Manager of Grants and Donor Communications

United Way Of Greater Kansas City - Kansas City, MO

Full-time - Mid Level

Kansas City, MO

101-250 employees

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Manager of Grants and Donor Communications at United Way of Greater Kansas City (UWGKC) plays a pivotal role in driving revenue growth through strategic grantmaking and effective donor communications. This position is designed for an individual who believes in the power of community collaboration to address complex social issues. The primary responsibility of this role is to develop and implement a comprehensive grant strategy that aligns with UWGKC's mission to improve lives in the Greater Kansas City area. This includes creating an annual grant calendar, identifying grant opportunities, and managing the entire grant lifecycle from proposal writing to compliance reporting. In addition to grant management, the Manager will lead fundraising efforts, particularly through the annual appeal and donor communications. This involves crafting compelling messages that resonate with potential donors and stakeholders, ensuring that they are informed and engaged with UWGKC's initiatives. The role requires exceptional communication skills and the ability to listen actively to the needs of both colleagues and donors, facilitating effective partnerships that enhance the organization's impact. Operational excellence is a key focus for this position. The Manager will contribute to building a positive, donor-centric culture within UWGKC, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with the organization's strategic goals. This includes utilizing data-driven approaches to assess progress towards fundraising goals and making necessary adjustments to strategies. The Manager will also maintain accurate records of donor communications and ensure timely acknowledgments of contributions. Flexibility is essential in this evolving role, as the Manager may need to take on additional responsibilities to support the team and the organization's mission. Limited evening and weekend work may be required to participate in community activities and events.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of an annual grant strategy in conjunction with partners across Community Impact and Development.
• Lead grant acquisition efforts for the organization and internal programs, including prospecting grant opportunities and preparing grant proposals.
• Conduct post-grant award stewardship, including review of annual progress reports and aggregation of grantee outcome data.
• Oversee and manage the pipeline of strategic initiatives, developing effective feedback mechanisms for staff and external partners.
• Serve as the regular contact for UWGKC with leadership at area foundations and public funding agencies to cultivate relationships and engage around funding opportunities.
• Exhibit exceptional communication skills while serving as the project lead for the direct mail and automated messaging plan.
• Implement and craft annual donor solicitations and communications as part of a cross-department team.
• Contribute to building a positive, results-oriented, donor-centric culture that delivers upon UWGKC's mission driven strategic, operational and financial objectives.
• Regularly assess progress to goals, identifying what drives and impedes progress, and develop solutions to address gaps.
• Maintain accurate and detailed donor communications notes in appropriate databases; ensure prompt acknowledgement of donations secured.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional work experience.
• At least three years of experience in grant writing or a related field.
• Excellent understanding of fundraising principles preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership in relationship building and management with internal and external constituents.
• Strong communication skills and political savvy to represent UWGKC effectively.
• Proven experience and success in project management with a high degree of reliability and organization.
• Proficient technology, computer, and database experience required.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive data.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in community engagement and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of local funding landscape and philanthropic trends in Kansas City.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee assistance programs