Did you know that only 21% of low income, first-generation college students in the U.S. graduate within six years? Those who do graduate have a median household income 27% lower than their peers. While there are a multitude of college access programs for high school seniors and job assistance programs for low-wage earners, there are few programs that ensure first-generation students stay in school and build the skills necessary to prepare for long-term careers. This is where America Needs You (ANY) comes in. ANY fights for economic mobility for ambitious, first-generation college students by providing transformative mentorship and intensive career development. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York City, ANY expanded to New Jersey in 2012, Illinois in 2015, and California in 2016, growing from serving 50 students to nearly 600 students annually. In 2021, ANY launched FirstGenU, a new virtual program designed to help 10,000 first-generation college students navigate their careers. Visit https://americaneedsyou.org/firstgenu/ to learn more.

Our Ideal Candidate:

Natural relationship builder and communicator
Collaborative and entrepreneurial in nature
Experienced in managing multiple fundraising projects concurrently and passionate about the mission and work of ANY

We Offer:

A warm, collaborative work environment with a rich culture of support and feedback
A generous benefits package (health/dental insurance, 403(b), FSA, three weeks' vacation, etc.)
Connections to an expansive professional network

Position Description:

ANY is currently seeking a highly motivated and energetic Grants Manager with a passion for building partnerships. The Grants Manager will work with the External Affairs Officer to achieve our fundraising goals by enhancing existing strategies, contributing to a long-term fund development plan, and securing a strong support base for our organization. The Grants Manager will be responsible for ANY’s national grants calendar and crafting compelling proposals and reports. The Grants Manager reports directly to the External Affairs Officer. The position works closely with other senior staff to increase the impact of our work. The position is based in New York City, NY, Jersey City, NJ, or Chicago IL, and is currently hybrid.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage national grants calendar, ensuring proposals and reports are submitted in advance of deadlines
Create and manage standardized templates for proposal development, donor reporting, etc.
Write compelling proposals and reports, communicating program data persuasively
Develop and maintain a monthly tracking report of new contacts and prospects, significantly increasing ANY’s funder pipeline
Identify and solicit new gifts to support general operating, program, and pilot-related expenses from foundations and corporations
Work with External Affairs Officer to create and execute a plan for sustained partnership
Prepare supporting documents and attachments for grant applications; work closely with the Finance Department to build program budgets and fund use reports
Maintain database records in addition to thorough and complete electronic files

Other Responsibilities:

Maintain correspondence with current and prospective donors to ensure they receive ongoing updates on programs and ANY’s growth
Support special events or major donor program logistics as needed
Attend quarterly Saturday workshops to facilitate workshop sessions and engage with Fellows, volunteer Mentor Coaches, and invited guests
Additional projects as determined by the External Affairs Officer

Skills and Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree required
A minimum of 3 years of experience in grant writing
Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding corporate and foundation gifts
Strong project management with an ownership mentality (manages up well, manages sideways, knows how to get answers, etc.)
Entrepreneurial with fast project execution
Comfort with ambiguity and flexibility
Comfort with data and data analysis
Detail-oriented and organized

Salary for this position is in the low to mid $60K range, commensurate with experience.

Are you ready to directly impact the lives of first-generation college students and champion economic mobility for all?

About Us