Employment / Grant Writer
SUMMARY
As a Shepherds College Grant Writer, your primary responsibilities will include: (1) identifying, defining, and developing foundation and corporation funding sources to support existing and planned College programs and activities; (2) leading the development, writing, and submission of grant proposals; and (3) working with the Advancement Team and other college staff to stay abreast of the College’s funding needs, mission impact, performance metrics, and any other information needed for effective grant writing and reporting. You will set and achieve specific performance goals and track key performance activities. You will be provided with all the tools, training, and resources needed to flourish as a grant writing professional.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as a conduit of Christ’s love for others in an effort to point others to Jesus through our actions and words.
- Generate revenue for Shepherds College programs and facilities through timely submission of well-researched, well-written, and well-documented grant proposals.
- Conduct research on potential funding opportunities offered by foundations and corporations.
- Cultivate relationships with foundation and corporation personnel to ascertain and clarify mission alignment and the likelihood of funding for the College.
- Coordinate with Advancement staff on strategies for relationship-building with target foundation and corporation contacts, including introductory meetings, campus tours, and program presentations.
- Generate high-quality proposals, narratives, letters of inquiry, applications, and supporting documents that effectively articulate the mission, vision, ministry, needs, and accomplishments of the College, and align with the passions and interests of prospective funders.
- Develop and manage a portfolio of target foundations and corporations.
- Track target organization information through the College’s donor management system, Raiser’s Edge-NXT, including contacts, deadlines, submissions, communications, interactions, grant awards, funding priorities, and reporting requirements.
- Coordinate and follow up on the progress of submitted proposals.
- Collaborate with College staff on gathering and updating key internal information needed for grant submissions, including history, mission, structure, objectives, programs, personnel, students, strategic plans, capital campaigns, budgets, costs, etc.
- Maintain a template database of key internal information and common grant application language for repeated use in grant documents.
- Work with College staff in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on the performance and impact of funded programs and activities.
- Work with the Finance Department to prepare monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports to foundations, and other funders as required.
- Collaborate with the Advancement Team and other College staff in regular conference calls, meetings, training sessions, and campus events.
- Articulate a personal walk with Jesus Christ and relate it to the ministry of Shepherds College.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
- Full alignment with the Shepherds College Mission Statement and Statement of Faith.
- Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, creative writing, marketing, or related area.
- A minimum of three to five years of experience in grant writing or related field with demonstrated success in securing grant awards.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including story-telling, listening, and persuasion.
- Excellent knowledge of proposal submission processes and procedures.
- Proficiency in research, interpreting, compiling, and analyzing diverse data.
- Strong organizational, multitasking, and time management skills.
- Ability and passion for creating opportunities for people and organizations to advance God’s Kingdom through financial stewardship, generosity, and multi-channel engagement.
- Ability to complete detailed proposals, contact records, reports, and correspondence.
- Willingness to learn and apply new techniques, processes, and strategies.
- History of successfully working independently.
- High moral integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Proficiency in standard office software tools and applications.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Valid driver's license.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
All new employees are required to pass a physical examination, be tested for, and be free of TB. We also recommend new employees be tested for and free of Hepatitis B (or start the Hepatitis B vaccination series), all within the 90 days immediately prior to starting employment. Shepherds assumes payment for the cost of the physical, TB test, and Hepatitis B testing or immunization. Note: The Hepatitis B vaccination can be waived if someone has already received it in the past or chooses to waive it at this time. All additional costs are assumed by the employee.
ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MISSION
Employee shall commit to the mission of Shepherds College, which is to educate and train students with intellectual and developmental disabilities by equipping them to reach Appropriate IndependenceTM (Ai) through the development of vocational, social, and life skills while inspiring a lasting awareness of God’s plan for their lives. Employee shall have a deep understanding of Ai and its guiding principles, as Ai is the foundation of our education and training programs here at Shepherds College.
ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CULTURE
Employee must be in alignment and in agreement with the eight key behaviors that shape our culture here at Shepherds College: 1) Model Christ-likeness - Point others to Jesus through our actions and words; 2) Be Creative - Practice strategic innovation; 3) Pursue Excellence – Whatever it is, make it better; 4) Maximize Strengths - Cultivate the value and potential of every individual; 5) Promote Professionalism – Present the best you, always; 6) Work Together – Collaborate to fulfill our mission; 7) Embrace Accountability – Own the process and the outcome; 8) Experience Gratitude – Recognize and affirm the good.
ALIGNMENT WITH OUR FAITH
Employee must be in full alignment and agreement with the Shepherds College Statement of Faith and Biblical Responsibilities of Shepherds Staff. Employee must be part of a faith community that is aligned with traditional protestant Christian faith.
REASONING ABILITY
Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Must be able to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, and reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
LOCATION
The candidate can work from home but needs to be in the Wisconsin/Illinois area.
Become a vital part of the Shepherds College mission!