Grants & Database Specialist

AKC CHF; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

AKC Canine Health Foundation is seeking a Grants & Database Specialist to maintain and optimize its integrated grant and donor databases. The role supports grant lifecycle activities, donor stewardship, and reporting efforts to connect funding with animal health research.

Ideal candidates bring meticulous data handling, nonprofit experience, and familiarity with Blackbaud, with a preference for those interested in dogs and veterinary science.

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in managing data.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Proactive with strong follow-through and prioritization.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Customer service orientation with stakeholder relationship skills.
• Willingness to learn databases, spreadsheets, and document management tools.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a mission-driven team.
• Experience in nonprofit settings and familiarity with Blackbaud is preferred.
• Interest in dogs, veterinary medicine, or animal health is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the Foundation’s integrated grant and donor databases, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely information across systems.
• Support the grant application, review, and award management process by processing applications, monitoring submissions, managing program correspondence, preparing materials for review, and supporting award administration activities.
• Assist with grantee reporting, expenditures, and follow-up activities, including sending reminders, checking reports for completeness, tracking outcomes, compiling materials, and identifying missed deadlines.
• Oversee data integrity and quality through regular audits, reconciliations, and proactive identification and resolution of data issues.
• Process and maintain gift and donor records, including contributions, acknowledgments, receipts, tributes, and other stewardship information.
• Develop and maintain queries, reports, and data exports to support organizational decision-making, fundraising analysis, and operational needs.
• Provide accurate and targeted data for fundraising campaigns, communications, events, annual reports, and other organizational initiatives.
• Support online fundraising systems and forms, ensuring accurate data capture and reporting for fundraising initiatives.
• Monitor database workflows, processes, and functionality to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, apply updates and best practices to strengthen data management and reporting, and address issues and elevate concerns as appropriate.
• Provide cross-functional administrative and project support, including maintaining program-related website and research portfolio content, coordinating Scientific Review Committee meetings, other programs-related meetings, training activities, webinars, supporting stakeholder activities and collaborations, and providing other database-related assistance as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Proactive

Written & verbal communication

Customer service

Independent & collaborative

Nonprofit experience

Blackbaud platform

Dog/animal health interest

Tools

Blackbaud platform

Job description

This position plays a critical role in supporting the AKC Canine Health Foundation's research mission by ensuring the integrity, accessibility, and effective use of the data that connects our research funding, donors, and organizational operations. The Grants& Database Specialist manages and maintains CHF's integrated grant and donor databases to ensure accurate, reliable, and accessible information that supports research funding, charitable giving, reporting, data management, day-to-day operations, and organizational effectiveness. While familiarity with grant administration, non-profits, dogs, and scientific research is helpful, it is not required as training and support will be provided.

Primary Job Duties:

1. 1. Manage and maintain the Foundation’s integrated grant and donor databases, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely information across systems.
2. 2. Support the grant application, review, and award management process by processing applications, monitoring submissions, managing program correspondence, preparing materials for review, and supporting award administration activities.
3. 3. Assist with grantee reporting, expenditures, and follow-up activities, including sending reminders, checking reports for completeness, tracking outcomes, compiling materials, and identifying missed deadlines.
4. 4. Oversee data integrity and quality through regular audits, reconciliations, and proactive identification and resolution of data issues.
5. 5. Process and maintain gift and donor records, including contributions, acknowledgments, receipts, tributes, and other stewardship information.
6. 6. Develop and maintain queries, reports, and data exports to support organizational decision-making, fundraising analysis, and operational needs.
7. 7. Provide accurate and targeted data for fundraising campaigns, communications, events, annual reports, and other organizational initiatives.
8. 8. Support online fundraising systems and forms, ensuring accurate data capture and reporting for fundraising initiatives.
9. 9. Monitor database workflows, processes, and functionality to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, apply updates and best practices to strengthen data management and reporting, and address issues and elevate concerns as appropriate.
10. 10. Provide cross-functional administrative and project support, including maintaining program-related website and research portfolio content, coordinating Scientific Review Committee meetings, other programs-related meetings, training activities, webinars, supporting stakeholder activities and collaborations, and providing other database-related assistance as needed.

Required Skills, Specialized Knowledge and Competency Requirements:

• - Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, with a high level of care in managing data and information.
• - Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines and responsibilities.
• - A proactive approach to work, with strong follow-through and the ability to anticipate needs and keep work moving forward.
• - Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• - Demonstrated customer service orientation with the ability to build positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• - Comfort with and interest in mastering databases, spreadsheets, and document management systems, with a willingness to learn new technology and processes.
• - Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a mission-driven team.
• - Prior experience in a nonprofit, with the Blackbaud platform, grants, contracts, or administrative coordination role preferred.
• - Interest in or familiarity with dogs, veterinary medicine, or animal health preferred.

This is a hybrid position that requires a minimum of 3 days per week in our Raleigh, NC office.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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