WANTED: Grants and Research Officer for Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital

POSITION: Grants and Research Officer

REPORTS TO: Director of Fund Development

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for researching, writing and producing successful funding proposals to support operating, program, and capital needs to both long-term, established funders and newly identified funders.

• Manage and administer foundation, corporate and government grants and contracts that support Council programs, capital projects and general operations

• Develop annual strategy and goals for grants that reflect the Council and departmental

• Collaborate with senior staff and department heads to identify and develop grant-
supported programs and budgets

• Research and identify funding prospects and develop solicitation strategies that align with Council and prospect priorities

• Prepare materials for funder visits

• Develop letter of inquiry and proposal packages, including writing narratives, budgets, and all other required attachments, complying with required guidelines and deadlines

• Develop and maintain the Council’s grants policies and procedures, train staff and volunteers, assist in interpreting funders’ grant policies and procedures and provide grants management advice on an ongoing basis

• Develop grant report packages, including collecting and synthesizing grant data and products, writing report narratives, and creating expense reports and all other required attachments, complying with required guidelines and deadlines for each

• Coordinate grants accounting and financial reporting with the finance department to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the award

• Manage the contracts/grant agreement process

• Manage the annual grants calendar

• Maintain electronic funder files

• Track grant revenue and generate revenue reports for the Board of Directors and Finance

• Compile grants paperwork for the audit

• Analyze annual grants revenue data to assess patterns, achievements and areas to improve

• Research grant trends and pursue continuing education and certifications

• Establish and foster ongoing relationships with Council departments, funders, partners

and volunteers

• Develop copy on grant programs and funding sources for Council publications

• Edit/proofread materials for Fund Development and Public Relations, as needed

SPECIFIC WRITING TASKS:

• General and project-specific proposals to foundations, corporations, businesses and civic

organizations,

• Based on the needs of the organization, develop template grant proposals for specific

programs,

• Responses to RFPs issued by local and federal government agencies,

• On-line proposals following donor-specific formats,

• Individualized letters of acknowledgement for grants and gifts,

• Interim and final reports on use of grant funds,

• Short articles for Council publications outlining funding needs and highlighting grants

• Print materials to support capital campaign, and

• Other descriptive pieces as needed by the Fund Development Office.

The writer will be asked to assist other department members in preparing such pieces as

solicitation letters, United Way proposals, and specialty requests. The writer will proofread and edit as needed within and occasionally outside the department. The writer will maintain productive working relationships with staff in other departments in order to gather information for proposals and monitor information for reports, as needed.

In addition to writing tasks, the grant writer will:

• participate in identification and research of current and potential foundation and corporate prospects,

•manage, maintain and adhere to a detailed schedule of proposal and report deadlines,

• use Raisers Edge software to record submissions to and interaction with prospective

• understand and comply with all foundation and corporate giving guidelines,

• honor proposal submission deadlines and any specific requests or restrictions issued by

funding organizations, such as completion of signed grant agreements and attention to

special media provisions,

• support development office and council efforts, as requested.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A minimum of a BA, with at least three years’ proven track record as a grant writer that resulted in funding. Excellent writing skills, effective use of language, creativity, and commitment. Proven success in organizing work, meeting strict deadlines, and setting priorities.

Director of Development, Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital

jfarrell@gscnc.org