Grants Manager

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington, DC is seeking a Grants Manager to oversee foundation grant operations, improve internal systems, and ensure timely reporting. You will work closely with the Director of Grants and Special Projects to streamline processes and support revenue growth.

Responsibilities include lifecycle management, prospect research, and pipeline development, with heavy emphasis on data integrity and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2–4 years of grants management, fundraising, nonprofit development, or related programming.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned foundation grants, including proposal preparation, submission, reporting, and renewal tracking.
• Maintain and update grant calendars, deadlines, and deliverables for on-time submissions.
• Coordinate with program, finance, and impact staff to gather data, budgets, and narratives.

Skills

Excellent written communication

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Project management

Discretion with sensitive information

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Raiser’s Edge

DonorSearch

Candid

Job description

Washington, DC, USA | $85,000–$100,000 per year | Full Time

Reports To: Director of Grants and Special Projects

Candidates must be able to work Eastern Time hours.

Position Summary

The Grants Manager plays a critical role in strengthening and streamlining FDD's foundation fundraising efforts. Working in close partnership with the Director of Grants and Special Projects, this position manages grant operations, improves internal systems, and ensures timely, high-quality submissions and reporting. By owning coordination, research, tracking, and process management, the Grants Manager enables the Director of Grants to focus on strategy, relationship-building, and revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Operations & Lifecycle Management

• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned foundation grants, including proposal preparation, submission, reporting, and renewal tracking, in close coordination with the Director of Grants and Special Projects.
• Maintain and update grant calendars, deadlines, and deliverables to ensure compliance and on-time submissions.
• Coordinate with program, finance, and impact staff to gather required data, budgets, and narratives for grant applications and reports.

Prospect Research & Pipeline Development

• Conduct ongoing research on new and existing foundation funders to identify emerging funding opportunities aligned with FDD's priorities.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective funders and contribute to long-term revenue growth planning for the grants program.
• Serve as the development team's lead on wealth screening tools and platforms, including DonorSearch and Candid.

Database & Data Integrity

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in the grants database and CRM, ensuring data integrity across the full grant portfolio.
• Support development team-wide data practices and contribute to the continuous improvement of grants management systems and workflows.

Scheduling, Logistics & Donor Engagement Support

• Manage complex scheduling for virtual and in-person meetings with foundation representatives and internal subject-matter experts, coordinating across time zones as needed.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, and logistical support for donor-facing meetings and internal grant strategy sessions.
• Set up meeting rooms with necessary materials and equipment; greet and escort guests as needed.

Team Collaboration & Organizational Alignment

• Collaborate across the development, policy, research, and finance teams to support cohesive stewardship and reporting.
• Contribute to team-wide best practices, process improvements, and the continuous refinement of grants operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2–4 years of experience in grants management, fundraising, nonprofit development, or related programming.
• Proficiency in Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, DonorSearch, and Candid a plus.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail with an understanding of financial reporting basics.
• Demonstrated ability to support senior leadership with discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and systems-oriented; comfortable managing operational complexity with minimal oversight.
• Discreet and dependable with sensitive information.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Cover letter

FDD is an equal opportunity employer. If you require an accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact Jean Thurman at [e-mail] or [phone].

FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. For more information, please visit FDD.org and follow FDD on X @FDD.