Grants Manager

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

DREAM seeks a strategic, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Grant & Project Manager to help advance the organization's work to close the opportunity gap for children and teens through deep community collaboration and sustained mentoring relationships. This role combines grant management, development support, and project management to secure institutional funding, strengthen accountability, and ensure development priorities move forward in a coordinated and timely way.

As DREAM continues to grow, this role will play a key part in coordinating across regions and chapters to identify and map new funding opportunities, establish targets based on market availability, and support the rollout of new grant strategies organization-wide. The Grant & Project Manager serves as a key cross-functional partner across development, finance, programs, evaluation, and leadership — supporting coordination across teams in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and other operating locations.

DREAM is a flexible, mission-driven workplace that values autonomy and trust. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their work and thrives in an environment where initiative is recognized and rewarded. This is a role for someone who is energized by meaningful work, comfortable navigating a growing organization, and ready to make a real impact.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Grant Strategy & Writing

• Identify & Pursue Funding: Research and pursue foundation, corporate, government, and institutional funding opportunities aligned with DREAM's mission and strategic priorities.
• Proposal Development: Write, edit, and coordinate compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, applications, and reports.
• Pipeline Management: Manage a pipeline of prospective and current grants to support annual revenue goals and long-term planning.
• Funder Relationships: Build and maintain proactive relationships with prospective and current institutional funders, tracking relationship history and next engagement steps.
• Development Support: Contribute written content and coordination support for campaigns, donor communications, and fundraising initiatives as assigned.

Grant Management, Compliance & Operations

• Lifecycle Management: Manage all phases of the grant lifecycle — pre-award planning, submission, post-award tracking, reporting, and closeout.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable grant terms and conditions, including foundation, corporate, state, and federal requirements.
• Systems Ownership: Own and continuously improve grant operations systems, calendars, templates, and submission protocols. Standardize pre- and post-award handoff processes.
• Finance Coordination: Maintain visibility into restricted funding requirements in coordination with finance, including budget monitoring and spending status.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Project Leadership: Lead planning and coordination for development and grant-related projects from initiation through completion, including timelines, workplans, and accountability tools.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Coordinate teams across development, finance, programs, evaluation, and leadership. Facilitate meetings, monitor action items, and support follow-through.
• Risk Management: Identify project risks, bottlenecks, and competing demands and escalate issues as appropriate.

Funder Stewardship & Relationship Management

• Funder Relations: Maintain strong, professional relationships with funders through timely communication, reporting, and stewardship.
• Leadership Support: Partner with leadership on funder meetings, presentations, site visits, and briefing materials for leadership, committees, or board review.

Data, Reporting & Impact Communication

• Impact Storytelling: Translate program outcomes, stories, and data into clear, compelling narratives for funders and stakeholders.
• Progress Tracking: Track progress against grant deliverables, internal milestones, and reporting schedules.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen grant and development operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required.
• Experience: 2–7+ years of relevant experience in grant writing, development, nonprofit fundraising, project management, or a related field.
• Grant Track Record: Demonstrated success securing, managing, or supporting foundation, corporate, and/or government grants.
• Federal Grants: Experience with federal grant programs and compliance requirements strongly preferred.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and concurrent workstreams with a high level of organization and accuracy.
• Communication: Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Systems: Experience with CRM systems, grants management tools, project management platforms (e.g., Asana, Monday.com), and Microsoft Office preferred.
• Nonprofit Experience: Experience in a nonprofit, youth-serving, multi-site, or geographically distributed environment preferred.

CORE COMPENTENCIES 

• Grant strategy and persuasive writing
• Project planning, execution, and deadline management
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder coordination
• Funder stewardship and external relationship management
• Operational rigor and attention to detail
• Data-informed decision-making and impact storytelling
• Knowledge management — templates, archives, and grant records
• Risk management — proactive identification of compliance gaps and execution issues
• Adaptability, initiative, and sound judgment
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful community partnership

WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL

This role operates in a hybrid work environment. The selected candidate will be expected to work in-person at a designated DREAM office at least one day per week and travel regionally to program sites, partner meetings, and organizational events as needed. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position averaging 35–45 hours per week with relatively flexible weekday hours and occasional weekend events. Participation in multi-day employee retreats and out-of-area travel is required. Estimated travel: up to 25%.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $55,000–$72,000 annually, with placement determined by the candidate's experience and qualifications. Total compensation value of upwards of $85,000, including:

• Group Medical Insurance for the employee paid at 100% (no probationary period)
• Five weeks (25 days) paid time off — inclusive of vacation, sick, and personal days
• Eight paid holidays, including winter break (Dec. 24–Jan. 1) and a November break
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Amazon Prime (buying and streaming)
• Professional development opportunities
• 3% employer match retirement plan
• Expanded health benefits — dental and vision with employee contribution
• DREAM gear/uniforms

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DREAM is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultivating an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace. DREAM prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and provides equal employment opportunities in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Employment with DREAM is at will. This job description describes the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. DREAM reserves the right to revise or assign additional duties as organizational needs evolve.