Grant Writer: Institutional Funding Specialist

DickersonBakker; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Institutional Funding Specialist to drive funding efforts for a rapidly growing nonprofit organization. This role involves identifying and securing funding from various institutional sources, managing grant applications, and overseeing the entire funding process. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating exceptional grant writing and project management skills. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to supporting families in crisis and making a significant impact in the community. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to an organization poised for growth and expansion.

Qualifications

• Strong skills in grant writing and proposal development.
• Experience in managing nonprofit budgets and funding opportunities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure funding opportunities through proposals and applications.
• Manage award contracts and ensure compliance with funder requirements.
• Collaborate with staff to track budgets and project progress.

Skills

Proposal and Grant Application Writing

Nonprofit Project and Program Budgets

Project and Program Development

Standard Evaluation Methods

Goal Tracking and Reporting

Funder Prospecting

Time Management

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience

Tools

Donor Database Platforms

Job description

Institutional Funding Specialist (IFS)
Position Description
Title: Institutional Funding Specialist (IFS)

Status: Hourly position. This is primarily remote position. Preference may be given to incumbent living within 40 miles of Davis, California, but out of state applications will also be considered. (Should the incumbent live within 40 miles of Davis, California, the IFS will be requested to attend occasional in-person meetings at the Nursery and within various parts of Yolo and Sacramento County.) Compensation will be commensurate with experience in the range of $50-$60 per hour. This position will require 30 hours per week, not to exceed 30 hours per week without prior approval. Some evening and weekend work may be required. A background check will be required prior to employment.

The Yolo Crisis Nursery
The Yolo Crisis Nursery (the Nursery) has served Yolo County since 2001 by offering voluntary and free nurturing childcare for ages birth through five years 24 hours per day and 365 days a year to parents who are experiencing a crisis. Our dedicated and specially trained staff provide unique wraparound services and resources to the family to help parents work through the problems that brought them to our door and ensure that the family remains intact, healthy, and stable. Since the Nursery opened, we have served approximately 10,000 Yolo County Children. We are one of only four licensed Crisis Nurseries in California. In 2024, the Nursery completed a $9.5 million capital campaign to build a new state-of-the-art 9,000 square foot facility that will triple the Nursery’s service delivery and programmatic capacity. With construction completed we will be moving into the new Nursery in June 2025.

Position Summary
The IFS is responsible for the Nursery’s portfolio of institutional funders, which include corporate entities, foundations, and local government entities including the City of Davis, the County of Yolo, and state or other similar agencies. This portfolio includes both contributed income (from grants or corporate donors) as well as program or service revenue (from bids and contracts).

The IFS is responsible for all stages of the bid/proposal/application process. This includes but is not limited to prospecting for new opportunities; qualifying/disqualifying opportunities; drafting and editing; creating and finalizing the budget; creating and/or compiling attachments and other supplemental documentation; submitting; and tracking. The IFS is also responsible for the contract/award management process. If an award or contract is won, the IFM is also responsible for the award/contracting process, including reviewing award/contract documents, clarifying questions with the funder, proposing or negotiation revisions, securing signature, and finalizing. The IFS serves as the grant administrator for all awards; responsibilities include orienting and training Nursery staff on the details and deliverables of the funded project as well as the award/contract requirements; ensuring budget and data tracking documents are created; communicating with the funder, and reporting. With regards to reporting, the IFS is responsible for managing the report calendar and ensuring timely submission of all reports. The IFS drafts, finalizes, and submits all reports. The IFS collaborates with Nursery staff on data and budget tracking for awards and contracts.

The successful candidate must have strong, demonstrable skills in:
1. Varied forms of proposal and grant application writing without reliance of AI
2. Creating and managing nonprofit project and program budgets
3. Principles of project and program development and management
4. Standard evaluation methods
5. Developing and tracking/reporting on goals, objectives, outcomes, outputs, and
other standard metrics
6. Identification and prospecting of new funder opportunities

7. Ability to work in a fast paced environment with competing priorities and deadlines.

The successful candidate will have excellent time management skills and be able to workwith limited guidance and direction. There is no administrative support for this position, sothe successful candidate should be competent in managing all facets of the job on theirown in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will be joining the Yolo Crisis Nursery at a time of intense andrapid organizational growth. The IFS should be prepared to identify funding for arapidly growing organization that will provide triple the services than it did the year prior;this comes with a dramatically increased annual budget.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying a broad base of new funding opportunities. This includes both public (local, state, and federal governmental funding) and private foundation andcorporate grant and sponsorship opportunities. Public funding (as available) for programswill constitute a large portion of future revenue, but because the Nursery has applied forand received minimal public funding in the past, the Grant Writer will be responsible forbuilding on previous work, including working with program staff to review programs andmake recommendations, developing projects and submitting applications, and makingrecommendations to build capacity in necessary areas.

