Grants Specialist
Grants Specialist
_________________________________________________________________________________
Employee Status: Full Time w/ Benefits
Location: Detroit, Michigan; remote work until COVID precautions permit return to office
Compensation: $35,000 - $40,000 / year
Brilliant Detroit Overview
In 2015 Brilliant Detroit was created to provide a radically new approach to kindergarten readiness in neighborhoods. The idea was to create a unique delivery model in our approach to early childhood development by using underutilized housing stock to create early child and family centers in neighborhoods. Brilliant Detroit homes provide holistic services for kids 0-8 predicated on evidence-based programs around health, family support, and education. Brilliant Detroit was born to create kid success neighborhoods. Today, in each location, neighbors come together for fellowship, activities and learning to assure school readiness, and provide needed support for families.
This work will be done in accordance with the core principles of our Detroit-based non-profit team:
★ With, For, and By: This work is guided by the leadership and ongoing input of our participants.
★ Coordinated and Continuous: Evidence-based programs are coordinated to meet the goals and needs of participants continuously throughout early childhood.
★ Whole Family and Holistic: Evidence-based programs operate holistically, meeting an array of needs to improve literacy, health, and family stability. These programs focus not just on children but on caregivers as well.
★ Love, Safety, and Growth: It takes creating an atmosphere of love and safety, where people feel truly seen and cared for, before we can grow.
★ Asset-Based: Everybody has a gift or talent that they can share and a purpose they can play in building kid success neighborhoods.
★ Neighbor-to-Neighbor Across Zip Codes: Brilliant Detroit offers opportunities for people to connect and build community as neighbors regardless of the zip code in which they live.
Position Summary:
The Grants Specialist will further our mission of building “kid success neighborhoods” in two primary ways. First, they will take ownership of financial tracking for all grants, ensuring that each is being fully and correctly spent down in alignment with its proposed budget. Second, they will assist with two other key aspects of the grant lifecycle: researching new grant prospects and drafting proposals that best align with the candidate’s expertise and our mission. This staff person will work closely with the Grants Manager throughout the lifecycle of grants, ensuring that administrative tasks are accomplished along the way and that all grants are on track to success. This staff member will report directly to the Grants Manager and be an integral part of the Fund Development Team.
Experience working in a non-profit and community setting, organization, and timely communication are key traits necessary for this position. Experience with financial tracking, grant research, and grant writing is ideal. The Grants Specialist must be a strong communicator, capable of working with programming and administrative staff alike.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Coordinate with Programming Team and Finance Team to ensure grants are financially on track and aligned with proposed budget
- Assist with grant research, including identifying new opportunities and/or recommending we pursue certain opportunities
- Gather information for final and progress reports, including the relevant spend-down files for each grant
- Maintain database of grant documents for the organization, including grant agreements, budgets, applications, and other relevant files
- Hold regular check-in meetings to ensure that key staff are aware of grant outcomes, reporting requirements, and reporting deadlines.
- Assist with grant writing and editing; ability to shape proposals with audience, funder priorities, and Brilliant Detroit’s organizational voice in mind
- Assist with annual report efforts, as well as board reports
- Maintain familiarity with each partner organization and the scope of Brilliant Detroit programming
- Participate in training and staff development as required
- Serve on network committees or work groups, as assigned
- Perform other duties, as assigned
Qualifications
- One to three years in a non-profit or community setting, ideally in Detroit, is preferred
- One to two years of financial tracking related to grants and database management
- Exceptional written communications skills, with prior experience writing grants for a non-profit organization
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
- Strong project management and relational skills; ability to collaborate with different styles of work and communication
- Intermediate to advanced skills with Google Sheets, Google Docs, and related programs. Experience with QuickBooks and/or Expensify is ideal but not required.
- Work with minimal up-front guidance and the ability to take ownership of work product and see it through to completion
- Experience with government funding is a plus
Working Conditions
- This position may require evening work; reliable transportation required
- Preference will be given to those who can work some portion of their week at our headquarters, located at 5675 Larkins Street, Detroit MI, 48210
- Compliance with Brilliant Detroit health and safety measures is essential; preference given to individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Brilliant Detroit provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Brilliant Detroit complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.