only 10% of the annual revenue is earned income from subscriptions to the publication series, registration at the annual Forum, and a contract for a multi-partner website. EdSource has a long history of financial stability, but a sizable portion of revenues has to be regenerated each year. The agency is in a programmatic growth mode, and in the coming years we hope to increase the size of our unrestricted support as well as diversify our sources of support.

The executive director has overall responsibility for securing funding. She is supported in that work by the deputy director and the board of directors as well as by the grants manager. The grants manager has overall responsibility for managing and executing the full range of work related to the agency’s grants: prospect research, development (with the ED) of letters of inquiry and full grant proposals, and development of grant reports. In addition, the grants manager is responsible for identifying and cultivating prospects and securing funding for the annual public Forum.

Primary Function:

Manages execution of fund development program to ensure that all deadlines and all requirements for grant proposals and reporting are met; responsible for writing and assembling all grant reports; takes lead in managing the development of grant proposals with input from the executive director and any relevant staff; regularly monitors all funder deadlines, guidelines, and program priorities, and helps to monitor agency progress on grant objectives; researches prospective funders. Works with executive director in strategizing fund development, both overall for the year and in approach to specific proposals, reports, and stewardship; assists ED in communication with current and prospective funders.

This position works most closely with the executive director and secondarily with the finance manager, deputy director, and other program staff as needed to acquire information. This is a hands-on position, with some administrative and research support available.

Job Responsibilities:

• Responsible for knowing and monitoring all current grant proposal and grant reporting deadlines and coordinating staff efforts to ensure deadlines are met
• Prepares all grant reports: discusses strategic issues with executive and deputy directors, collects agency performance data from staff, works with the finance manager to ensure financial reports are accurate and meet the reporting requirements
• With executive director, develops, edits, and proofs letters of inquiry and grant proposals; develops and assembles all attachments
• Monitors current funders for changes in guidelines, strategic or program priorities; ensures proposals and reports reflect same
• Researches potential funders and maintains current files on them including program priorities, guidelines, grantees, board/staff, deadlines
• With executive director, analyzes fit between potential donors and EdSource projects/mission
• With executive director and finance manager, reviews budgets and revenue plans at start of fiscal year to determine fundraising goal and as part of strategic fund development planning going forward
• Reviews budget and revenue planner revisions to make sure fundraising plan remains on target
• Works closely with executive director to improve funder stewardship and cultivation, communication with current and potential funders
• Participates with executive director and program staff in meetings with funders as appropriate or needed
• Leads grant launch meetings with appropriate program and outreach staff on all new grants, monitors agency progress on grants
• Prepares funder acknowledgements on website, in newsletter, and on publications; maintains current year grants binder for staff reference
• Participates in professional development, monitors trends in philanthropic community to share with executive director for strategic fund development planning

Qualifications and Capabilities (required):

• B.A. degree in liberal arts, business, or other field that requires extensive writing
• Excellent writing skills including: the ability to organize and structure short Letters of Inquiry as well as long grant proposals and reports; write with clarity and perfect grammar; edit as needed; proofread for typos, grammar, misspellings; double check grant text against grant requirements
• Experience in and knowledge of: LOI, grant proposal, and report preparation; prospective funder research; funder stewardship and cultivation; developing proposal narratives and budgets
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to think analytically and with great attention to detail
• Able to self-start, prioritize work, meet deadlines
• Comfortable working independently, as well as part of team

        The most competitive candidates will also have:

• Some familiarity with or exposure to California's K–16 education issues
• Familiarity with state and national foundations that fund in the areas of K–12 policy and school improvement, high school reform and transitions to postsecondary, and related topics.

Hours and Compensation:

• Compensation will be competitive for this type of position and is negotiable dependent upon strength of qualifications, previous experience, and familiarity with K–16 issues and funders.
• This is a part-time, regular, non-exempt position at 25–30 hours a week, but full-time employment will be considered. Hours can be negotiated but must be in our office in Mountain View, California. The ideal candidate will have flexibility to work more hours during peak grant writing and reporting periods. Compensation for part-time employment will include an hourly rate and the provision of paid time off, medical, and other benefits, pro-rated to the annual hours worked. Full-time employees are salaried.

How to apply:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position is open until filled. We request a letter of interest and a résumé detailing your grants management and writing experience. Please e-mail your materials to edsource@edsource.org or send by fax to 650/917-9482. If you have questions, you may call EdSource at 650/917-9481.