Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit that is breaking the cycle of generational poverty. We work with children facing the most obstacles, supporting them as they build empowerment and skills to achieve their dreams. We do this by pairing them with a paid, professional mentor, who we call a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12 ½ years – no matter what. 

We are currently seeking an experienced professional grant writer to join our National Grants Team. This is a full-time fully remote position with annual salary and benefits.

The Grants Specialist will be a passionate advocate for children and families most impacted by social disparities and harmful socio-environmental patterns of poverty, discrimination, and marginalization. The ideal candidate will be effective at amplifying the stories of the children we serve, communicating the urgency of our mission, and celebrating the success of our outcomes.  This role will enthusiastically support the National team’s efforts to secure funding annually through foundation, corporate, and public grants. Through our Chapter Grants program, our team works closely with executive leaders across the country to strategically pursue grant funding in support of locally led chapters and direct service to youth. This position is an integral part of our team and our network, helping to create sustainable funding for chapters and working towards our vision to make sure that every child who needs a Friends, has one.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of job-related experience in progressively responsible roles.  Strong written and oral communication skills, relationship management skills, and a love of writing are a must. They will be passionate about understanding, supporting and promoting the organization’s mission and vision for growth. They will be equally skilled at strategically identifying and aligning the organization’s work with local, regional and national grant opportunities. They will enjoy building relationships with stakeholders, and managing detailed information regarding budgets, grant reporting, and funding prospects. They will be an excellent project manager, able to plan a project timeline and “manage up” to ensure that all collaborators are on track to meet deadlines.

Are you this amazing person?  Here’s what we have to offer you:

Our work is powered by our vision: to make sure that every child who needs a Friends, has one. As a member of the Friends of the Children National team, the Grants Specialist will support our growing Friends of the Children network, which consists of forty-two locations.  Our talented team is relentlessly focused on supporting our award-winning national scaling plan and dedicated to our mission to serve children across the country.

Friends of the Children is committed to the communities we serve and to equal employment opportunity.  We are fiercely committed to ensuring that every aspect of the organization’s mission is executed with full engagement of the communities impacted by our work. 

This role will allow you to work remotely from your home, anywhere in the country. You will be supported by an abundance of grants resources, data, and content, as well as a talented grants team of ten full-time employees, including other writers, directors, and leadership.

Curious to learn more? See the position details below.

Basic Function / Position Objective:

The Grants Specialist is responsible for applying a high level of technical and creative writing skill to proposals and reports to foundations, corporations, and public funding partners for the purpose of soliciting and stewarding funds. This position leads the development of written grants content and budgets for Friends of the Children chapters and prospective sites. This role requires the ability to professionally manage and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Executive Directors at chapters across the country. The Grants Specialist works as a part of a dynamic Grants Team. The person in this role must feel a strong connection to and promote the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles, and always uphold the professionalism of the organization. The Grants Specialist reports to the Director of Chapter Grants.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with chapters as assigned. Meet regularly with chapter staff, including Executive Directors, Development Directors, Program Directors, and other key stakeholders as needed.
• Understand and track the current and evolving priorities and strategies of each chapter; match these with a variety of funding sources (government, corporate, community-based, individual).
• Evaluate degree of match between funder priorities, specific funding opportunities, and the needs of the chapter/organization. Match chapter needs with funding sources.
• Provide thought-partnership to chapter staff to support the development of long-term grants strategies and beneficial funding partnerships. Work with chapter staff to support the growth and development of a sustainable grant-seeking program.
• Collaborate with national team and chapter leaders to develop narrative content and budgets for proposals falling within specific program focus areas.
• Proactively plan and complete grant proposals, grant reports, and fundraising-related writing projects on a timely basis as outlined on the organization’s grants calendar. Ensure that grant proposals are compelling, strategic, and align with the funder’s interests and the funding opportunity. Prepare grant packets for submission, including preparing and gathering attachments and supplemental application materials.
• Support the team in maintaining current and accurate grants calendars including tracking deliverables, due dates, reporting needs, and project information. Ensure timely completion of grant proposals, reports, and related projects. Keep relevant staff informed about upcoming deadlines and deliverables, thereby ensuring smooth coordination of responsibilities.
• Maintain clear and accurate written and electronic records of grant proposals, reports, and submission confirmations, including tracking grants activity in shared drives, grants calendars, and databases.
• Assist in research and identification of grants appropriate to Friends of the Children.
• As needed, research additional information to support successful grant proposals, such as data that demonstrates community need and evidence that shows our model can effectively address those needs.
• Plan review schedule; coordinate with team members and chapter staff to ensure all grant proposals and reports are reviewed well in advance of deadline. Respond to feedback, reviews, and requests for edits. Review proposals and reports for chapter and other team members, providing edits and feedback as requested.
• Provide excellent service to chapters, ensuring they feel positive about our grants services and supported by National.
• Maintain confidential information in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
• Special projects as assigned in support of organizational objectives.

Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• A minimum of five years of non-profit grant-writing experience, including collaboration with program and finance teams to develop content and budgets.
• Demonstrated success in obtaining grant-funding from foundations, corporations and/or public funding sources.
• Ability to research, learn, analyze and synthesize information for writing grant proposals, letters, articles, impact stories, etc.
• Exceptional ability to edit written materials accurately and consistently, including own work.
• Exceptional versatility across analytical skills, relational skills, and intuitive abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills resulting in compelling messaging, as well as strong interpersonal skills and teamwork.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.  Able to plan, organize, and complete multiple grant proposals and/or reports and follow-up as required. Proven track record of meeting deadlines. Ability to communicate project timelines effectively. Ability to delegate appropriately.
• Excellent attention to detail, strong computer skills, and general understanding of financial principles.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and effectively solve problems.
• Ability to cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with National staff as well as leadership and development staff from chapters.
• Ability to represent, effectively and professionally, the organization to a wide variety of audiences.
• Willing to be flexible, with the ability to work evenings and weekends on occasion and as needed, especially in regards to meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work from home and build relationships with team members virtually. Ability to independently manage work and project schedule, while also working closely with team and leadership. Contribute to a positive team culture.

Compensation: $75k-$85k (Compensation commensurate with experience and geographical location)

Culture of Belonging

Friends of the Children endeavors to create a culture where each and every staff knows they belong.  From our policies to our procedures and practices, we aim to create an environment that is healthy, safe, accepting, supportive, and kind. Our benefits are one way to depict our value for work harmony, empowerment, health, and happiness.

Benefits:

Our competitive compensation, benefits package, and employee engagement demonstrate our values to families, children, healthy relationships, love, empowerment, goal achievement, and equity.  We are continuously seeking feedback and researching best practices to meet the needs of staff and their families. Below are ways we actualize a culture of care for each and every staff member. 

• Health: Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only health premium for 2 of the 4 plans
• Dental: Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium
• Vision: Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium
• Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
• Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Employees may contribute to an FSA account: Healthcare FSA minimum of $100 maximum of $3,300.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary Benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospitalization, Legal, etc.
• 401(k) savings plan with a company match of up to the first 4% of earnings that the employee contributes.
• Cell phone and/or Internet Reimbursement: Employee is eligible for cell phone and/or internet business expenses up to $75/month ($37.50/pay period), maximum.
• Office reimbursement of $150 per year on anniversary date.
• Time off:
  • Vacation: Full-time employees of Friends are eligible for up to three weeks of paid vacation annually for the first 4 years.  The first year the time is pro-rated and vacation increases to honor length of service.
  • Sick Time: Regular, full-time employees are awarded two weeks/80 hours of sick time on January 1 of each year. New employees are awarded prorated sick time, not less than 48 hours. Sick time can be used to care for your own physical and mental wellbeing or that of a family member.
  • Holidays: Eleven paid holidays. Three of which are Floating holidays to help honor how people choose to celebrate their cultural and religious holidays.
• Flexible work schedule/Remote/Hybrid work. (In collaboration with Management and as the duties of the role necessitates.)
• Career Development and Wellness Reimbursement of up to $1000 after the first year of employment. Up to $200 can be used for Wellness. 
• Summer hours and end of year holiday gift of time off. (Assessed annually by Executive Management.)
• Employee Perks and Discount Programs including savings on hotels, rental cars, travel, entertainment, streaming services, electronics, eCommerce, and so much more.

We aim to create an environment that is healthy, safe, accepting, supportive, and kind. Our benefits are one way to depict our value for work harmony, empowerment, health, and happiness.

Location: This position is fully remote, Monday through Friday, during business hours (adjusted for your local time zone) with occasional work on evenings and weekends. While we offer flexibility to balance personal and professional commitments, daily responsibilities include tasks that require consistent attendance/presence during scheduled work hours: regularly scheduled virtual meetings, prompt and timely online communication, and collaboration with others. Minimal work-related travel (1-2 times per year)

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to show us your writing skills and convey why you want to be a Grants Specialist at Friends of the Children!

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne.

To learn more about Friends of the Children go to:   https://friendsofthechildren.org/about