Grants Administrator - Mothers Out Front

[Dana Brunson]

This is the moment for climate action. An unprecedented number of Americans are expressing deep concern about climate change, and women are exercising their political power like never before. Mothers Out Front is positioned to grow our diverse, mother-led climate movement into a force for the change we need to ensure a livable climate for all children. And we need you to make this happen.

We are a fully remote, dynamic social impact organization with ambitious expansion goals. As our Grants Administrator, you will be a key player in helping us secure the resources to grow our movement. You will be part of the development team, and work closely with members of the volunteer fundraising team, operations team, and other grant-writing contributors. You will “manage up” to support the leadership team as they cultivate and steward foundation relationships. This is an exciting opportunity for an organized, thoughtful grants administrator and gifted communicator. 

About Mothers Out Front

Mothers Out Front builds our power as mothers to ensure a livable climate for all children. We are building a diverse national movement of mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers dedicated to convincing elected officials and business leaders to work for a swift, complete, and just transition away from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy. We know that mothers have an important role to play in the climate change movement, and, when it comes to protecting their children, mothers are an unstoppable force for change! Our goal is simple: to enable mothers to take active leadership in climate change work by providing the structure, training, and tools for them to work together on campaigns in their communities and at the statewide level. 

We work with and draw leadership from the frontline communities who are experiencing the worst effects of fossil fuels — from the dangers and challenges caused by extreme weather patterns to devastating health effects like asthma and other respiratory illnesses — with particular attention to low-income communities and communities of color. 

We are a member-led, national organization that is growing quickly. Founded in 2013, this year’s operating budget is $4.1m. We currently have staff working in eight states and are a fast growing organization with no plans of slowing down. 

 

As the Grants Administrator, you will administer and facilitate the grants program of Mothers Out Front’s 2020 development plan. You should have a proven track record of supporting robust, strategic foundation relations programs, a keen understanding of donor-relations, and a passion for helping others succeed -  ideally at a progressive social impact organization. 

You should have in-depth knowledge of database administration, and the necessary skills to develop and refine systems that will help us fulfill our ambitious growth plans for foundation revenue. You should be a proven team player and organization-wide collaborator.

Your responsibilities will include:

Grants Administration 

• Optimizing the grant administration process, including record keeping, timelines, and deliverables.
• Maintenance of grants calendar.
• Developing systems and reports to measure and assess the efficacy of the grant program, and to provide metrics and analysis as needed.
• Creating or coordinating (working with other key staff) budgets, proposals, reports, updates, and other deliverables.

Foundation Relations

• Researching funding opportunities.
• Liaising with foundation staff as needed.
• Facilitating the cultivation and stewardship of relationships with key foundations by managing “up” to staff who are working with foundation contacts, and by maintaining your own portfolio of contacts.

Grant Writing and Submissions

• Coordinating and engaging with grant writing contributors - both internal staff and outside contributors.
• Maintaining boilerplate language, program concept notes, and standard supporting documents. 
• Preparing and gathering materials for submission.
• Working collaboratively with the organizing and communications staff to ensure fundraising language correctly captures key messaging and fundraising strategies. 
• Drafting, editing, and proofing foundation materials, including LOIs, proposals, and updates. 

General

• Developing a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s climate change programs and campaigns and fundraising activities, and partnering with relevant program teams to develop and execute grant strategies. 

• Contribute to annual development planning by helping to determine annual foundation revenue goals and objectives.
• Approximately 15 - 20 days of travel encompassing both day trips and overnights required and expected annually.

Your education and experience should include:

• A minimum of three (3) years of fundraising experience in a non-profit or social justice organization, with a preferred focus on grant writing and foundation relations.
• Experience writing for a social-impact organization. 
• Experience conducting foundation research.
• A track record of ensuring that programs operate efficiently by streamlining administrative tasks and anticipating next steps. 
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience in managing competing priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and responsiveness.
• Demonstrated experience working with databases, and experience in translating data for use in developing plans to meet future challenges; experience with Salesforce preferred.

Your knowledge, skills and abilities should include:

• An ability to work in a remote environment for a fully virtual organization. Highly computer literate.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Multicultural competence and a commitment to working with people from a variety of backgrounds, especially ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 
• Excellent solution oriented skills with an ability to respond quickly to changing priorities.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative environment where teamwork, collegiality and self-motivation are necessary for success.
• Strong project management skills, coupled with sharp attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities. 

Details: Mothers Out Front is a virtual organization. Candidates can be based anywhere in the U.S. and will work from a home office. This a full-time position. You will be a part of our development department and will report to our Director of Philanthropy. The Grants Administrator will not manage staff at present, though bringing on an intern is a possibility. 

Salary and benefits: The salary range is $40K to $55K, depending on experience. Benefits include health and dental coverage, a 401(k) plan, flexible spending plan, paid vacation, holidays, sick days, and support for remote work set-up. We offer ongoing training opportunities, a fast-paced, dynamic, supportive, and collaborative setting and we are proudly women-led!  

Timeline: We hope to fill the position by late February or early March.  We have a thorough interview process which involves a phone interview, video interview, writing exercise, reference calls, and an in-person interview for candidates who continue to advance through the process. We also have a commitment to building up a sizable and diverse candidate pool before moving applicants to the final interview stages, which means there may be a delay in getting back to you. Our hope is that our process allows us to make the best possible decision and for you to learn more about us and appreciate your understanding if there is a delay at any point. We will do our best to keep you posted on your status throughout the process and ask that you stay in touch too.

To apply: Please click on “apply now” here, https://www.mothersoutfront.org/job_opportunities and include a cover letter and resume, and let us know where you heard about the position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and the position will remain posted until filled. 

Mothers Out Front is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups are especially welcome and encouraged to apply.