Grant Writer and Institutional Giving Liaison

Description

Title: Grant Writer and Institutional Giving Liaison
Organization: Boys and Girls Clubs of San Leandro
Location: Administrative Office
Department: Resource Development

Reports to: Director of Development

Direct Reports: None
Exempt Status: Exempt

Compensation: $82,000 - $92,000

Position Type: Full-Time, On-Site

Benefits: Paid Health Insurance, PTO, Paid Holidays, Sick-Time, 501(c), EAP, Calm 

Position Overview:

The Grant Writer & Institutional Giving Liaison is responsible for securing unrestricted and restricted funding for BGCSL through writing and submitting LOI's and comprehensive proposals. This position also manages internal records, the funding pipeline, timely reports, updates to the CRM, and all relevant grant requirements and milestones. The Grant Writer works collaboratively and strategically with the Director of Development as well as the Chief Programs Officer and members of the Finance team.

Our Values in Action:

1. Transformative Leadership: We aspire to transform possibilities into probabilities. By embodying emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and empathy, we foster positive change with humility, authenticity, and continuous self-improvement. What that looks like in this role: Proactively identifying and securing funding opportunities for BGCSL while fostering collaboration across departments. It involves inspiring a shared vision for institutional giving, and continuously refining grant strategies to enhance the organization's short-term and long-term sustainability.
2. Resilience: We approach every situation with a growth mindset, demonstrating flexibility and courage, reframing challenges as opportunities. We acknowledge our current state, embrace change, and adapt as needed, maintaining a solutions-oriented approach throughout our growth journey. What that looks like in this role: Persistently pursuing funding opportunities despite challenges, adapting proposals to meet shifting grant requirements and priorities, and maintaining efficiencies in managing multiple deadlines, reports, and stakeholder collaborations.
3. Youth Centered Approach: Every organizational action or maneuver is designed to directly impact and benefit the youth we serve. We value and prioritize the youth perspective, making decisions with a focus on their needs and well-being, rather than adult convenience. What that looks like in this role: Crafting compelling grant proposals that directly align with the needs and experiences of the young people we serve, ensuring funding supports BGCSL activities and programs that align with organizational goals and create meaningful opportunities for youth to learn, grow, and thrive.

Essential Functions:

Grant Writing & Reporting:

• Manage grants processes from prospect research to application planning, to application and/or LOI compilation and submission, to award review, signature, and tracking.  
• Identify and evaluate all potential grant opportunities (public and private), present them to the DoD and CPO to demonstrate financial alignment, program and service sustainability, strategic alignment, implementation needs/requirements.  
• Develop, write, and submit letters of inquiry, grant proposals, budgets, and periodic and final reports. 
• Lead and oversee all grant reporting, working with staff across the organization to ensure grant and donor requirements are met, and necessary data is collected, documented, and reported.  
• Maintain a comprehensive record of all pending, awarded, and declined grants using CRM or other designated organizational database. 

Portfolio Management and Stewardship:

• Build and maintain relationships with a portfolio of corporate foundations, private foundations, and government funders (excluding ASES and ELOP) with a target of $500K for FY24-25 and approximately $1.5M for FY25-26. 

Leadership and Strategic Planning:

• Collaborate with fellow members of the organization's leadership team to develop the pipeline and grants strategy including the CEO, DoD, CPO, and members of the finance team.
• Regularly analyze and report on the outcomes of the Grants within the Development Department to leadership in partnership with DoD, providing insights and recommendations for strategic adjustments based on the findings.

BGCSL Competencies:

Commitment to Safety & Quality: Prioritizing the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of youth, staff, and the community while adhering to established quality standards. 

In Action: 

• Ensures all grant proposals align with BGCSL’s commitment to youth safety, program integrity, and high-quality services.
• Maintains accurate and compliant records of funding sources, grant requirements, and reporting deadlines to uphold accountability. 
• Conducts due diligence on potential funders to ensure alignment with ethical and safety standards.

Accountability and Integrity: Maintaining high standards of ethical behavior, transparency, and responsibility in all actions and decisions. 

In Action: 

• Provides honest and accurate progress updates to funders, ensuring commitments are met with integrity.

Problem Solving & Decision Making: Analyzing complex situations, identifying challenges, developing effective solutions, and implementing action plans that lead to positive outcomes. 

