Grants & Development Specialist

Role Overview

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