Description

Why Join Concordia Place?
Do you want to positively impact children's growth? Interested in teaching a fun and purposeful play-based curriculum? What about working with qualified teachers in beautiful indoor and outdoor play areas? If the answer is a resounding yes, then Concordia Place is right for you!

Founded in 1981, Concordia Place is a vibrant mission driven organization providing multigenerational programs including early learning, after-school, and teen leadership for Chicago communities. Our centers are located in the Avondale, Ravenswood, North Center and Old Irving Park neighborhoods, with plans to expand into Albany Park. While we are diverse, we are united by our mission to create involved communities where all our neighbors can gather, learn, and grow. Concordia believes everyone deserves opportunity, and that it is best served when it is broadly inclusive.
Our Guiding Principles

• Faith in Action
• A Place of Yes
• A Place for All
• A Place of One
• A Place of Excellence

Grant Specialist
The Grant Specialist is a full-time position that plays a crucial role in securing funding for the organization and reports directly to the Vice President of Advancement. The Grant Specialist will be responsible for planning and managing the Foundation schedule, tracking moves management, research and cultivating prospects, writing templates, and preparing grant proposals (public agencies, private foundations, and corporations).

Our locations

• Concordia on Milwaukee - 3696 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60641
• Concordia on Ravenswood - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago IL 60640
• Concordia on Whipple - 3300 N Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60618
• Concordia on Seeley - 3855 N Seeley Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Salary, Perks and Benefits

• Salary Range: $68,000 - $75,000
• Signing bonus of $750!

Concordia Place offers a generous compensation and benefits package to employees. Here is an overview of the many perks of working at Concordia Place (PLEASE NOTE: employees must work 30 hours or more per week for eligibility):

• 403b Retirement Savings Plan (with an Employer Match)
• Vacation Days
• Sick Days
• 1 week paid winter holiday
• 2 floating holidays
• Medical insurance
• Life insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• 12 holidays off per year
• Employee Referral program
• Childcare tuition discount for employees
• Quarterly in-service days and professional development resources for teaching staff
• Concordia Place will cover the cost of your physical exam through Physicians Immediate Care. Coverage only extends to those physical exam items which are required by DCFS and/or funders for our child care centers

Responsibilities

Research, Identification, and Funding Match:

• Identify and research potential funding sources, including foundations, corporations, and government entities.
• Stay updated on grant opportunities relevant to the organization’s mission and programs.
• Assess alignment of potential grants with the organization’s goals, objectives, and programs. Assist in the development of a long-term funding strategy.

Proposal Writing and Document Preparation:

• Write clear, concise, and compelling grant proposals, tailored to the requirements of each funding source.
• Ensure all proposals are written in an academic style, adhering to the guidelines and expectations of proposal submissions.
• Ensure all proposals are submitted to the VP of Advancement for approval well in advance of deadlines.
• Develop and compile all required accompanying grant documentation.
• Understands budgets, tracks spend downs, and assesses progress towards goals.

Metrics, Impact Reporting and Evaluation:

• Create and define metrics to measure the effectiveness and impact of the organization’s programs and initiatives.
• Gather and analyze data necessary for demonstrating program outcomes.
• Use quantitative and qualitative data to construct a narrative that highlights the success and potential of the organization’s work.

Communication and Collaboration

• Work closely with program directors and staff to understand project goals, objectives, and needs.
• Facilitate regular communication with team members to ensure alignment and clarity in the grant writing process.
• Act as a liaison between the organization and funding bodies, responding to queries and providing additional information as needed.

Administrative and Strategic Tasks

Record Keeping:

• Maintain detailed records of grant submissions, awards, and rejections, including feedback from funders, keep secure record of grant portal login and passwords.
• Track and manage grant timelines, ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Provide insights and recommendations for improving the organization’s grant-seeking efforts.

Capacity Building & Continuous Improvement:

• Share knowledge on effective grant-seeking strategies and tools to enhance the organization’s overall capacity.
• Stay informed about trends and changes in the grant funding landscape.
• Pursue professional development opportunities to continuously improve grant writing skills and effectiveness.
• Support other advancement activities as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in grant writing and grants management experience
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Write clear, precise and compelling communications - grant proposal writing experience required
• Deep technology skills/experience w/ donor data base usage, EveryAction experience a plus (move higher)
• Highly-effective communicator who can gain confidence of high-level donor prospects
• Knowledge and familiarity with research techniques, and academic writing for fundraising prospect research
• Excellent organizational, time-management and people skills, detail-oriented essential
• Self-directed; strong planning/organizational skills; balance multiple tasks, set priorities
• Team player with sense of humor, flexibility and stamina
• Excellent judgment and discretion

Requirements

• While some remote work is possible, this role will interact with donors, prospects, stakeholders (such as parents, community leaders, industry leaders) and Concordia program leaders that may require in-person meetings, onsite visibility, and events within and outside of normal business hours.
• This person is regularly required to be in-person at multiple locations even within the same day and must be able to easily commute between them.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. This position requires the person to talk and hear, long periods of sitting, and computer and phone use; other activities while performing this job may require lifting up to 30-pounds.
• A commitment to the mission and guiding principles of Concordia Place.
• Be comfortable working for a faith-inspired organization; Concordia Place is a social service mission of Concordia Lutheran Church that serves everyone regardless of any religious beliefs or affiliation.

Qualifications