Grant Writer / Manager

Grant Writer / Manager

Reports to: Senior Director of Development

Classification: Full-time, Exempt, Salaried

Start Date: ASAP

Location: Central Office 

ABOUT GREEN DOT CALIFORNIA

Green Dot Public Schools California is a non-profit network of public charter schools helping to transform the public education system so that ALL students graduate prepared for college, leadership, and life. Our schools are founded on an unwavering belief in the potential of all students, and there are four key elements to our school model that help us unlock the inherent potential in every student we serve: quality teaching and instruction, a college-going culture, a focus on fostering leadership and life skills, and a focus on eliminating barriers to learning. We have 18 schools and over 10,000 students across Los Angeles.  Our schools are located in some of the most underserved communities that have been denied access to high-quality educational opportunities, and we seek to prove that it is possible to close the access and opportunity gap that exists between low-income students and their more affluent peers.

What differentiates Green Dot California is our intense focus on truly serving ALL students, our collaboration with reform-minded unions, our work focused on large-scale turnarounds of schools formerly run by the districts, and our ability to take on the toughest challenges with the same public funding received by traditional district schools but accomplishing very different results.  Green Dot California’s results are undeniable.  Nine of our high schools have been ranked among the top schools in the country.  We have three California Distinguished schools and 3 California Gold Ribbon schools, and several of our schools have been recipients of the CORE Districts’ Academic Growth Awards, which honor schools having the greatest impact on student achievement. Additionally, Green Dot’s first turnaround, Alain LeRoy Locke College Preparatory Academy, was named Charter School of the Year by the California Charter Schools Association in 2019.

In June 2024, Green Dot California will bring many resources in-house, including IT, payroll finance, and public affairs. This change is a pivotal moment for Green Dot California to build new capabilities designed to empower and support our schools here in California. As part of this shift, we anticipate hiring over 50 employees to support our schools by July 2024.

OPPORTUNITY

The Grant Writer / Manager has a critical role in supporting Green Dot’s mission to prepare students for college, leadership, and life. The Grant Writer / Manager will work closely with the Senior Director of Development, Grants Team and organizational leadership to secure grants from private and public entities in support of Green Dot’s mission. The Grant Writer / Manager is responsible for identifying potential grant opportunities, and leading the development and submission of strong proposals and reports. This position is part of the Development Team and reports to the Senior Director of Development. This position leads the grants team, which includes a Grant Writer and Grants Compliance Associate. This is a role serving as part of Green Dot California’s central office team, primarily based in Los Angeles.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work in partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Green Dot leadership to guide the selection of fundraising priorities based on the local philanthropic landscape.
• Develop annual fundraising goals and prospect list for the Grants Team. Match potential funders with appropriate program opportunities and target grant awards.
• Conduct qualifying research for new grant prospects and leads, generating funder profiles that detail aligned missions and funding priorities. Advise the Development Team on prospect and/or opportunity alignment to determine whether to add to active prospects.
• Monitor prospects through Moves Management. Collaborate with the Senior Director of Development and Senior Development Officer to advance foundation prospects on time. Serve as a point of contact for program officers throughout the life of a grant.
• Manage the Grant Writer and Grant Compliance Associate.
• Review and set alerts for federal and state government grant opportunities.
• Establish and maintain a detailed master calendar of all grants (prospected, submitted and awarded).
• Conduct research into community demographics, resources, and needs to develop compelling cases for giving aligned to Green Dot’s priorities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and program managers on program codification for Green Dot funding priorities, including the development of sound logic models, rationales, performance metrics, data stories, and budgets.
• Project manage and write/edit competitive government grant applications. Create application outlines based on RFPs and accompanying scoring rubrics. Determine Grants Team involvement based on team bandwidth and opportunity, and manage any project consultants. Lead the writing process.
• Project manage, write/edit, and submit briefing documents, LOIs, grant budgets, and proposals. Work closely with Green Dot program managers to collect necessary data and program details. Draft high-quality grant applications that align with funder formatting and content requirements.
• Manage the Grant Writer's and Grant Compliance Associate's execution of the grant management process to ensure compliance requirements are maintained.
• Work closely with the Grant Compliance Associate and the Grant Accounting Manager on the Accounting & Finance team to maintain awareness of and address any issues related to financial aspects of grant submission, monitoring, compliance and reporting.
• Take on ad hoc projects as needed to advance Green Dot’s org-wide Development goals.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications for this position are:

• Bachelor’s degree required, relevant Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional fundraising or grant writing experience - preferably with an education focus. 
• A demonstrated track record of winning competitive government grants required;  Experience with private grant experience is strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated analytical and persuasive writing skills and superior editing skills, including ability to convey complex information in a clear manner to a diverse audience.
• Proven track record of soliciting and closing five and six-figure gifts or grants preferred.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with a demonstrated ability to support and develop a high performing team.
• Must be able to pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer. 

In addition, the following standards will generally define the successful candidate:

• Broad knowledge of the principles and practices of writing successful grants.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and determined to succeed.
• Able to prioritize and complete multiple assignments and handle complex tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of major foundations in order to communicate the short and long-term goals and priorities of GDPS in a manner that is aligned.
• 2-3 years of project management experience and a record of strong and creative problem-solving.
• Adherence to the highest ethical standards, demonstrates an empathetic disposition and perseverance; uses discretion and good judgment; reflects an optimistic and positive attitude, and conveys sensitivity to the needs of the donors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to effectively engage with donors and staff at all levels.
• High level of initiative, creativity, and energy.
• Knowledge of office and productivity software sufficient to function smoothly in a highly technology-based environment (including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and Internet applications).
• Salesforce or relevant CRM experience is preferred but not required.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize data and information from multiple sources and develop comprehensive recommendations.
• The ability to handle problems as they occur, and follow through on all aspects of the position.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset and a desire to continually improve through feedback, coaching, and professional development 
• Dependability, humility, sense of humor, and a rock-solid commitment to Green Dot’s mission and the communities we serve

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to perform the job.

Benefits

COMPENSATION

The starting salary range for this position is $82,000 - $88,000. To allow for salary progression over time, offers at the top of the range are rare. Individual education and experience will be considered when issuing offers. In addition, this position qualifies for a one-time $5,000 signing bonus, paid in two installments after months 6 and 12 of employment (subject to change). 

Green Dot also offers one of the most robust and comprehensive benefits packages in the industry (for both you and your dependents):

• PPO, EPO and HMO choices for medical, dental and vision coverage - including a 100% employee-only paid option (visit https://www.mygreendotbenefits.com/ for more information). 
• Employee Assistance Program (100% employer-paid)
• Life and AD&D Insurance (100% employer-paid)
• Optional Term Life & AD&D Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance (100% employer-paid)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care)
• Monthly parking for Central Office-based employees (100% employer-paid)
• Optional California Parking Cash-Out program for Central Office-based employees
• Wellness programs and resources
• Financial planning/coaching access
• Optional non-matching 401(k) plan
• Potential for remote work opportunities (occasional or recurring)
• Potential for annual performance-based compensation increases
• Potential for annual bonuses
• Potential for stipend work opportunities
• Approved family care and/or medical leave (unpaid)

Green Dot also offers generous paid time off for an overall work-life balance, while giving employees the opportunity to impact a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of all students:

• 15 days of paid time off during years 1-3 of service (20 days during years 4-6 and 25 days beyond 6 years of service)
• An additional 15 days (minimum) of paid time off each year for our Winter and Spring breaks* (which include the Christmas and New Year’s holidays), as well as an additional 10 annual paid holidays (MLK Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Day after Thanksgiving)
• 3-5 days of paid bereavement leave (if needed)

*May be adjusted annually

Green Dot Public Schools has embedded a diversity, equity and inclusion lens in our organizational culture, as well as in our educational and talent practices. We are committed to hiring those who reflect the diversity of our communities, and we recruit, employ, support, compensate and promote employees, without regard to their actual or perceived race, religious creed (including religious dress or grooming practices), color, national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken), physical or mental disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and expression), parental status, age (forty (40) and over), sexual orientation, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, citizenship, immigration status or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Please note that we are unable to sponsor H1-B Visa applicants.