The successful candidate will report to the Executive Director, while working closely withDirector of Development to ensure that revenue goals are met and exceeded whenpossible while maintaining an excellent can-do attitude in a team environment.

Core Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraising – 70%
Work with the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, and program staff toidentify areas of programmatic growth. Research and identify both public and
private funding opportunities to support areas programmatic growth and developand submit proposals and applications in support.Maintain existing portfolio of funders and ensure timely completion ofapplications, proposals, bids, and reports. Serve as the lead for developing,drafting, creating, modifying, or securing all components of an application, bid, orreport, including but not limited to budget and any required attachments.Identify and implement strategies to upgrade current funder when applicable.Collaborate and participate in decisions regarding messaging to institutional
funders.Develop relationships with funders and funder representatives, to build funderaffinity for YCN.Identify additional funding opportunities

Award Management
Orient and train appropriate Nursery staff on funded projects. Develop/modifyorientation and training materials as needed. Serve as an ongoing resource for
questions. Ensure projects are being implemented with fidelity to the application byconducting regular check-ins with appropriate staff. Advise on modifications of grant projects as needed.Manage, review, and respond to questions, comments, and requests in a timelyfashion by current and prospective funders. Compose and send acknowledgmentletters and grant agreements to institutional funders

General Administration
Maintain comprehensive application and report calendar, ensuring it is up to date atall times.Maintain internal grant tracking and acknowledgement mechanisms and systems.Prepare reports as needed including the monthly board of directors report, annualyear-end reporting for organizational funding for the prior year and provide forecastsand strategies for upcoming year.Collaborate with DD and others to prepare the institutional funder program budget,
project revenues and expenses, and analyze program progress against goal,adjusting, as necessary.Maintain and update donor database with all pertinent institutional funderinformation and communications and create a timeline of deadlines for requestsand reports.Maintain institutional funding-related files in organization’s drive, including copies ofall attachments and submitted applications; passwords and logins; and more.
Ensure information is saved in a consistent and organized manner.Ensure timely completion of institutional funder data entry, grant/gift entry, and
funder inquiries.Maintain records of acknowledgment activity within donor database.Identify current and prospective funders to tour YCN. Work with staff and Board toextend invitations and cultivate/steward relationship as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Prior Experience
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Commensurate knowledge of and demonstrated experience in development
programs. Strong understanding of the role of Institutional grants/gifts and
sponsorships, including an understanding of typical functions and aspects.
At least three years related work experience, showing increasing levels of
responsibility.
Excellent research and grant writing skills to identify and strategically develop and
procure successful grants and sponsorships to meet income goals.
Grant budget development and tracking expertise.
Excellent and persuasive verbal and written communication skills.
Advanced proofreading and editing skills.
Excellent time management and organizational skills.
Detail oriented and excellent problem solving, planning and analytical skills.
Demonstrated understanding of public funding streams (locally, regionally, and
nationally).
Expertise in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for institutional
funders.
Expertise with donor database platforms, maintenance.
Strong ability to work independently with minimal supervision

General Job Competencies
Maintain strict confidentiality of all information and materials associated with the Board
of Trustees and donors.
Positive “can do” attitude
Team worker
Passionate about the mission of the Yolo Crisis Nursery
Endeavors always to achieve cost-effective, efficient work
Collaborative in finding solutions, achieving quality work, and delivering outcomes
and materials on time
Integrity in dealing with colleagues, executing work in support of the mission,
protecting confidential information and discretion in all matters
Sensitive to and respectful of YCN client concerns and needs
Capable of operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

How to Apply?

Please send a current resume and cover letter to: Becky Heard at [e-mail].