Grants Manager

Brandywine Museum of Art; Chadds Ford Township (PA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art is seeking a Grants Manager to lead government, corporate, and foundation grant writing and reporting across departments. You will manage post-award reporting and cultivate new funding sources as part of the development team.

The role requires 2–4 years in nonprofit or arts funding, strong writing and research skills, and familiarity with CRM tools. Collaboration with leadership and staff across programs is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 2–4 years in cultural, environmental, nonprofit or education settings and grant writing experience.
• Superior written and verbal communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex projects and coordinate across the organization.
• Ability to interpret RFP requirements and translate them into compelling responses.
• Self-directed and detail-oriented with flexibility to shifting priorities.
• Knowledge of foundation and government philanthropy; PA funding agencies a plus.
• Collaborative team player.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with fundraising CRMs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft proposals, concept papers, and reports to solicit and steward grants from government entities, foundations, and corporate donors.
• Manage the grants process with deadline tracking, project management, and follow-up.
• Expand prospect pipeline through proactive research and cultivation strategies.
• Collaborate with CDO, staff, trustees, and volunteers on grant activities and inputs.
• Maintain accurate constituent records and grant/prospect tracking in the CRM.
• Coordinate input from staff to ensure timely, complete grant submissions.
• Identify funding needs and align organizational priorities with opportunities.
• Assist with other duties as needed.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Presentation skills

Grant writing

Proposal writing

Interpreting RFPs

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree with 2–4 years experience in non-profit/arts sector

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Altru

Job description

REPORTS TO: Chief Development Officer

BASIC FUNCTION:Under the direction of the Chief Development Officer, the Grants Manager implements and manages Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s corporate, foundation, and government grants program across all departments, including Museum exhibitions, Conservancy initiatives, educational programs, annual operations, capital projects, and other institutional priorities. The Grants Manager is responsible for securing contributed revenue from federal, state, and local government sources, as well as corporate, private, community, and family foundations, in support of the institutional grants strategy established by the Chief Development Officer.

The successful candidate will lead all aspects of creating and submitting government, corporate, and foundation grant proposals, including writing, preparation of supporting documentation, and drafting or collection of required attachments. The candidate will also manage post-award narrative and financial reporting through close-out of grant projects and conduct proactive research to identify new potential funding sources.

POSITION RELATIONSHIPS: This position is a key member of the development team, working closely with partners across the organization to manage all aspects of grants writing, including but not limited to letters of inquiry, full proposals, follow up narrative and financial reporting, maintaining grants calendar, cultivation and stewardship of grantmakers; and accurately tracking actions in CRM database. This is a manager level individual-individual contributor position and does not currently supervise staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Draft proposals, concept papers, and reports to solicit and steward new and current government entities, foundations, and corporate donors. Conduct all administrative duties for grants submission, including ensuring that grants include all required information.


2. Manage the overall grants process ensuring timely submission of all grants, proposals, and reports, including deadline tracking, project management, and constituent follow-up.


3. Expand prospect pipeline through proactive research and prospect screenings. Develop cultivation and engagement strategies for viable prospects and meet goals for proactive prospect identification and new proposal submission.


4. Work with CDO and staff, trustees and other volunteers as assigned to cultivate new relationships and steward existing relationships.


5. Maintain accurate constituent records in database, including contacts, grant/prospect tracking, responses, and follow-up actions in CRM database.


6. Coordinate with relevant staff in order to solicit timely and appropriate input, obtain supporting documentation, and incorporate review of grant proposals prior to submission deadlines.


7. Work collaboratively with colleagues to identify funding needs and assist in matching organizational priorities with potential grant opportunities.


8. Assist with other duties as needed or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s Degree and 2 – 4 years' experience in any combination of cultural institution, environmental, non-profit or education setting with grant or proposal writing experience or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience


2. Superior written and verbal communication, organizational, and presentation skills.


3. Ability to synthesize and communicate complex projects and institutional priorities, and work across the organization with multiple stakeholders.


4. Ability to interpret grant or Request for Proposal requirements and translate it into well written responses that create a compelling case.


5. Self-directed and proactive approach combined with great attention to detail and flexibility in meeting shifting demands and priorities.


6. Knowledge of foundation and government philanthropy landscape is strongly preferred. Experience with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funding agencies a plus.


7. Ability to collaborate within a team environment.


8. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites is required; familiarity with Raiser's Edge, Altru, or other constituent relationship database is preferred.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art is committed to building a culturally diverse staff.