Department:                    Development

Classification:                  Exempt, Salaried

Job Type:                         Full-time, Monday – Friday with occasional evenings and weekends

Job Status:                       Employee, 40 hours/week or Variable

Reports to:                       Chief Development Officer

Supervisory Role:             No

Travel:                               Minimal

II Job Summary:

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Grants Strategist is responsible for stewarding and cultivating funders and grantors to help further our mission and expand our programming. This individual will curate a collaborative internal effort to sustain a steady flow of resources annually.

III Job Primary Duties:

Fundraising (85%):

• Work with executive and program staff to identify and articulate in a compelling manner the funding needs and priorities of NCSL;
• Research and report on prospective opportunities to approach funding from government sources, foundations, and corporations; to support NCSL programs, specific projects, and campaign needs;
• Develop, cultivate and maintain effective relationships with prospective grant funders;
• Work with Director of Finance and Administration to develop financial information required by funders;
• Maintain and implement a comprehensive grants management calendar. The calendar is to include deadlines for grant and report submissions, expected approaches, cultivation and stewardship activities and receivables dates;
• Communicate regularly with appropriate staff and Board of Trustees as to the status of grants, reports, and stewardship and cultivation activities;
• Write high quality grant proposals, applications, reports and other required ancillary materials; submit all grant applications, reports and acknowledgement letters in a timely manner with appropriate internal review;
• Manage all aspects of private foundation and corporate foundation relations to ensure proper stewardship of all foundation funders, including accurate acknowledgements, special funder requests, and arranging site visits, tours, and events;
• Accountable for involving and preparing others in the organization to execute strategies to cultivate and develop relationships with potential funders;
• Coordinate the centralized tracking of various statistics used for donor stewardship and cultivation and provide applicable written materials;
• Create reports for Chief Development Officer, President & CEO, and Board of Trustees;
• Maintain effective grant files and foundation database records;
• Stay current in the development field and best practices within the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethics;

Other (15%):

• Assist with the coordination of internal events and programs;
• Engage the Board of Trustees and Senior Staff in the grant-seeking process as appropriate;
• Contribute to the writing and editing of the organization’s publications as related to grants;
• Participate in team trainings, staff meetings and events;
• Incorporate grants and foundation funding in the long term organizational strategic plan;
• Assist with general maintenance of the database for foundation prospects and donors;
• Other duties as assigned.

IV Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Four-year degree in a related field;
• Minimum of two years of experience in nonprofit development and grant writing;
• Proven experience in successful foundation, corporate, and federal grant awarding and management;
• Advanced level of written and verbal communication;
• Familiarity with grant research resources and methods;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide variety of personalities;
• Excellent verbal communication skills;
• Ability to organize, prioritize, adapt to change, and handle multiple projects while meeting deadlines;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Create, identify and package fundable projects, and market the Nature Center’s funding needs effectively;
• Develop plans and timelines and follow through to completion;
• Proficient using computers with related knowledge of software programs such as Word, Excel and other Microsoft applications;
• Mastery of internet and non-internet research tools;
• Exhibit a high level of self-motivation and resourcefulness to solve problems;
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed;
• Commitment to the Nature Center mission, principles and values;

V Working Conditions:

• This position has a hybrid flexibility though in-office work is encouraged when possible;
• The Grants Strategist is expected to organize with Senior Staff to best approach the grant application coordination.

VI Compensation:  

• $58,000 - $70,000 salaried; commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Eligibility for certain benefits.     

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes (NCSL), a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1966 and located in the historic Shaker Parklands of Cleveland’s eastern inner-ring suburbs.  The mission of NCSL is to conserve a natural area, connect people with nature, and inspire environmental stewardship.  We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive working environment and is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.  View our mission, vision, and diversity statement online at www.shakerlakes.org.