Grants Specialist

Location: Honolulu, HI (Remote Optional)

Kupu’s Story

Kupu, which means “to sprout” or “to grow” in Hawaiian, has a two-fold mission: to preserve the land while empowering youth. The organization provides hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education for young adults, with the goal of fostering our next generation of environmental and cultural stewards. Established in 2007 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, Kupu empowers future generations to create a more sustainable, pono Hawai‘i. Kupu accomplishes this by partnering with conservation and sustainability focused agencies throughout the state and pacific in providing hands-on service opportunities which educate and mentor young adults and emerging professionals to become stewards of our communities and environment. Since 2007, Kupu has risen to meet the increasing demands of the green job sector by engaging over 3,000 youth in the areas of conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Kupu affirms the Hawaiian notion of “ma ka hana ka ʻike” or “in working one learns.” This approach has led to the creation of hundreds of service-learning opportunities which assists in the development of Hawai’i’s emerging professionals in the green job sector while supporting over 150 conservation and sustainability organizations across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.

Kupu’s Mission

“To empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity (pono) with Ke Akua, self, and others”

Kupu’s CHOSEN Values

C Character

H Humility

O ‘Ohana

S Service

E Excellence

N Nobility

Reports to: Operations Manager

Position Overview

Under the direction of the Operations Manager and in collaboration with the Community Program Senior Manager, the Program Grants Specialist (PGS) will work with all Kupu programs to develop proposals and manage grant or contract opportunities. The PGS will work closely with programs to research funding opportunities, create and review grant narratives, track grant applications, maintain accurate records, submit reports and communicate laterally and vertically. The ideal candidate will not only have a passion for the work we do at Kupu, but will also bring experience in reviewing requests for proposals (RFPs), grant writing, and grant management.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Research Funding Opportunities:

• Research new funding opportunities on a local, state and federal level.
• Regularly meet and collaborate with operations and programs to determine the needs and initiatives of programming.
• Communicate and update staff on funding opportunities.
• Regularly meet with Kupu’s External Affairs team to ensure streamlined and cohesive development activities.

Prepare & Submit Grant Proposals:

• Prepare funding proposals by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs, studying requests for proposals (RFPs), and attending strategy meetings.
• Meets proposal and submission deadlines by establishing benchmark dates for completion that include information gathering, writing, vetting and approval process and submission target dates.
• Prepares any additional proposal requirements such presentations, portfolios, data or past performance measures.
• Works with the Compliance Manager and Program Manager in the development of proposed grant/contract budgets.
• Works with the Program Manager to ensure proposed deliverables are attainable and reasonable.
• Compiles all components of the grant proposal and submits the application according to the RFP deadline.
• Tracks and monitors all submitted grant applications.
• Request review notes of any grant applications that are denied and share this information with the applicable personnel.
• Supports managers in producing interim and final reports and ensures reports are submitted on time.

Position Requirements

• Available full-time Monday through Friday, as well as occasional weekends and evenings
• Working knowledge of grant and contract management; ideally including government awards
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Demonstrate teamwork through cooperation and collaboration with others
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to manage time, structure tasks, establish priorities and set goals
• Intermediate level of computer skills (Microsoft Office environment) including Excel, Word, Outlook, Google, and internet research
• Ability to periodically travel to trainings, conferences, or organization events
• Ability to meet Kupu’s Criminal History Background Requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• With Bachelor’s Degree: One year experience in grant writing, prospect research, general fundraising or two years of comparable and transferable skills acquired in ideally a nonprofit setting.
• With High School Diploma: Three years experience in areas of grant writing, prospect research, or general fundraising, ideally in a nonprofit setting

Compensation and Benefits

• Commensurate with experience
• Health benefits
• Paid time off
• Eligible for 401(k) plan after one year of service and 1,000 hours of service
• Other employee benefits

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision requirements of the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Please direct any questions or inquiries about this position to careers@kupuhawaii.org

• In accordance with Federal Law, Kupu is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability