Grant and Funding Specialist

Our mission at Utah Legal Services (ULS) is to provide high-quality civil legal aid without cost to people who are unable to afford legal representation or are facing disadvantages, ensuring meaningful access to justice, and promoting education, stability, safety, and protection. Since our inception as a nonprofit in 1976, we remain committed to making equal justice a reality by providing free services in civil legal matters. ULS receives federal and state awards as well as funding from the Legal Services Corporation.

About the role

The Grant and Funding Specialist at ULS reports to the Director of Community Engagement and Development (DCED) and provides research, writing, project coordination, and administrative support for ULS's funding and development activities. This includes identifying opportunities, drafting, and coordinating funding awards that advance the mission of ULS. The Funding Specialist writes grants, coordinates funding proposals, submits applications, oversees reporting requirements, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, and assists with communication and outreach efforts to support fundraising and organizational visibility.

This position supports a diverse funding portfolio that includes grants, government contracts, appropriations, charitable giving, and other public and private funding sources. These efforts contribute to the organizational mission of equal access and the provision of ethical, competent legal representation to clients from low-income and disadvantaged communities across Utah.

Responsibilities

• Research and identify federal, state, local, corporate, foundation, and other funding opportunities that align with ULS's mission and program needs.
• Prepare funding opportunity summaries and recommendations for review by the Executive Director and DCED.
• Monitor Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Applications (RFAs), Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs), legislative funding opportunities, and philanthropic initiatives.
• Serve as the ULS expert on individual grant opportunities and awards and coordinate funding opportunities from proposal through submission.
• Oversee and assume responsibility for grant applications, sponsorship proposals, legislative funding requests, letters of inquiry/intent, proposal summaries, and other funding-related materials.
• Prepare complete drafts and polished project narratives, work plans, objectives, outputs, and outcomes, budgets, timelines, evaluation plans, and other deliverables to the DCED with adequate time for review; collaborate with management, staff, finance, external partners, and other team members as needed.
• Ensure all submissions comply with funding requirements, guidelines, and organizational standards, including producing quality results by following technical writing standards of clear structure, readability, consistency, and tone.
• Obtain approvals needed to complete internal reviews and final submissions so that all deadlines are met.
• Coordinate data collection across ULS to support funding proposals and reporting.
• Maintain systems for tracking funding opportunities, submissions, awards, reporting deadlines, and project outcomes.
• Develop and maintain internal workflows that promote effective grant processes with strong internal controls.
• Coordinate pre- and post-award administration for grants and other funded projects.
• Maintain grant and funding files, proposal documentation, reporting calendars, and important funder access and contact information on ULS's electronic tracking systems.
• Coordinate the development of partnership documentation, including memoranda of understanding (MOUs), letters of support, and collaborative funding agreements.
• Monitor funding agreements, deliverables, reporting deadlines, and performance measures, with internal assistance as needed.
• Prepare or coordinate required progress reports, financial reports, and final reports for funding agencies.
• Assist with monitoring, audits, grant modifications, renewals, and closeout activities.
• Maintain ULS's tracking of funder application and reporting platforms, logins and passwords, proposal templates, how-to guides, and databases.
• Assist in preparing reports and presentation materials for the Board of Trustees, executive leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Attend training, conferences, and continuing education opportunities related to grant management, nonprofit fundraising, and communications.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, business, marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years related experience in grant writing, fundraising, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income communities and promoting access to civil legal justice.
• Knowledge of nonprofit funding and grant writing.
• Ability to interpret funding guidelines and grant requirements.
• Strong analytical skills and experience collecting, organizing, and presenting quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to write in a clear, concise manner to communicate purpose and reach various audiences including foundations, donors, and broader general constituencies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications, databases, social media platforms, and grant management software and systems.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.

Job Factors

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer.
• In-person at a ULS office, a minimum of one day per week.
• Must have a reliable mode of transportation.
• Occasional travel required.
• No supervisory responsibilities.

Pay

Hourly rate in the Senior Paralegal range: $28-$32.

Schedule

Non-exempt, full time (40 hours per week).