In Action: 

• Identifies new funding opportunities by analyzing community needs, organizational gaps, and emerging grant trends. 
• Develops strategic solutions to secure diverse funding sources and mitigate risks of financial shortfalls. 
• Troubleshoots grant compliance issues, working collaboratively with finance and program teams to resolve discrepancies.

Communication & Listening: Exhibiting clear, empathetic, and effective communication skills while actively listening to others to build trust and understanding.

In Action:

• Crafts compelling and persuasive grant proposals that clearly articulate BGCSL’s mission, impact, and funding needs.
• Engages with funders through effective storytelling, data-driven narratives, and transparent communication.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure grant proposals accurately reflect program goals and outcomes.

Cultural Competency: Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for all communities served.

In Action:

• Writes grant proposals that highlight BGCSL’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in youth development.
• Engages with institutional funders that prioritize underrepresented communities, ensuring alignment with BGCSL’s mission.
• Ensures funding proposals reflect the needs of the diverse youth and families served by BGCSL.

Leadership: Inspiring, guiding, and influencing individuals and teams to achieve a shared vision and organizational goals.

In Action:

• Leads the organization’s grant strategy in collaboration with the Director of Resource Development, ensuring alignment with long-term financial and programmatic goals.
• Guides internal teams on best practices for grant compliance, reporting, and stewardship.
• Takes initiative in identifying high-impact funding opportunities that strengthen BGCSL’s sustainability.

Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with others, building positive relationships, and contributing to a shared goal.

In Action:

• Works cross-functionally with development, finance, and program teams to align funding requests with organizational priorities.
• Collaborates with leadership to build a pipeline of institutional funding that supports long-term organizational growth.
• Partners with finance and program staff to track grant spending and ensure compliance with funder requirements.

Financial Stewardship: Managing resources responsibly with an emphasis on sustainability and transparency. 

In Action:

• Manages a portfolio of corporate and foundation funders, ensuring responsible stewardship of restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Develops financial narratives and grant budgets that align with BGCSL’s fiscal strategies and funding needs.
• Work with finance team to monitor and report on grant expenditures to ensure compliance with funder expectations and organizational transparency.

Results Orientation: Setting measurable goals, monitoring progress, and delivering high-impact outcomes aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. 

In Action:

• Sets ambitious annual funding targets, tracking progress and making strategic adjustments to achieve goals.
• Measures the impact of secured grants, using data to refine future funding strategies and reporting effectiveness.
• Consistently improves grant application success rates by refining proposal content, strategy, and outreach efforts.

Change Management & Adaptability: Navigating, leading, and embracing change effectively while maintaining organizational stability and progress.

In Action:

• Adjusts grant-writing approaches to align with shifting funder priorities and nonprofit funding trends.
• Adapts to new grant management technologies and CRM systems to enhance efficiency and record-keeping.
• Responds proactively to changes in funding availability, pivoting strategies to secure alternative resources.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• Bachelors’ Degree preferred and 5+ years of experience in development successfully securing institutional funding and exceeding contributed income goals required.
• Outstanding ability to write well-structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals and reports.
• Superior time management, organizational skills, and ability to handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to work independently while maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with funders, colleagues, and leadership. 
• Proficiency with MS Office365, Word and Excel.

Preferred:

• Deep understanding of institutional funders in the San Leandro and East Bay region and national opportunities related to youth development. 
• Familiarity and proficiency with Instrumental Grant writing software.

Work Environment:

This position will work primarily in a standard office environment at the Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro. This role may, as needed, require flexibility to accommodate organizational events or deadlines. Key aspects of the work environment include:

• Occasionally required to stand.  
• Frequently required to walk.  
• Frequently required to sit.  
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.  
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl.  
• Continually required to talk or hear.  
• Occasionally exposure to outside weather conditions.  
• Occasionally exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectious materials (Communicable diseases in an office environment including COVID-19, common cold, and flu viruses. Negative TB screen required).  
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment may vary, light to moderate.  
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 25 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of San Leandro is committed to diversity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, disability, sex, age, ethnic or national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or presentation, pregnancy, genetics, veteran status or any other status protected by state or federal law. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

The above description is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time, nor does it change your status as an at-will employee. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.