Grants & Development Specialist
Merit America
Remote
Anticipated Start Date: Mid-April
Description
Reporting to the Director of Institutional Giving, the Grants & Development Specialist will play a central role in stewarding Merit America’s institutional funding portfolio. This is a writing-forward, relationship-oriented position designed for someone who enjoys crafting compelling narratives grounded in data and takes pride in producing high-quality funder communications. You will lead the development of grant reports and contribute to proposals, while also helping build our pipeline of funders.
We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, startup environment, is expected regularly to use AI tools as a core part of their workflow to enhance efficiency, storytelling, and research, and approaches both stewardship and pipeline development with curiosity, ownership, and initiative.
Responsibilities
Stewardship, Communications & Funder Experience (50%)
Develop compelling, customized grant reports for our portfolio of 30+ funders aligned to each funder’s priorities and deliverables; translate program data and learner outcomes into clear, persuasive narratives
Produce high-quality funder communications and stewardship materials (impact updates, acknowledgements, briefing memos, etc.)
Develop and refresh learner and alumni stories tailored to specific funder interests and geographies
Coordinate with external partners on joint grants (or subgrants) to gather required data and reporting inputs
Support stewardship campaigns and “big idea” engagement strategies throughout the year
Draft proposals, LOIs, and grant applications in partnership with the Development Manager, as needed
Prepare for and participate in funder meetings, as needed Leverage AI tools to streamline writing and reporting, and enhance efficiency
Data Management & Administration (25%)
Serve as central liaison for grant reporting, managing the reporting calendar and upcoming deadlines
Coordinate cross-functional information sharing and data collection to ensure timely, accurate submissions
Monitor progress toward funder deliverables and flag risks early to internal teams when appropriate
Maintain accurate grant records in Salesforce and Google Drive, and support continuous improvement of tracking and reporting systems
Organize post-award meetings and communicate funder data requirements internally
Funder Pipeline Development (25%)
Conduct proactive prospect research and qualification of new funder and grant opportunities; identify alignment, assess fit, and recommend next steps for cultivation
Continuously monitor funder news and trends, and share insights with the team to strengthen funder engagement
Regularly analyze program data (with support from the Data team) to identify funder-relevant insights that strengthen reporting, stewardship, and strategic positioning.
Collaborate with the Development Team to identify partnership opportunities that grow revenue
Requirements
Writing & Storytelling
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated success in grant writing and reporting
Ability to craft persuasive narratives grounded in quantitative and qualitative data
Strong editorial judgment, grammar, and attention to detail
Data Fluency
Comfortable working with data and translating it into compelling insights
Ability to partner with Data Team(s) to fact-check and refine information
Experience using CRM systems
Strategic Thinking & Initiative
Experience conducting prospect research and assessing funder alignment Proactive, independent work style with strong follow-through Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment
Collaboration & Culture
Strong cross-functional communication skills
Comfort working in a startup environment where roles evolve
AI Fluency & Technology Adoption
Demonstrated experience using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity) to enhance writing, research, and productivity
Comfort leveraging AI to draft grant narratives, conduct prospect research, and synthesize data insights
Proactive approach to adopting new technologies and tools to improve efficiency and output quality
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
$88,000 | 4-day work week
Benefits include:
4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
Education & personal development reimbursement
Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
Short and long-term disability
Unlimited vacation (after a 90-day introductory period)
Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
11 federally recognized holidays
1 week office closure in July (week of July 4th)
2 week holiday office closure in December/January
401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources
Discount perks at work program
Phone/technology stipend
Home office setup stipend
Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near-term wage gains for our learners.
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