Grants Manager

About Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA)

The mission of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Founded in 2007, CISLA works toward a vision that every student in Los Angeles’ public schools receives the support they need to develop the emotional, social, and learning skills required to graduate high school ready for meaningful employment or higher education.

Currently serving 12,500+ students at 14 Los Angeles public schools, CISLA seeks a highly qualified Grants Manager to join our growing team during an exciting new phase of programmatic and organizational expansion as part of our strategic plan.

POSITION SUMMARY

CISLA seeks a dedicated, detail-oriented team player with 3+ years of experience in grants management.  The Grants Manager will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of funding partners, with a key focus on government funders, and supporting special projects, as assigned. Our ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and be passionate about the mission, vision, and values of CISLA.

The Grants Manager reports directly to the Institutional Giving Director and works closely with other members of development, program and data, finance and operations, and executive teams.

CLASSIFICATION 

Exempt

REPORTS TO 

Institutional Giving Director

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Grants Management (50%)

• Manage a portfolio of existing grant relationships, developing strong mission-driven relationships with funding partners. Key activities include:
• Lead in the development, writing, and submission of compelling LOIs and proposals.
• Create budgets and support documents as required by the funder, working with appropriate staff to ensure the feasibility of proposal design and budget.
• Work with the program team to ensure compliance with agreements and contracts.
• Ensure all required reports are prepared accurately and submitted on time.
• Steward relationships to encourage increased investment in CISLA’s mission, including ongoing communication via annual reports, newsletters, event invitations, etc.
• Research current and developing macro trends, data, and literature in education, equity, and other spaces to provide relevant supporting context to CISLA’s work.

Prospect Pipeline Development (40%)

• Proactively research and analyze new funding opportunities for fit with CISLA’s initiatives, with a focus on building corporate and government portfolios.
• Work with the Institutional Giving Director, external consultants, and other appropriate team members to cultivate new relationships and create competitive proposals in response to RFPs.
• Support special initiatives and expansion projects, working to expand the portfolio of funding partners to sustain projects.

Other (10%)

• Support the development of CISLA’s systems for funder and prospect management, research, and data collection.
• Maintain relevant database(s) and grant calendars to track proposal submissions, reports, and other key funder touchpoints.
• Support with administrative tasks (drafting acknowledgment letters, preparing mailings, updating online profiles, etc.).
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, with studies in Writing, Education, or other relevant field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in grant writing/management, with a focus on government grants in the education sector preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal skills, with a strong commitment to ethical storytelling.
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.
• Excellent skills in MS Office Suites (particularly, Outlook, Word, Excel) and online platforms.
• Excellent knowledge of prospect research techniques.
• Experience in budget development and projections.
• Demonstrated commitment to education, equity, and social justice issues.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Independent, self-motivated, highly adaptable, and goal-oriented.
• Willingness to learn, grow and teach with a dynamic and supportive team.
• Familiarity with CRM databases.
• Familiarity with Los Angeles non-profit, philanthropic, and education landscape.
• Available to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.

NOTE: This position is currently remote (90%) with occasional on-site meetings, site visits, and other events in the Los Angeles area (10%). More on-site meetings are anticipated as COVID safety protocols permit. Local candidates only.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Criminal background check required.
• TB clearance, to be renewed every four years.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required (digital record).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• To perform this job, you must be able to carry out all essential functions successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the job.
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods. Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Adjusting or moving objects up to 25 pounds. Must have the ability to communicate with others to exchange information.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS OF LOS ANGELES STAFF

Candidates for employment at Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a highly collaborative team.

BENEFITS

• Generous benefits package including: PTO/vacation, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k, cell phone reimbursement, etc.
• Paid most major holidays, offices closed between Christmas and New Year’s.

CISLA is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.