What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Grants (National - Remote) position at Jeremiah Program?
ABOUT JEREMIAH PROGRAM
Jeremiah Program (JP) is a nonprofit organization helping single mothers invest in themselves so they can thrive and take steps towards economic mobility by helping them access higher education, affordable childcare, housing, skills training and career development. JP envisions a world where poverty is no longer feminized; where race is not divorced from gender; where career and financial opportunities are not gentrified; and where women who experience poverty not only hold a seat at the table but hold the mic and curate the agenda.
Jeremiah Program offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies for disrupting poverty, two generations at a time. At JP, we believe that no mother should have to make the untenable choice between investing in herself or supporting her children. Our holistic approach invites single mothers into the leadership tent and encourages families to bring all their identities to bear in achieving their goals in pursuit of economic mobility.
Founded in 1993, this year JP is supporting over 2,000 moms and kids across nine residential and non-residential campuses: Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Fargo, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Sr. Director of Institutional Partnerships, the Director of Grants plays a critical leadership role in advancing Jeremiah Program’s (JP) mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children. As a member of the Campus Support Team (CST), this position is responsible for generating the grant revenue that fuels JP’s programs and ensures the sustainability of its innovative 2Gen approach.
The Director of Grants leads with strategic vision and operational excellence, overseeing the full grant lifecycle—from prospect research to post-award reporting—while managing a team of Regional Grant Writers to deliver high-quality, timely submissions. This role serves as a central point of coordination, working across departments to integrate programmatic data, financial information, and impact metrics into compelling, funder-aligned proposals. By cultivating relationships with multi-campus, multi-regional, and select national funders, the Director strengthens JP’s reputation as a leader in family-centered outcomes.
In addition to leading the grants function, this role drives innovation in grant management systems, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategy and enhance organizational effectiveness. Through their leadership, the Director ensures JP remains a trusted partner to funders and a steadfast advocate for the single moms and children we serve.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
JP-wide Leadership
- In collaboration with the Sr. Director of Institutional Partnerships, lead the team in the development of annual and long-term grant strategy, setting goals for grant revenue and identifying key funding priorities. Regularly assess team performance, adjust strategies as needed, and maintain alignment with JP’s broader fundraising goals.
- Oversee all phases of the org-wide grant process, including prospect research, proposal development, submission, and post-award reporting. Ensure that all submissions are timely, aligned with funder requirements, and strategically communicate JP’s mission and impact.
- Provide leadership and guidance to a team of regional grant writers, fostering a high-performance culture through professional development, regular coaching, feedback, and training opportunities to enhance their skills and expertise. Manage team workload, ensuring efficient task distribution and the timely completion of high-quality grant submissions.
- Lead the grants team’s coordination with program, finance, data, and leadership teams to gather information, verify data, and ensure accurate and cohesive narratives in all submissions.
- Act as the primary contact for multi-campus/multi-regional grant funders and select national funders, cultivating strong relationships through regular updates, meetings, and site visits. Ensure that JP’s funders are well-informed of the organization's progress and successes.
- Stay up to date with trends in the funding landscape by researching and attending relevant conferences, webinars, and funder briefings. Continuously seek new funding streams by monitoring government notices, RFPs, and other emerging opportunities.
Data Management & Analytics
- Work with regional and national grant writers to maintain comprehensive records of all grant activities, including proposals, awards, reporting schedules, and communications with funders. Utilize fundraising software (such as Raiser’s Edge) and data management tools to organize and analyze grant information.
- Track grant success rates, funding trends, and team performance against established goals. Generate reports and dashboards to inform leadership of progress toward revenue targets and the effectiveness of various grant strategies.
- Regularly assess the viability of pending proposals, flagging potential risks and opportunities. Work closely with leadership to determine strategic approaches for high-priority grants, adjusting tactics based on outcomes and funder feedback.
- Leverage programmatic data, demographic information, and impact metrics to craft compelling, evidence-based narratives in proposals and reports. Collaborate with the data and evaluation team to ensure accuracy and alignment of information presented to funders.
- Develop and update grant forecasting worksheets to track expected revenue from grants. Provide leadership with projections and risk assessments, ensuring financial planning is supported by accurate data on anticipated grant revenue.
Grant Writing & Management
- Manage and the org-wide grants calendar with approximately 250 annual deadlines, including proposal submissions, grant reports, and other funder-related communications. Ensure all deadlines are met, with sufficient time for internal review and approvals.
- Continuously improve grant management systems to ensure streamlined processes for proposal development, data tracking, and reporting. Seek opportunities to automate repetitive tasks and increase efficiency in the submission process.
- Establish protocols to ensure all grants meet the requirements of funders and align with JP’s internal policies. Implement tracking systems that monitor compliance with reporting schedules, financial commitments, and grant deliverables.
- Introduce project management tools and practices to streamline workflows and increase team productivity.
- Develop and adapt proposal templates to align with specific grantor interests, ensuring each proposal is customized and communicates the relevance of JP’s 2Gen model to the funder’s priorities.
- Oversee all post-award grant reporting, ensuring that all funding requirements are met, progress is tracked, and reports are submitted in accordance with deadlines. Provide thorough analysis and documentation of programmatic outcomes for funders.
- Develop and manage advanced prospecting and grant management tools such as Instrumentl and other databases to generate a pipeline of viable funding sources across the organization.
Other Duties as Assigned:
- This job description provides a comprehensive overview of the role's responsibilities, but it's important to note that duties, responsibilities, and activities may evolve with or without prior notice.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Oversees a team of 3 Regional Grant Writers, with plans to expand to 5 team members within the next two years.