Grants Assistant

Grants Department Assistant

Los Angeles, CA or Washington, DC

The Public Interest Network is seeking a smart, passionate, and detail-oriented candidate to work with advocates and organizers around the country to raise grant funding for our campaigns to protect our environment and the public interest. 

Key Responsibilities

The Grants Department Assistant’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Researching and identifying potential funders to support our work;
• Maintaining our central database of information on foundations, staff and board members, and news in the the funding community;
• Curating cultivation lists of current and potential funders to keep updated on our programs and campaigns;
• Maintaining our grantseeking activity reporting system, ensuring the information contained in it is accurate and up to date, and making sure we are meeting key deadlines;
• Writing and editing grant proposals, funder updates, grant reports, and other pitch materials that promote our organizations’ programs, campaigns and values; and
• Other duties as assigned – as part of The Public Interest Network central staff, the Grants Department Assistant will often be involved in other organization-building activities, from recruiting and training staff to helping organize events to managing an office.

The Grants Department Assistant position requires a two-year commitment, excellent judgment and discretion and the ability to manage significant projects. 

Qualifications

We are looking for skilled candidates who are inspired by our vision for a better world and pragmatic approach to winning change that’s built to last, and embrace our network’s core values. Additionally, top candidates will:

• Have a bachelor’s degree and and ideally one year of relevant professional experience – but we encourage entry-level candidates with exceptionally strong writing, administrative and project management skills to apply;
• Be highly organized and good at developing and/or learning systems, and helping others utilize those systems;
• Have strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex campaigns and programs into compelling stories. All finalists will be required to complete a writing and editing test;
• Be flexible, enthusiastic about new challenges and responsibilities, and have a strong work ethic;
• Like, and be excellent at, working with people but also thrive in a behind the scenes role;
• Be able to work creatively and independently, as well as take direction and work as part of a team; and
• Most importantly, be passionate about making a difference on the issues we work on. Fundraising is hard and often thankless work with results that we won’t see until far into the future, so you need to be motivated by our shared belief that a clear vision, commonsense solutions, a fact-driven case for action, and the power of bringing people together are the necessary ingredients to any successful effort to solve society’s problems.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting annual compensation range for someone with 1-6 years of relevant experience is $39,500-$47,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. The Public Interest Network offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Locations

This position can be based in Los Angeles, CA or Washington, DC.

Why work with The Public Interest Network? Here are ten reasons on our website.

About The Public Interest Network

The Public Interest Network consists of organizations, such as PIRG, Environment America, and their state groups, that are committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change.

We tackle problems that arise from America’s endless pursuit of economic growth. This imperative to produce and consume “more” explains why our society continues to burn more fossil fuels, despite the damage to our climate and our health. It’s why our marketplace keeps mass-producing more single-use plastic, despite the price we pay in waste and pollution for a moment’s convenience. And it’s why even the most technologically advanced companies design and market their products for obsolescence, not repair and reuse. 

Together, the staff of The Public Interest Network’s organizations are relentlessly pragmatic in our approach to these problems. We prioritize making a difference in people’s lives over “making a statement.” We work with everybody to make change happen, political ideology aside. And we are serious about the work – we set clear goals, benchmarks and systems to measure our progress, and hold ourselves accountable to making change now and building for the future.

This unique approach gives even our newest staff an opportunity to make a concrete difference for the environment and the public interest – just as hundreds of dedicated staff have done over our 50 year history. If you want to add to this change-making legacy; if you have the passion and the drive that it takes; if you’re looking for a mission, not just a job – then let’s talk.

Our Mission and Values

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit our website for things you should know about our network when you apply. Within the first document you will find a link to a second; please read both carefully. 

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

Fund for the Public Interest is an equal opportunity employer and will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.