Grants Manager

Description

GRANTS MANAGER

About Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA)

The mission of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Founded in 2007, CISLA works toward a vision that every student in Los Angeles’ public schools receives the supports they need to develop the emotional, social, and learning skills required to graduate high school ready for meaningful employment or higher education. 

Currently serving students at 13 Los Angeles Unified District Schools across 5 Los Angeles communities, CISLA seeks a highly qualified Grants Manager to join our growing team!

Job Description

CISLA seeks a dedicated, detail-oriented team player with 3+ years of experience in grants management. The Grants Manager will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of funding partners and supporting special projects, as assigned. Our ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and be passionate about the mission, vision, and values of CISLA. 

The Grants Manager reports directly to the Institutional Giving Director and works closely with other members of development, program and data, finance and operations, and executive teams.

CLASSIFICATION

Full-time, Exempt 

REPORTS TO

Institutional Giving Director 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Grants Management (50%)

• Manage a portfolio of existing grant relationships and cultivate strong, mission-aligned partnerships with funders. Key responsibilities include:
• Lead the development, writing, and submission of compelling letters of inquiry (LOIs), grant proposals, and related application materials.
• Develop grant budgets and supporting documents in collaboration with appropriate staff to ensure proposed activities and budgets are accurate, feasible, and aligned.
• Partner with the Program Team to support compliance with grant agreements, contracts, deliverables, and funder requirements.
• Manage grant timelines and deliverables across an assigned portfolio ensuring proposals, reports, renewals, and other requirements are accurate, complete, and submitted on time.
• Collaborate with the Finance Team on government grant invoicing, including tracking payment schedules, supporting timely invoice submission, and maintaining accurate grant records.
• Steward funder relationships through ongoing communication and engagement, including annual reports, newsletters, event invitations, and other appropriate touchpoints, with the goal of strengthening and increasing investment in CISLA’s mission.
• Research emerging trends, data, and literature related to education, equity, and other relevant areas to strengthen proposals, reports, and the broader case for CISLA’s work.
• Maintain relevant databases and grant calendars to track proposal submissions, reporting deadlines, and other key funder touchpoints.

Prospect Pipeline Development (40%)

• Proactively research and evaluate new funding opportunities for alignment with CISLA’s programs and strategic priorities, with a particular focus on expanding corporate and government funding portfolios.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Giving Director, external consultants, and other appropriate team members to cultivate prospective funders and develop competitive proposals in response to requests for proposals (RFPs).
• Support special initiatives and expansion projects by identifying and cultivating funding partners to help launch, sustain, and grow key programs.

Other (10%)

• Support the development and improvement of CISLA’s systems for funder and prospect management, research, and data collection.
• Support the planning and coordination of funder site visits, including preparation of presentations, briefing materials, and related documents.
• Provide administrative support for development activities, including drafting acknowledgment letters, preparing mailings, and updating online funder profiles and related records.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree or coursework in English, Writing, Education, Communications, or a related field preferred
• 3+ years of grant writing and/or grant management experience, preferably within the education or nonprofit sector
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines with strong organization, attention to detail, and follow through. 
• Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, and Excel, as well as web-based platforms
• Strong knowledge of prospect research techniques
• Experience developing budgets, financial projections, and grant-related budget narratives
• Familiarity with grant tracking and project management tools, such as Asana, Excel, and CRM systems
• Familiarity with the Los Angeles nonprofit, philanthropic, and education landscape
• Demonstrated commitment to education, equity, and social justice
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams, with strong communication, follow-through, and accountability
• Willingness to learn, grow, contribute, and share knowledge within a dynamic and supportive team
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed

NOTE: This position is primarily remote (approximately 90%), with occasional in-person meetings, school site visits, and other work-related events in the Los Angeles area (approximately 10%). Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the Los Angeles area.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Successful completion of a criminal background check
• Current TB clearance, with renewal as required
• Reliable access to a vehicle for travel to assigned work locations and other job-related sites
• A valid California driver’s license and current automobile insurance are required when using a personal vehicle for work-related travel

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Physical requirements may include:

• Remaining in a stationary position, including sitting or standing, for extended periods
• Occasionally stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects weighing up to 25 pounds
• Communicating effectively with others to exchange information

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS OF LOS ANGELES STAFF

All Communities In Schools of Los Angeles employees, regardless of position, are expected to consistently demonstrate the following:

• A strong belief in and commitment to advancing the mission of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles
• A commitment to excellence and high standards for themselves, students, and colleagues
• A commitment to continuous learning through reflection, self-assessment, feedback, and professional development
• The ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team

BENEFITS

At CISLA, we value the well-being of our team and offer a generous benefits package that supports employees both at work and beyond, including:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and vacation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Paid major holidays
• Paid winter office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
• Additional employee benefits and perks

We offer a starting annual salary in the range of $72,000 to $75,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

CISLA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.