About Piper and Proteus Fund
Proteus Fund partners with foundations, individual donors, activists, advocates, and other allies to advance social justice. Our work focuses on the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. Catalyzing progress on all of these fronts is essential to realizing our vision of a more equitable, just, and democratic future. We support movements through shared strategies and approaches with the aim of creating legal, social, and cultural sea change. In our 28-year history, we have collaborated in launching many mission-driven initiatives, including Donor Collaboratives, Fiscally Sponsored Projects, and Donor and Group Advised Funds. Through all of our work, we also strive to transform and radically enhance the very nature of U.S. philanthropy.
Proteus Fund and our associated organization Proteus Action League (PAL) have distributed more than $241 million in grants to support cutting edge issue advancement and movement building. The bulk of our grantmaking is at the state and grassroots level where we fund strategies and tactics ranging from community organizing, coalition building, and public policy advocacy to narrative development, strategic communications, research, and leadership development. We also advance these issues through a variety of non-grantmaking strategies including fiscal sponsorship of a stellar collection of progressive initiatives. Today, we are a $40 million organization supporting a total of 29 programs and initiatives.
The vision of the Piper Fund is a healthy democracy that works for everyone. Piper is a donor collaborative of the Proteus Fund that joins foundations and individuals in setting and implementing a national strategy aimed at protecting and strengthening democracy. We are a national leader in addressing the corrosive influence of money and special interests on our democracy, protecting and advancing judicial independence, and protecting the right to protest. In addition to grantmaking, Piper identifies threats to democracy and opportunities for reform; convenes the field to share knowledge, create alliances and set strategy; and collaborates with local, state, and national advocates as well as funders.
The Opportunity
The Grant Writer and Partnership Manager is responsible for supporting the Piper Fund’s fundraising goals by being responsible for the grant process, including but not limited to researching and identifying new prospective donors, writing grant proposals and reports, and cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with funders.
This is a full-time (40 hours per week) US based remote position
Key Responsibilities
- Write and edit clear, accurate, and persuasive funding requests, including letters of inquiry, proposals, reports, and grant applications tailored to each funder's areas, mission, specifications, and deadlines. (This includes a current portfolio as well as new opportunities).
- Collaborate with Program and Finance Team to request supporting information and documentation, such as program budgets, and translate that information in a way that meets the needs of the donor.
- Maintains up to date knowledge of foundation and individual donor grant standards and proposal and report guidelines. Tracks deadlines, maintains a current calendar of proposal and report deadlines, and coordinates with the Piper team and Finance Department the timely execution of grant submissions.
- Maintains a partnership database of donor information and grant and reporting materials, including reviewing grant agreements, confirming allocation of funds, and archiving all grant-related correspondence.
- Conducts prospect research for potential foundation and individual donors
- Leveraging technology such as Canva write, edits and creatively present engaging promotional materials for Piper Fund, including a year-end report, updates on Piper Fund activities for philanthropic audiences, and other correspondence with foundations and individual donors.
- Communicates with donors regarding submissions, questions about guidelines, acknowledgment of grants, and to provide a basic overview of the Piper Fund as needed.
- Keeps current on the 3 main Piper focus issues of money in politics, judicial independence, and protest rights fields for news, developments and trends.
- Participates in semiannual meetings of the Piper Fund donor partners, and periodic donor events, to engage with donor partners and prospects, and serve as an ambassador
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Grant Writer and Partnership Manager will have 5+ years’ experience in writing proposals and reports to foundations and individual donors, as well as experience in prospecting and identifying potential donors. They are comfortable interacting with funders and have the ability to creatively present materials in an engaging way.
Additional requirements and experience include:
- Excellent writing, analytical, and research skills. Must have a demonstrated ability to craft funding proposals and reports in a succinct and compelling manner
- Strong technical acumen to include standard business software and the desire and ability to learn new systems that will create efficiencies with the work product. This may include graphic design platforms.
- Exceptional organizational skills. Ability to manage concurrent projects and deadlines and identify priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume, results-oriented work environment.
- Strong research skills.
- Strong analytical skills, including synthesizing financial information (such as budgets and financial statements) and program data and communicating conclusions through writing and speaking
Alignment to Culture and Values
- Commitment to vision, mission of Proteus as a progressive social justice organization
- Cultural responsiveness and an alignment with our values and commitment to equity and inclusion
- Strong relationship building; high ethical standards, discretion and tact
- Personal qualities of humility and empathy
The salary range for this position is $80,000-$92,000 per year. Proteus Fund utilizes geographic salary differentials, compensation will be contingent on location.
bENEFITS
- Medical and dental benefits for employee and eligible dependents available on first day of employment
- Retirement savings account (401k) with an organization contribution of 10% of annual salary
- Three weeks paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
- Fifteen sick days per year
- Three personal days per year
- Fifteen paid holidays
- Professional development initiatives for growth
- Paid Family Leave
To Apply
For consideration, please submit cover letter and resume by March 7, 2022, to:
https://proteus-fund-inc.checkwritersrecruit.com/job/380912/grant-writer...
Proteus is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Proteus will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 413-256-0349 option 3.
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at Proteus Fund, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Proteus requires its colleagues who are working in an office setting or who will be required to travel as part of their key responsibilities to be fully (3 shots) vaccinated against COVID-19. Where an employee has a medical or bona fide religious reason which prevents them from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, Proteus will consider accommodations which may allow employees to safely perform the essential functions of their job.