Government Relations Director & Grant Writer

Pajama Program is committed to building a culturally diverse team and strongly encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. 

Organization Overview

Pajama Program, a national nonprofit, is dedicated to promoting equitable access to healthy sleep so all children can thrive. Getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is not a given for all children. Challenges – including low family income, housing insecurity, and family instability – prevent many children from getting the sleep they need. This can have a lasting, negative effect on children’s health, social and emotional well-being, and school performance. At Pajama Program, we believe that sleep is a social justice issue. 

We empower children facing adversity to have Good Nights for Good Days. Through our programs and services, we distribute new pajamas and books via thousands of Community Partners; coordinate donations through a network of volunteer Chapter Presidents; host children at our Centers in New York City, Atlanta, and metro-Detroit; and provide sleep health education to foster lasting positive outcomes for the children we aim to support. 

About The Role

The Government Relations Director & Grant Writer will report directly to the Chief Advancement Officer. The Director is responsible for cultivating (1) government relationships at the local and state levels in New York to position Pajama Program well for government funding and (2) relationships with private and public foundations. The Director also will serve as the lead development team member on grant strategy and implementation. Responsibilities include all aspects of public and private grant research and development from prospecting and identification to writing and submitting proposals/LOIs. Additionally, the Director will co-manage funded grants with the Development team and lead on their reporting. The Director will be responsible for raising $500,000 in government funding and working directly with other development staff and the Chief Program Officer to raise an additional $400,000 in public and private foundation funds. 

About you: you have experience building relationships with funders in the private sector and with local government and have secured public granting sources. You are an enthusiastic storyteller who is passionate about children and amplifying a mission through grant writing and relationship building. You love being creative with proposals while being strategic. You know when to take a risk and reach for the stars for a lifetime grant opportunity, but also know how to manage your time and build a grant portfolio that wins awards with a range of revenue.

This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and is a hybrid role (expected to work from our midtown office location once per week and on occasion, as needed) 

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Revenue Generation 

• Prospect and build a well-organized portfolio of grant funder opportunities, prioritized by submission date, likelihood and giving amount 
• Lead on grant funding strategy to build portfolio and manage opportunities to reach our grant funded revenue goals ($900,000) 
• Draft and submit grant proposals (including supporting documents based on the funding requirements of the organization) 
• Work with program, finance and development staff to manage funded grants and deliver reporting accurately and on time
• Work directly with development staff to maintain positive relationships with funders and other stakeholders (i.e. corporate foundations where we have a corporate relationship as well) 
• Maintain records in Salesforce and submit reports related to grant opportunities to the DevComm team and Board, when needed. 

Partnerships 

• Identify programs and projects eligible for foundation and/or public funding and keep staff informed of ongoing funding opportunities and timelines. 
• Manage public funding efforts. Attend meetings as necessary to represent Pajama Program when grant interests are involved (e.g., City Council, NYC/NY State partner event, other local press events)
• Advocate for funding approval and increased public funding on all levels: local, regional, and national. 

Skills & Qualifications:

• Excellent knowledge of proposal submission and fundraising process 
• Experience building relationships with funders: both public and private 
• Ability to study and understand programs and funding requirements of the organization 
• Strong research skills and knowledge of information sources 
• Ability to handle confidential matters with utmost integrity
• Detail-oriented approach to work with strong organizational skills 
• Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also function as a team player who will take initiative and manage multiple tasks and projects concurrently 
• Personal commitment to, understanding of, and enthusiasm for Pajama Program’s mission and vision 
• You are legally authorized to work in the United States by the first day of employment

Salary and Benefits

• Salary range $80,000 - $90,000 based on experience. 
• Generous time off: floating holidays, vacation, sick, summer Fridays, other soft closes 
• Hybrid/flexible work accommodations: expectation to be in NYC office once per week 
• Medical insurance provided, 403(b) plan offered for employee contribution, and other benefits 

Applicants should apply via linkedin or email a cover letter, which describes the candidate’s fit with the job description, and resume to jobs@pajamaprogram.org. No telephone inquiries, please.