Employment

Join The Dotted i Team

Grant Specialist

The Grant Specialist will provide top-level grant services to 4-6 nonprofit clients (90-120 client hours/month). To offer strategic guidance and support in becoming grant-ready, researching to find the best grants, writing the most clear and compelling grant applications, and continuously meeting grant reporting deadlines.

Manager’s Position: Grant Specialist

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Remote, Semi-Remote, Onsite: Remote

Driving requirement? No

Wage: $24-$26/hour with potential for wage increase at 6 months and one year.

Benefits: PTO, Paid Holidays, SIMPLE IRA Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability Insurance, Flexible Hours, Company Annual Retreat, Continuing Education Experiences, Health Care Stipend, and Phone Stipend.

  • Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. All other duties as assigned.

    Strategic Work (~20% of your time): 

    1. Participate in continuing education webinars, seminars, conferences, and training to gain knowledge in the grant field and nonprofit sector.

    2. Read grant related articles, books, and blog postings to stay apprised of sector changes.

    3. Contribute content for Facebook, blog, and other social media as needed.

    4. Attend weekly check-in meetings with your manager to stay connected.

    5. Attend in-person conferences, assisting with TDi marketing table when needed

    6. Gain a thorough understanding of our contracted services and be able to communicate those services with potential clients when needed.

    7. Share with your manager any innovations or opportunities to increase productivity, efficiency, or effectiveness of the existing system action plans for which you’re accountable.

    Tactical Work (~80% of your time): 

    Provide direct leadership to 4-6 nonprofit clients by:

    1. Getting clients “grant ready” by assisting them in developing grant-related items such as budgets, evaluation plans, logic models, needs statements, and more. Specific details are provided in the Client Onboarding folder in the shared Google Drive

    2. Organizing the client’s private Google Drive folder with all of their information from the Grant Readiness Checklist.

    3. Performing continued grant research and identifying grant opportunities that are a good fit for the client and creating and managing a Funding Matrix and Grant Tracker tab(grants calendar).

    4. Preparing a Grant Answer Guide prior to submission of any grants.

    5. Preparing and submitting comprehensive and competitive foundation, state, and federal grant applications.

    6. Managing grant deliverables including grant writing progress/closeout reports.

    7. Providing our clients with a superior customer experience through clear communication, guidance, regularly scheduled meetings, and assistance via email and phone calls.

    Position Specific: 

    Research

    • Research grant databases to identify new funding opportunities that are a good fit with clients’ needs

    • Research relevant literature and materials to create strong narratives for grant proposals

    • Complete related background research and ensure all technical application requirements are met

    • Prepare a Funding Matrix, including Grant Tracker tab complete with upcoming funding opportunities up to 3 months out Grant Writing

    • Prepare Grant Answer Guide prior to any grant submission

    • Review grant requirements and FOAs to identify key due dates and deliverables

    • Create first drafts following specified grant guidelines, revise, and make final revisions

    • Create charts, graphs, and tables as needed to support grant proposals

    • Develop comprehensive organizational and project-specific budgets for clients

    • Draft LOIs and make final revisions as instructed Project Management

    • Hold onboarding meeting

    • Schedule and lead regular meetings with clients to discuss projects and grants

    • Follow up with clients to ensure materials are received in a timely fashion

    • Review grant proposals to ensure all sections are in place, all required guidelines are followed, and all prerequisites for application are complete (e.g. sam.gov)

    • Mail, upload, and/or submit all required documentations as requested by funders & prior to deadlines

    • Ensure timely submission of LOIs as well as progress and final/closeout reports

    • Create and maintain project calendar and track deliverables including but not limited to LOIs, proposals, progress and final/closeout reports

    • Generate and submit progress and final/closeout reports in a timely manner

    Operational Support:

    • File electronic copies of all grant materials including grant guidelines, LOIs, grant proposals, grant applications, reports, and other pertinent information in client Google Drive folders

    • Make final hard copies of grant applications if requested

    • Mail final copies of grant applications if requested

    • Other duties as assigned

    Company-wide:

    • Track all billable and non-billable hours in myhours.com; sharing reports at the end of business day on the 15th and the end of the month with your manager.

    • All work will be performed in accordance with all government laws, regulations, ordinances, and court rulings in those jurisdictions in which the company operates.

    • All work will be performed according to company policies and standards inherent in all Position Agreements, system action plans, employee manuals, ongoing policy memoranda, and facilities and dress codes.

    • Client and company information will be held strictly confidential outside the company.

    • All telephone calls, both internal and external, will be returned within one business day and within four hours whenever possible.

    • The manager will be notified of any issues to be resolved or deadlines that cannot be met by the reporting position, at least 5 business days prior to the due date.

    • All innovation will be quantified, tested, and improved, then documented for routine implementation (i.e. well-orchestrated once proven).

    • Problems with any system must be brought to the attention of the manager so the system can be improved within the structure of the operations manual.

    • All policy memoranda indicating changes in policy and/or procedure will be stored in each employee’s operations manual until an updated procedure is provided.

    • Employees will provide staff assistance as requested; each employee may be asked from time to time to cover other areas of accountability and/or departments.

