Development and Grants Manager

Status: Full-time

Location: Hybrid, four days remote, one day
(Tuesday) in the Oakland office 

Organization

California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy is a
nonpartisan policy and research organization focused on identifying
solutions to the state’s most critical challenges at the
intersection of higher education, equity, and the economy.
Established in 2011, our mission is to help transform the state’s
higher education system into an engine of economic opportunity that
empowers all Californians, particularly those from underserved
communities, to achieve their full potential. California Competes
benefits from the expertise of our highly respected, bipartisan
Board of
Directors, which comprises current and former public officials,
business executives, and community leaders from across the
state.

Our diverse staff brings
decades of experience in higher education and public policy. We
work statewide and travel across the country to research and
advocate for a higher education system that provides opportunities
for all Californians. For more information, please visit californiacompetes.org.

Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations and Finance, the
Development and Grants Manager will play an integral role in
advancing California Competes’s impact by composing and project
managing grant writing and other donor communications, providing
excellent support and thought partnership to the CEO and other
organization leaders on fundraising strategy, pro-actively
maintaining robust development systems to administer and track
fundraising efforts. The Manager will be responsible for all
aspects of grant management, including drafting proposals, reports,
and funder communications; tracking grant deadlines; researching
funder prospects; ensuring compliance with grant requirements; and
preparing the CEO for funder engagements. The ideal candidate will
be highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess excellent
communication (particularly writing) skills. 

Responsibilities

Grant & Fundraising Management (~60%)

Collaborate with the CEO and VP of
Operations and Finance to set annual fundraising goals and
development plan in alignment with organizational priorities and
strategic vision 
From start to finish, manage and lead
the drafting of grant proposals and reports for current and
prospective funders, including working with staff leads to provide
content when necessary 
Work with the VP of Operations and
Finance to develop grant financials for proposals and reports, and
track fundraising metrics
Manage funder tracking tools and
systems to keep them up to date and accurate
Manage and lead donor acknowledgment
process, including tracking contact records and preparing tax
letters
Manage calendar of grant proposals
and reporting deadlines; build tools and systems to ensure
timely and streamlined submission of all requests and
requirements

Donor Cultivation and Communications (~30%) 

Provide support to the CEO around
donor cultivation and retention, including meeting prep, follow-up,
and drafting communications to current and potential donors
Keep funders engaged by developing or
strengthening avenues for regular communication and updates
Work with the Director of
Communications to link development efforts to programming,
including collaborating about the timing of outreach, messaging,
etc., and support content development
Work with the CEO and VP of
Operations and Finance to expand the portfolio of funders and
donors to the organization, including prospect research and
identifying new fundraising strategies

Other (~10%)

Manage event sponsorship efforts,
including developing requests, determining  benefits, drafting
request letters, and managing follow-up and benefit
fulfillment 
Facilitate board and other individual
giving annual solicitations, gift receipts, and gift
tracking 

Skills and Requirements

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
or equivalent in education and experience
A minimum of 5 years of experience in
development, grant management, fundraising, marketing, or
communications roles, or other writing-intensive roles requiring
managing projects with multiple contributors 
Strong project management skills and
the ability to stay on top of multiple deadlines and
deliverables 
Excellent communication, particularly
writing, skills with the ability to craft clear, concise, and
compelling narratives
Passion for advancing equity and
improving life outcomes for marginalized Californians
Excellent organization and
prioritization skills
Keen attention to detail and ability
to ensure accuracy and rigor to the highest standards
Creative and strategic
thinker 
Recognizes ways that race and
ethnicity, gender, and other identities intersect
in postsecondary access and success
Understands the historical context
for racial inequity and its present-day implications, and is driven
to make creative and concrete changes through advancing systemic
change through strategic communications
Growth mindset and commitment to
demonstrating results and gathering feedback to inform
experimentation, iteration, and improvement
Flexibility, adaptability, and the
ability to anticipate needs, prioritize, and juggle multiple
projects at once

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with philanthropic
foundations
Experience with donor
communications

Compensation

Hiring salary range: $80,000-90,000,
depending on experience
Medical, dental, and vision benefits;
voluntary 403(b) plan
Exempt full-time position

Application Process

To apply, please fill out the application using bambooHR
and include a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.
Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected].