Description:
Key Responsibilities:
Grants (85%)
Lead a portfolio of funder relationships that provides $2.5M+ in annual support for ALDF’s program work.
- Manage all aspects of ALDF’s grants program; responsible for securing ALDF’s annual grant revenue target; maintaining relationships and activities with existing grantors; developing annual plan and budget for grant revenues; and carrying out the day-to-day operations of the program.
- Develop and maintain foundation relationships, and work closely with the Director of Development, Chief Program Officer and Program Directors, Executive Director, and other key members of the leadership team to develop strategy and implement cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
- Research and develop annual and longer term growth strategies for ALDF’s grants program.
- Research and identify prospective new grant makers; build and maintain a robust pipeline of funding prospects based on program priorities and budget needs.
- Develop funding concepts for foundations and write proposals, applications and letters of inquiry;
- Create materials for communicating with current funding partners, including support materials for funder deliverables, written updates to private funding partners, and input on general fundraising communications as requested.
- Prepare all reporting necessary for grantors.
- Develops and delivers exceptional stewardship, to help ensure long-term donor relationships and increased revenue.
- Supervise maintenance of tracking tools to coordinate active funding opportunities.
- Maintain landscape knowledge of funder audiences, and share emerging opportunities to inform program strategies and fundraising efforts.
- Develop grants management and other related policies, to ensure best practice and consistent standard operating procedures across the breadth of the grants program.
- Creates a project-management/time-management system to provide timetables for appropriate sequencing of the grant application and subsequent processes.
- Supervise receipt of all grants and communications, ensure the database is kept updated regarding all foundation donor and prospect records.
- Liaise with Finance department to ensure appropriate coding and tracking of grants, and reconcile grant financing between the Grants database and Finance database.Prepare quarterly and annual reports on granting program progress (metrics and income).;
Collaborate effectively across teams, and maintain awareness of programmatic work and impact. (10%)
- Creatively engage with colleagues and facilitate cross-team conversations to understand the value of our programmatic work, align on priorities, and identify and develop funding opportunities.
- Maintain knowledge and expertise in issues relevant to ALDF’s organizational priorities, three year strategic plan, and annual business plans.
- Collaborate with and advise program teams on how to best demonstrate programmatic impact to funder, including developing compelling project goals and metrics that can be reflected in funding proposals.
- Monitor the delivery of program objectives relevant to funders and grant proposal requirements.
- Ensure key data points for funders are consistently tracked, and outcomes are evaluated and reported on quarterly.
- Ensure program teams are aware of grant deliverables, through structured communications, kick-off and check-in meetings, and tracking tools.
- Act as Development representative where needed in campaign meetings.
Other (5%)
Other work as may be directed by the Development Director.
- Occasional assistance with other fundraising initiatives and special projects as assigned.
- Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the organization or employee.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum 5 years grant-writing experience for non-profits with a track record of success in securing 5, 6 and 7 figure grants.
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to quickly learn complex legal issues, and be able to communicate those issues to non-legal audiences in a compelling and accessible manner.
- Significant experience developing complex multi-year budgets
- Significant experience with restricted funding (securing, tracking and financial reports)
- Ability to work in a team-based environment.
- Ability to manage up, and secure deliverables from lateral and senior management.
- A self-starter with a sense of urgency, a clear set of priorities, and a strong work ethic; must have the ability to adapt quickly to, plan for, and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced setting, with the ability to think strategically, problem solve, and manage multiple tasks concurrently, and to work both independently, and in teams.
- Have a high degree of computer literacy including experience with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook in particular) and internet research skills.
- Proficiency with donor database systems, maintaining and retrieving donor information, and for reporting on and tracking donor activity, with an ability to analyze donor records for giving trends and opportunities, and create and use metrics to develop contact and solicitation plans.
Desired
- Interest and experience in animal protection issues.
- Familiarity with animal protection and animal rights funders.
Travel: The Grants Officer must be able to travel to meet with prospective and ongoing foundation supporters.
Work Environment:
This position will work from a home office, and ALDF is flexible in terms of where (which city) the position is located.
Competitive compensation with excellent benefits, including:
- Comprehensive health care, dental, life, and vision benefits (all 100% employer paid);
- Flexible spending account;
- Generous Paid Time Off;
- 11 paid holidays;
- 401k retirement plan after one year of employment, with employer match up to 5% of annual salary;
- Casual office environment includes companion animals, for positions based in Cotati, CA;
- Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.