Grants Manager

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound’s mission is to create and support 1-to-1 mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that every kid graduates with a plan for their future and a mentor whose impact lasts a lifetime. As the oldest and largest mentoring organization in Washington State, we serve approximately 2,000 youth and mentors each year in King, Pierce, Kitsap, Snohomish, and Island Counties. We partner with volunteer mentors, families, and the community so youth—particularly those furthest from opportunity—can achieve higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, positive behavior choices, improved mental health, and educational success. Our programs operate in schools, workplaces, and the community.

About the role

The Grants Manager leads the process of grant seeking from public and private funding sources (including public-sector funders, private foundations, and corporate foundations). This role initiates grant work and receives assigned funding opportunities, vetting, preparing, and writing Letters of Intent (LOIs) and proposals as well as impact reports. The Grants Manager records all grant reporting deliverables, serves as the primary external point of contact for grant-funders, and partners with the executive leadership team to align grant requests with the agency’s strategic plan and mission. The role requires staying current on agency programs, upcoming initiatives, and organizational priorities. The Grants Manager is part of the Community Philanthropy Team and reports to the Chief Development Officer, collaborating across philanthropy, programs, finance, and marketing to achieve fundraising goals. Contract grant writing may be used to support additional work as needed. The nature of this work requires flexibility and availability on some nights and weekends to meet deadlines, help with special events, and support the overall work of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage and track all steps of the grants process including research, inquiry, application, stewardship, and reporting.
• Research and identify potential private, corporate, city, state, and federal funding sources.
• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer, CEO, Director of Corporate Partnerships, and other team members to identify, develop, and submit grant applications aligned with agency priorities and budget.
• Ensure that funding applications and deliverables are commensurate with agency capacity.
• Write and submit proposals based on grant guidelines and submission deadlines.
• Maintain accurate record keeping in the CRM system to track applications, awards, and reporting requirements.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders through relationship-building activities, site visits, meetings, phone calls, and professional networking opportunities.
• Upon award notification, coordinate timelines, deliverables, and other grant requirements with the leadership team and program, marketing, and finance staff for implementation and administration.
• Oversee the grant award process including completion/signing of contracts, issuing acknowledgments, writing and submitting reports, and coordinating with programs and finance teams regarding proposal and programmatic budgets.
• Maintain accurate electronic grant files in SharePoint and CRM (Bloomerang), including creation of digital versions of physical files.
• Collect and maintain organizational documentation for external use, such as board lists, program outcomes, budgets, etc.
• Maintain agency accounts including funder websites, donor portals, government connection points (e.g., Sam.gov, Charity Navigator), and other related registrations.
• Attend agency fundraising events and provide support as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, Marketing, Communications, Sociology, Political Science, or a related field, or a combination of education and related professional experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including strong proficiency in synthesizing complex information from multiple sources.
• Strong analytical skills; demonstrated ability to manage and interpret data for varied audiences.
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity/equitable practices and supporting diverse communities and/or populations.
• Detail-oriented, organized self-starter; able to prioritize and perform multiple tasks with varying levels of urgency to meet deadlines with no loss in accuracy.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality in sensitive, complex, and/or controversial situations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercising good judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to achieve team goals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Experience using internet-based research tools, source citation, and practicing strong judgment and discernment. Comfort and familiarity using AI tools to achieve maximum efficiency and accuracy.
• Valid US driver’s license, insurance coverage, and consistent access to a reliable mode of transportation; the job requires occasional travel for local meetings and events.
• Available to work evenings and weekends when needed to support fundraising events and meet work deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5 years of successful grant writing and grants management experience, including public sector grants, fundraising, or program delivery working with youth, their families, volunteers, and educational institutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the local funding landscape and familiarity with decision-makers.
• Knowledge of national funders in the areas of youth mentoring, mental health, career exploration and workforce readiness, and academic success.

Skills

We seek to hire for, and further develop, the following competencies critical to success for individual employees and for achievement of the BBBSPS mission:

• Core Competencies: Accountability / Workload Management, Customer Service Orientation, Growth Mindset / Adaptability, Cultural Sensitivity, Collaboration, Expertise in Area of Focus.
• Leadership Competencies: Develops & Motivates Others, External Relationship Builder, Team Effectiveness, Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Growth Orientation, Problem-Solving, Initiative & Results Driven.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work environment for the foreseeable future, with 2 days in-office and 3 days remote.
• Position is based in Bellevue, with ability to work from satellite offices as needed.
• Occasional physical demands include standing, walking, sitting, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.