Grants Specialist

Description The Grants Specialist has a critical role in supporting Los Angeles Education Partnership’s mission to advance educational equity for students, parents, and educators. The Grants Specialist will work closely with the Director of Development and organizational leadership to secure grants from private and public entities in support of Los Angeles Education Partnership’s mission. The Grants Specialist is responsible for identifying potential grant opportunities, leading the development and submission of strong proposals and reports. This position is part of the Development Team and reports to the Director of Development. This is a role based in Los Angeles. Essential Responsibilities Work in partnership with the Director of Development and Los Angeles Education Partnership leadership to guide the selection of fundraising priorities based on the local philanthropic landscape. Assist in developing annual fundraising goals and prospect list. Match potential funders with appropriate program opportunities and target grant awards. Conduct qualifying research for new grant prospects and leads, generating funder profiles that detail aligned missions and funding priorities. Collaborate with the Director of Development on prospect and/or opportunity alignment to determine whether to add to active prospects. Monitor prospects through Moves Management. Collaborate with the Director of Development to advance foundation prospects on time. Serve as a point of contact for program officers throughout the life of a grant. Review and set alerts for federal and state government grant opportunities. Establish and maintain a detailed master calendar of all grants (prospected, submitted and awarded). Conduct research into community demographics, resources, and needs to develop compelling cases for giving aligned to Los Angeles Education Partnership’s priorities. Collaborate with stakeholders and program managers on program codification for LAEP funding priorities, including the development of sound logic models, rationales, performance metrics, data stories, and budgets. Project manage and write/edit competitive government grant applications. Create application outlines based on RFPs and accompanying scoring rubrics. Determine involvement based on development team bandwidth and opportunity, and collaborate with any project consultants. Lead the writing process. Project manage, write/edit, and submit briefing documents, LOIs, grant budgets, and proposals. Work closely with LAEP program managers to collect necessary data and program details. Draft high-quality grant applications that align with funder formatting and content requirements. Work closely with the Accounting & Finance team to maintain awareness of and address any issues related to financial aspects of grant submission, monitoring, compliance and reporting. Take on ad hoc projects as needed to advance LAEP’s org-wide Development goals. Requirements Bachelor’s degree required, relevant Master’s degree preferred. Minimum of 3-5 years of professional fundraising or grant writing experience - preferably with an education focus. A demonstrated track record of winning competitive government grants required; Experience with private grant experience is strongly preferred. Demonstrated analytical and persuasive writing skills and superior editing skills, including ability to convey complex information in a clear manner to a diverse audience. Proven track record of soliciting and closing five and six-figure gifts or grants preferred. Must be able to pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer. In addition, the following standards will generally define the successful candidate: Broad knowledge of the principles and practices of writing successful grants. Well-organized, detail-oriented, and determined to succeed. Able to prioritize and complete multiple assignments and handle complex tasks in a fast-paced environment. Ability to understand the needs and interests of major foundations in order to communicate the short and long-term goals and priorities of LAEP in a manner that is aligned. 2-3 years of project management experience and a record of strong and creative problem-solving. Adherence to the highest ethical standards demonstrates an empathetic disposition and perseverance; uses discretion and good judgment; reflects an optimistic and positive attitude and conveys sensitivity to the needs of the donors. Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to effectively engage with donors and staff at all levels. High level of initiative, creativity, and energy. Knowledge of office and productivity software sufficient to function smoothly in a highly technology-based environment (including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and Internet applications). Blackbaud or relevant CRM experience is preferred but not required. Ability to analyze and synthesize data and information from multiple sources and develop comprehensive recommendations. The ability to handle problems as they occur and follow through on all aspects of the position. Demonstrates a growth mindset and a desire to continually improve through feedback, coaching, and professional development Dependability, humility, sense of humor, and a rock-solid commitment to Los Angeles Education Partnership’s mission and the communities we serve

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