Manager of Grants & Sponsorships

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Manager of Grants & Sponsorships

Reports To: Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer

Department: Institutional Advancement

 

Position Summary

The Manager of Grants & Sponsorships works closely with the Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer to grow and help steward Fernbank Museum's portfolio of corporate, foundation, and strategic community partners. This position is responsible for the development, submission, management, and reporting of grant and sponsorship proposals, while ensuring the highest standards of stewardship, compliance, and fulfillment.

The Manager serves as the primary project manager for the full lifecycle of grants and sponsorships, including prospect research, proposal development, benefit fulfillment, reporting, and renewal strategies. Success in this role requires exceptional writing and communication skills, strategic thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple departments. The ideal candidate will be a persuasive storyteller who can clearly articulate Fernbank's mission, programs, and impact while aligning funding opportunities with the goals and priorities of corporate and foundation partners.

 

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage grant and sponsorship proposals and requests that generate more than $900,000 annually in support of general operations, educational programming, exhibitions, scholarships, and strategic initiatives.
• Write compelling and persuasive narratives that align Fernbank's mission, programs, and outcomes with funder priorities and objectives.
• Conduct research to identify and qualify prospective corporate, foundation, and community partners.
• Manage all phases of the grant and sponsorship lifecycle, including proposal submission, award administration, compliance, reporting, stewardship, renewal, and closeout.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to develop sponsor recognition plans, grant-related communications, and other engagement materials.
• Collect, analyze, and communicate program outcomes, evaluation metrics, and success stories for use in proposals, reports, and stakeholder communications.
• Ensure timely fulfillment of all sponsorship benefits, recognition commitments, and grant requirements.
• Collaborate regularly with colleagues across Education, Finance, Marketing, and other departments to ensure accurate information sharing, compliance, and seamless execution of funded projects.
• Maintain a comprehensive grants and sponsorship calendar and leverage CRM systems to track prospects, proposals, reporting requirements, and partner engagement activities.
• Prepare briefing materials, funding summaries, prospect profiles, and other supporting documents for internal and external meetings.
• Responsibly leverage artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to enhance research, proposal development, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and foundation giving to identify new funding opportunities and strengthen Fernbank's funding pipeline.

 

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Three to five years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, grant administration, sponsorship development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing grants and sponsorships from proposal development through final reporting and stewardship.
• Strong experience with online grant application systems and reporting portals.
• Proficiency with fundraising and CRM platforms such as Altru, Raiser's Edge NXT, Salesforce, or comparable systems.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.

 

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Enthusiasm for working within a dynamic, mission-driven organization and collaborating with diverse stakeholders across Fernbank.
• Interest in science, natural history, environmental education, museums, and lifelong learning.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong storytelling abilities with a demonstrated capacity to translate complex programs and outcomes into compelling funding proposals.
• Excellent research and data interpretation skills.
• Ability to gather, analyze, and present programmatic and financial information effectively.
• Comfortable reviewing financial documents, including operating budgets, grant budgets, audited financial statements, and related financial reports.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a commitment to quality, accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to adapt quickly to evolving technologies and systems to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.