United States of America: Grant Officer, International Programs

Status: Full-Time, Three-Year Specific-Term

Application Deadline: January 4, 2019

For consideration, please attach your cover letter and resume to the online application.

Overview of Grant Unit

The Grant Unit is part of the AFSC Development Department, which raises general and restricted funds for AFSC through annual giving appeals, major and planned gifts, and grant requests. The Grant Unit is currently responsible for a portfolio of approximately 100 domestic and international grants annually, amounting to approximately $5 million. The Unit’s purpose is to raise grant funds to support AFSC programs from institutional funders including foundations, corporations, and governments. The Unit collaborates with program staff, Regional Directors, and staff from other support units to submit grant requests and reports on grant-funded programs.

The Grant Unit functions as a cross-functional team with each person individually responsible for their own goals, and participating in shared goals for the unit. Team work and a team approach is fundamental to the unit.

Summary of Principal Responsibilities

The Grant Officer, International Programs is responsible for building a portfolio of institutional donors on behalf of AFSC’s international programs and the Quaker United Nations Office in New York. The Grant Officer will initiate, cultivate and maintain relationships with the purpose of raising funds for programs. The position involves some travel to visit programs and meet with current and potential funders. The Grant Officer’s primary focus is on grants of $50,000 and more. The portfolio includes foundations, corporations, religious organizations, governments and other grant-making organizations. The Grant Officer develops and cultivates relationships with funders with the purpose of leading those relationships to the solicitation of grants and awards. They facilitate the participation of other development, program or administrative staff, and volunteers in the cultivation process so that priorities are kept in view, deadlines are met, and duplication or action at cross purposes is avoided.

In collaboration with program colleagues, the Grant Officer writes, edits, and submits grant requests. The Grant Officer works with program staff and staff from other support units to ensure that narrative and financial reports and other stewardship documents are completed and comply with the donor’s requirements.

The Grant Officer researches and qualifies funding prospects and maintains up-to-date records of his/her work in AFSC’s fundraising database and document management system. The Grant Officer also provides training support to programs to help them become grant-ready. The Grant Officer is a member of the Grant Process Team and is responsible for attending regular meetings and reporting to other team members on the status of relationship building and grant seeking activities for assigned programs.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of the Grant Officer, International Programs include the following:

1. Cultivate contacts and ongoing relationships with 40-60 institutional donors; understand their priorities, philosophies and particular interests; and interpret the work of AFSC in articulate, compelling, and creative ways.
2. Steward and cultivate institutional donors by arranging meetings with program staff and leadership, sharing information when available, and keeping supporters and potential supporters apprised of AFSC work.
3. Develop and implement annual fundraising plans, based on the portfolio of 40-60 institutional funders.
4. Collaborate with program staff and regional leadership to write, edit, and submit grant requests seeking support from institutional funders for assigned programs.
5. Meet annual goals set by the Director of Grants for grant requests submitted, size of grant requests submitted, funds raised, and other metrics as appropriate.
6. Contribute to the accomplishment of Unit goals for grant requests submitted, size of grant requests submitted, funds raised, and other metrics as determined by Associate General Secretary of Advancement.
7. Partner with the program staff, and the Associate General Secretary of International Programs to identify and qualify new prospects for possible grant support.
8. Assist in providing training to programs to become grant ready by helping staff clarify goals, objectives, indicators, and data necessary for grant applications and reporting.
9. Coordinate contact of other AFSC staff with institutional funders.
10. Coordinate compliance requirements of grants including reports and audits.
11. Actively participate in Grant Unit goals, meetings and projects.
12. Track all activity in AFSC’s fundraising database and keep records up to date
13. Load grant-related documents into AFSC’s document management system.
14. Maintain knowledge of assigned programs through contacts with staff, attending events, reading materials and, when possible, by visits to field programs.
15. Continue to develop and enhance grant seeking skills through professional development.
16. Undertake additional assignments as directed by the Director of the Grant Unit.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: BA or equivalent education/training desirable. Master’s degree is a plus, but not required.

Experience:

1. Four or more years’ experience and demonstrated success in raising grant funds from foundations, corporations, or governments. Experience raising funds for international programs and/or from international funders is required. Experience fundraising for peace and social justice-oriented program work is a plus.
2. Experience collaborating to write and edit compelling proposals in a deadline-driven environment.
3. Experience working with fundraising software, preferably Sales Force.
4. Experience networking globally and living overseas is a plus.
5. Fluency in speaking, reading and writing Spanish and/or French is a plus.
6. Existing relationships with a proven network of international funders preferred.
7. Familiarity with consortium style grants a plus

Other Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Strong written communication skills; ability to write and edit clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals;
2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully interact with a variety of people on different levels, and comfort with speaking and presenting in a group setting;
3. Solid organizational skills and the ability to work productively in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to prioritize a multi-faceted workload under strict deadlines, sometimes with limited guidance;
4. Flexibility, patience, and the ability to work productively in a team environment and independently, and the willingness to meet unexpected demands with a positive attitude;
5. Attentiveness to detail and accuracy in data entry, reporting, and writing;
6. Ability to act with sensitivity and discretion while working with highly confidential information;
7. Knowledge and familiarity with research techniques for fundraising prospect research;
8. Ability to work cooperatively with committees and staff, and in an organization, that is characterized by a high level of consultation in which consensus is the formal process for reaching decisions;
9. Excellent computer skills with knowledge of fundraising software (preferably Sales Force) and MS Office (Word, Outlook and Excel, in particular);
10. Willingness and ability to travel over a wide geographical area, sometimes on an extended basis of a week or more, and to work some evenings and weekends. Availability to travel nationally (by air, train or auto) in addition to normally scheduled fundraising travel. Must possess a valid driver’s license;
11. Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
12. Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.

Compensation: Salary Range starts at $58,197– Exempt – Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security.

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity**,** sexual orientation or disability.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is represented.

The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.

To apply, please visit https://www.afsc.org/job-center and complete an online application.