Grant Writer Manager

Founded in 1895, Hudson Guild’s mission is to create and sustain a strong, effective community that acknowledges & responds to the potential, achievements & interdependence of its diverse members. Rooted in and primarily focused on Chelsea and the west side of Manhattan, we seek to empower all individuals and families to achieve their highest potential, while maintaining a priority focus on those in economic need. Our bedrock programs – education, nutrition, counseling, work readiness, art – help youth, older adults & families make progress on their goals, and keep our neighborhood strong. Learn more at HudsonGuild.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW: Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Director of Development and External Relations, the Grant Writer Manager will be a key member of Hudson Guild’s fundraising and external relations team. The Manager will help ensure the significant increase in institutional and individual gifts by strategically developing a pipeline of new and returning institutional and individual donors. The Manager will conduct timely, comprehensive research; manage the pipeline process; develop high quality, strategic pitches and proposals; collaboratively design and implement timely, compelling appeals and campaigns; and diligently track and report outcomes. The Manager will partner with the Deputy Executive Director of Development and External Relations and other members of the DER team to ensure that pipeline development is strategically planned, taking place in a robust way and on a weekly basis, followed through on diligently, and that all pipeline development milestones and institutional and individual fundraising targets are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Significantly grow institutional and individual giving annually.
• Ensure timely production and submission of institutional LOIs, proposals, and reports and streamline the process for requesting grant and report input from colleagues across the organization building in sufficient lead time for grant and report analysis and feedback yielding the most compelling requests and reports possible.
• In partnership with the Deputy Executive Director and DER team, draft and manage timely, personalized, and compelling individual funding pitches, appeals, and campaigns.
• Stay abreast of areas in the organization where funding gaps exist and develop ambitious plans to address gaps. Provide weekly updates of progress toward goals.
• Develop pipeline of new institutional supporters through weekly institutional donor research including the development of a highly targeted prospect list for each of Hudson Guild’s key priorities and a thoughtful action plan for approaching each one.
• Implement opportunities for institutional and individual prospects and donors to visit the Guild, meet leadership, and see programming firsthand.
• Support the senior development and executive staff in coordinating the donor cultivation and stewardship process including the creation and management of an aggressive pipeline building action plan, scheduling, providing meeting materials, research, and other tasks as needed, and meeting ambitious outreach and follow up targets.
• Monitor foundation and philanthropy news, including RFPs, foundation press releases, website updates and announcements, and trends in institutional and individual giving.
• Manage and develop template proposals for each key Hudson Guild program area to reach a significantly larger number of prospects more efficiently.
• Strategically review prospect priorities and proposal questions. Develop customized responses highlighting the aspects of HG’s work that most closely match those priorities.
• Track and manage promises made to donors for each institutional relationship and ensure that outcomes are on track well in advance of reporting and renewal deadlines.
• Review and understand the history of giving and cultivation relationships and communications to provide continuity to each prospect and funder.
• Develop a deep understanding of HG budgets and metrics. Streamline the process for choosing which budgets and metrics are included in each funding request and report. Analyze and ask questions where needed to strengthen the case for support.
• Partner with each HG program and the DER team to secure highly compelling impact stories for each program area annually.
• Support Development Associate with the management of outreach lists and personal notes. Create targeted approaches to specific supporters, leveraging solicitors as ambassadors where possible. Manage timely and personalized follow up.
• Operationalize the institutional and individual engagement process and ensure that these positive, collaborative relationships lead to increased institutional and individual giving and long term, sustainable funding for Hudson Guild.
• Use Raiser’s Edge to keep precise, detailed records for new institutional and individual prospects, funding priorities, key contacts, actions taken, next steps, and outcomes. Keep track of and regularly report on the number and amounts of new and continued supporters and the status of appeals and campaigns. Report on these metrics monthly.
• Complete other writing assignments and administrative support as requested.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3+ years of success in a related fundraising role with accountability for fundraising goals.
• Grant experience with a track record of success. Strong budget and data analysis skills.
• Successful prospect research and pipeline management experience.
• Personalized appeal and campaign implementation experience.
• Strong sense of urgency and exemplary attention to detail.
• Exemplary written and interpersonal communication.
• Astute pro-active collaboration and communication skills ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and included in the process in strategic and beneficial ways.
• Experience and comfort interacting with institutional funders and their representatives with strong dedication to responding in a thorough and timely manner.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and to work independently and flexibly as part of a team in a high pressure, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience maintaining accurate contact information and relationship records in a database.
• Willingness to ask questions, collaborate, and accept feedback to strengthen outcomes.
• Availability to work occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS:  Typical office environment, with occasional travel to multiple Hudson Guild sites. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing reaching.  Occasional stooping, crouching, and kneeling.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Frequently read printed materials and computer screens. Frequently operate a computer keyboard, mouse, & other office equipment.

As a full time employee at Hudson Guild, you will be eligible for:

• 24 Vacation Days
• 1 Floating Holiday
• 12 Sick Days
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 403b Plan

Hudson Guild is an Equal Opportunity Employer.