EdSource is looking for the right individual to manage and execute our fund development activities. The EdSource development manager will work closely with the executive director and our senior administrator to form the core development team, with support from the finance manager, deputy director, and other staff.

Background

Established in 1977, EdSource's program includes the production of 6-8 publications a year, an annual public Forum on California Education Policy, and the maintenance of two websites. In addition, EdSource also periodically serves as prime contractor on collaborative research projects.  Learn more about us.

The majority of EdSource's annual revenues are from multi-year general support grants and specific project grants, both large and small. Most grants come from private and corporate foundations; more recently EdSource has received grants from individual small or major donors.  EdSource has a long history of financial stability, but a sizable portion of revenues has to be regenerated each year.  In the coming years we hope to diversify our sources and increase the amount of our philanthropic support.

Job description

The grants and development manager is a hands-on position with primary responsibility for organizing and drafting all grant proposals and reports. This important job requires excellent writing skills as well as strong critical thinking skills. In addition, the grants and development manager will be responsible for monitoring trends in the education philanthropy community to identify potential opportunities for EdSource.  

The ideal candidate for this position will have the following:

• Knowledge of the private foundations in California and around the country that provide grants for K–12 and community college related agencies and projects.
• An understanding of the culture and etiquette of foundations.
• Ability and interest in regularly monitoring changes in the education foundation community in terms of staffing, program priorities, and grants awarded.
• An ability to contribute thoughtfully to articulating agency theories of action, goals, objectives, and intended outcomes; and to thinking through the types of data and other information the agency should be collecting to demonstrate that we've met our objectives.
• Excellent critical thinking skills to be able to understand EdSource's multi-faceted and evolving program activities and connect that understanding to knowledge about funder interests.
• Successful experience in writing Letters of Inquiry and grant proposals to both large and small private foundations.
• Excellent writing skills, particularly in appropriately structuring grant proposals and grant reports that are responsive to funder guidelines.

Minimum Requirements

• B.A. degree in a liberal arts or social studies field
• Excellent writing skills including the ability to:
  
  • Organize and structure short Letters of Inquiry as well as long grant proposals and reports and 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 grant proposal and report preparation, prospective funder research, funder stewardship and cultivation, developing proposal narratives and budgets
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to think critically and analytically
• High work standards and attention to detail
• Ability to self-start, prioritize work, meet deadlines
• Comfort working independently, as well as part of team 

Hours and Compensation

EdSource is seeking the strongest possible candidate for this position in order to support the executive team as it moves the organization up a growth trajectory.

• Compensation will be competitive for this type of position and is negotiable dependent upon strength of qualifications, previous experience, and familiarity with K–14 issues and funders.
• This is a part-time, regular, non-exempt position at approximately 25-30 hours a week. Hours can be negotiated but the majority must be in the office in a regular schedule. The ideal candidate should bring the 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.

Please review our EdSource staff values.

How to apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in mid-November. The position is open until filled. We request a letter of interest describing your interest in and fit with EdSource 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.