Grants Project Manager

Legal Aid Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental Leave

Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

EAP

Internet Reimbursement

Job summary

Legal Aid Chicago is seeking a Grants Project Manager to oversee grant portfolios, ensure deliverables on time and within budget, and support prospect research to identify/new funders. You will manage grant databases, educate staff on compliance, and coordinate with senior leaders to advance program goals.

The role reports to the Director of Foundation and Government Grants, partnering with External Relations, CFO, and program directors. Hybrid work in downtown Chicago is available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3+ years of nonprofit or grants management experience preferred.
• Strong ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a high‑volume environment.
• Demonstrated success building relationships and collaborating to strengthen programming.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Word, Power BI, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of applicable grant regulations; familiarity with CFR/OMB a plus.
• Commitment to Legal Aid Chicago’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Set funding priorities with leadership and develop strategies.
• Conduct prospect research and foster funder relationships.
• Prepare grant narratives and supporting materials; submit proposals.
• Coordinate grant reports including data, financials, and narrative.
• Maintain grant records and ensure compliance across projects.
• Oversee project staff and ensure timely, on‑budget deliverables.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal & written communication

Microsoft Word

Power BI

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Data visualization tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Power BI

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Crystal Reports

Job description

Description

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has served as a leading law firm, court and community partner, and stakeholder. Through our expertise, innovation, and strategic relationships, Legal Aid Chicago provides free civil legal services to people experiencing poverty and other barriers to stability. Our legal advocacy advances safety, stability, and opportunity for individuals and families across Cook County and the State of Illinois. With more than 115 full-time attorneys on staff, Legal Aid Chicago is uniquely positioned to address both individual client needs and systemic challenges within the areas where we practice.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position requires residency in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois.

Position

The Grants Project Manager ensures that grants are properly monitored and managed and that grant deliverables are completed successfully, on time, and within budget. Beyond the existing portfolio of known entities, this position will contribute to prospect research to help identify potential, new funders and contribute to building those relationships. The position will manage assigned grants, prepare progress reports, ensure compliance with grant regulations, manage grant databases, engage with funders, and educate and oversee staff on grant compliance issues.

The Grants Project Manager will report to the Director of Foundation and Government Grants and work closely with External Relations program staff, the Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other Practice Group Directors.

Responsibilities

Strategy, Prospecting, and Relationship Development

• Work closely with Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Foundation and Government Grants, and other leadership to set funding priorities and develop strategies
• Conduct prospect research to identify corporate, individual, and foundation partners
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders and program officers
• Support ongoing stewardship of existing funders, as assigned

Grant Writing and Proposal Development

• Interpret funding guidelines and analyze RFPs
• Draft grant narratives and supporting materials, ensuring alignment with program goals and funder priorities
• Prepare and submit proposals to secure new and renewed funding
• Provide writing and editing support to the External Relations team

Grants Management

• Working with program, finance, and external relations staff, prepare and submit funder reports, including data, financial, and narrative components
• Maintain accurate grant records, including data entry in funder portals and Raiser’s Edge
• Oversee compliance for grant-funded projects, including deliverables, timelines, and other requirements
• Coordinate and lead project meetings with internal staff and external partners
• Manage project adjustments (scope, staffing, budget) in compliance with funder partners
• Oversee partner agencies, contractors, and sub-grantees to ensure compliance, as applicable

Supervision

• Direct project staff on assigned grants to ensure deliverables and outcomes are achieved
• Monitor and enforce project staff timekeeping to ensure accurate allocation to grant funding sources
• Support supervisors in evaluating staff performance on grant-funded projects

Financial/Accounting

In collaboration with CFO and Grants Financial Manager:

• Monitor grant budgets and ensure appropriate spending
• Assist with financial management and respond to funder inquiries
• Support staff allocation processes
• Ensure expenses are allowable and compliant with federal and private funder requirements

Other duties as assigned

Organizational Collaboration

• Work closely with all members of the External Relations Team, to provide insights, research, and support on external events and projects
• Contribute to cross-departmental coordination on projects, reporting, and external engagement

Salary and Benefits:

This position is budgeted at $66,000/annually and increases for every year of relevant experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 21 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 401(a) retirement plan with an employer contribution after 3 months of employment
• $100,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Requirements

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applications from individuals with relevant experience, particularly those who have direct experience with communities we serve or perspectives that help us understand and serve our clients better.

The successful candidate must have:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3+ years of experience with non-profit and/or grants management preferred
• Strong ability to organize workload when faced with competing priorities and to complete work assignments on a timely basis
• Demonstrated success in building relationships and working collaboratively to build or strengthen programming. Ability to bring diverse parties together in pursuit of common goals
• Strong interpersonal skills, service orientation, ability to multi-task effectively in a varied, high-volume environment, and good judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high level of confidentiality
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Power BI, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. Knowledge of Crystal Reports or other data visualization tools is a plus
• Working knowledge of relevant grant and nonprofit regulations and requirements to satisfactorily including the Code of Federal Regulations and OMB Uniform Guidance is a plus
• Commitment to Legal Aid Chicago’s Mission

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex-offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.