    • All business communications, whether verbal, visual, or written, whether for internal or external use, will be professional in tone and content and in accordance with applicable and existing company policies and standards.

    • Employees will respect each other’s time, space, and need for concentration. Socializing and interruptions must not impede workflow.

    • Employees will have weekly, regularly scheduled meetings with their manager.

    • Employees are encouraged to recommend ideas for the improvement of their department and position that are consistent with the company’s strategic objective.

    • Employees will arrive to meetings (in-person and online) at least 5 minutes in advance of the scheduled time.

    • If a meeting must be rescheduled, the Employee must give as much advance notice as possible to the client, ideally 24 hours advance notice at a minimum.

  • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    • Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and work well under limited supervision

    • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information

    • Ability to prioritize and multitask, work well in a fast-paced environment, and deliver on time

    • Possess a positive, can-do attitude that works well with others

    • Ability to think creatively and strategically to problem solve as issues arise

    • Strong planning and organizational skills Education and/or Experience

    • A Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of four years of work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree

    • Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience with grant writing and management for foundation, state, and federal grants or non profit operations

    • Knowledge of or experience with grant writing and management

    • Familiarity with nonprofit budgets and ability to create spreadsheets

    • Familiarity with budgets and ability to create spreadsheets

    • Experience with creating graphics, charts, and flyers

    • Understanding of nonprofit organizations

    • Strong writing and editing skills

    • Computer Proficiency: Proficient in utilizing grant management software, Google Drive, and other relevant digital tools to organize grant-related documents, track project progress, and ensure timely submissions. Demonstrated ability to adapt to new software programs and systems quickly, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in grant management processes.

    • Language Skills: Proficient in comprehending and interpreting grant-related documentation, including grant guidelines, funding announcements, and technical requirements. Ability to articulate complex grant narratives effectively in written form, ensuring clarity, coherence, and alignment with grant objectives. Capable of communicating with diverse stakeholders, including clients, funders, and team members, to facilitate collaboration and achieve grant success.

    • Grant Management Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple grants simultaneously, including researching opportunities, preparing applications, and meeting reporting deadlines.

    • Client Relationship Building: Proven track record of fostering strong relationships with nonprofit clients, providing guidance, support, and clear communication throughout the grant process.

    • Strategic Thinking: Capacity to analyze grant requirements, identify funding opportunities aligned with client needs, and develop strategic grant proposals to secure funding.

    • Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational skills to manage grant-related documents, maintain project calendars, and track deliverables effectively.

    • Effective Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate grant narratives, interact with clients, and collaborate with team members in a remote work environment.

  • To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

    • Analytical Thinking: Demonstrates the ability to collect and analyze grant-related data, design workflows, and develop strategic procedures to enhance grant management processes.

    • Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves grant-related issues promptly, devises alternative solutions, and maintains a rational approach when dealing with complex grant challenges.

    • Project Management: Assists in developing comprehensive project plans, coordinates project activities effectively, and communicates changes and progress to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.

    • Technical Proficiency: Assesses own technical strengths and weaknesses, actively seeks training and development opportunities, and shares expertise with team members to enhance overall technical competencies.

    • Client Service Orientation: Responds promptly to client needs, solicits feedback for continuous improvement, and ensures commitments are met to foster strong client relationships.

    • Interpersonal Communication: Handles conflict resolution constructively, maintains confidentiality, actively listens to others' perspectives, and remains open to new ideas and approaches.

    • Oral and Written Communication: Articulates ideas clearly and persuasively, actively engages in group discussions, and effectively communicates complex grant narratives in written form.

    • Team Collaboration: Balances individual and team responsibilities, welcomes and provides constructive feedback, and contributes to building a positive team environment.

    • Change Management: Collaborates with the team to develop effective implementation plans, communicates changes transparently, and supports stakeholders throughout the change process.

    • Quality Management: Demonstrates a commitment to improving and promoting quality in grant management processes, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in all grant-related activities.

    • Business Acumen: Understands the business implications of grant decisions, aligns work with strategic goals, and demonstrates knowledge of market trends and competition in the nonprofit sector.

    • Ethical Conduct: Treats others with respect and integrity, upholds organizational values, and adheres to ethical standards in all grant-related activities.

    • Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the grant environment, manages competing demands effectively, and adjusts approaches to accommodate evolving grant requirements.

    • Initiative and Innovation: Takes initiative in seeking opportunities for improvement, generates innovative approaches to grant management, and presents ideas effectively to drive positive change.

  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    • While performing the duties of this remote position, the employee is primarily required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, as well as talk and listen during virtual meetings and communication.

    • Specific visual abilities required include:

      • Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less) for reading documents and viewing computer screens.

      • Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more) for viewing presentations and materials on larger screens.

      • Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors) for reviewing graphical information or documents.

      • Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships) for navigating virtual environment

      • Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus) for prolonged periods of screen use.

    • The employee may occasionally need to move about their remote workspace and lift objects weighing up to 25 lbs., if necessary for setup or organization within their home office environment.

  • The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this remote position. As a fully remote role, the individual will primarily work from a home office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

    • Noise Level: The noise level in the work environment is typically minimal, reflective of a quiet home office setting conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.