Grants & Community Stewardship Coordinator

ABOUT GREAT RIVER GREENING

Great River Greening (Greening) is a leading environmental restoration nonprofit with a mission to inspire, engage, and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the land and water that enrich our lives. Since our start, our small but mighty team has restored more than 50,000 of lands across Minnesota and aims to restore another 50,000 in the next five years. At Great River Greening we offer flexibility, a friendly work culture, supportive Board of Directors, and opportunities to grow.

Great River Greening values Science, Community-Centered Conservation, Partnership, and Education. Great River Greening is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principals of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability, and to cultural engagement, within our organization, within our environmental sector, and in the communities where we live and work.

Position Description

The Grants & Community Stewardship Coordinator plays a central role in advancing Great River Greening’s mission by securing funding that sustains our work and by engaging communities directly in environmental restoration. This hybrid role bridges development and stewardship by combining strong grant writing and reporting with hands-on coordination of volunteer events and community-based conservation activities.

This position manages a steady pipeline of grant proposals and reports while also planning, promoting, and leading volunteer stewardship events that connect people to land and water restoration across Minnesota. The Grants & Community Stewardship Coordinator works closely with the Advancement Director, Environmental Stewardship Director, and program staff to translate on-the-ground work into compelling proposals, meaningful community experiences, and measurable impact.

This role is a strong fit for someone who is organized, curious, personable, and tech-forward—someone who enjoys deadlines and checklists, but also likes welcoming volunteers, solving problems in real-time, and being part of a mission-driven team. The position requires flexibility, clear communication, and a collaborative mindset, as well as the ability to move between strategic planning and field-based implementation. This is an exempt, full-time position with benefits including health, dental, 401k, LTD, Dependent Care and Health Care FSA, life insurance, and a PTO plan. The annual salary range is $50,000 – $55,000, depending on experience. Great River Greening offers a flexible workplace and staff are currently working hybrid, with one day in the office – Tuesdays – required.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Grant Development & Reporting (50%)

• Research and identify funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and public funding sources.
• Comfortable utilizing technology to write, coordinate, and submit approximately 30–40 grant proposals and 15–20 reports annually.
• Maintain and manage the grants and reporting calendars and work closely with the Advancement Director and Executive Director to ensure timely, accurate submissions.
• Collaborate with Programs staff to develop narrative proposals, complete progress reports, and work plan updates or changes.
• Translate field work and community impact into compelling narratives for funders, partners, and public audiences.
• Support grant amendments, renewals, and work plan adjustments as needed.

Volunteer Stewardship & Events (40%)

• Support volunteer events during peak seasons (spring and fall), including weekday evenings and occasional Saturdays.
• Assist with event logistics such as registration, supplies, site set-up/tear-down, safety basics, volunteer flow, and day-of problem-solving.
• Communicate with staff leading events to confirm site plans, materials, and roles so events run smoothly.
• Support outreach and volunteer recruitment for stewardship events.
• Provide a welcoming, professional on-site presence—helping volunteers feel informed, appreciated, and part of the mission.

Organizational & Administrative Support (10%)

• Provide cross-department coordination between Stewardship and Advancement teams.
• Support additional organizational projects and duties as needed.

Skills and Abilities

• Effective communicator (clear, concise, audience-aware).
• Excellent proficiency in Word, Excel, ChatGPT, Adobe, and online grant portals
• Ability to work handle multiple assignments, establish priorities, and be self-directed
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding donor-related information
• Deadline driven, exemplifying time-management and organization
• Skill in facilitation of large group volunteer events, including volunteer management and comfort with public speaking.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and effective planning and communication skills.
• Ability to work volunteer events on weekday evenings and Saturdays in the spring and fall.
• Knowledge of environmental restoration and climate issues a plus, but not necessary; we have plenty of passionate staff who can teach you!
• Must have a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle
• The role necessitates the ability to team-lift up to 50lbs