Development & Grants Manager

Job Title: Development & Grants Manager

Department/Group: Program and Administration

Duty station: Paynesville with travels to project locations

Reports to: Head of Programs

Location: Liberia, West Africa

Host organization will provide free accommodation and feeding to selected intern/volunteer, airport pick, and visa)

OVERVIEW OF WAVDI

The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative (WAVDI) is dedicated to strengthening families and building robust communities across West Africa. Our focus spans key areas, including agriculture, education and livelihood, gender and sexual rights, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, capacity-building, governance and rule of law, conflict prevention & peacebuilding, crime and drugs prevention education, and research. We work to ensure access to opportunities by advancing research and solutions that tackle barriers to success.

OUR APPROACH

Our approach involves demonstrating effective practices, influencing decision-makers, and promoting evidence-based strategies. As a regional organization, WAVDI is committed to making a positive impact throughout West Africa.

We are currently seeking an exceptional Development & Grants Manager to lead our efforts to secure income from grants (including trusts, foundations, corporations, United Nations, Individuals, governments, and lottery grants) to enable WAVDI to continue to provide support to those impacted by rape and sexual abuse. This new role will be vital to achieving our exciting plans to grow our impact and improve our financial sustainability.

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:

In partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Development & Grants Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and executing the overall fundraising strategy, communication, special events, public relations, and donor engagement strategy. Activities to ensure success include executing continuous donor engagement and communications strategies, identifying and securing sponsorships, and supporting a robust foundation grant revenue pipeline. This position will work closely with the ED, West Africa Volunteers Development Initiative board, and external committees to successfully implement and execute fundraising strategies, events, and marketing efforts. Some evening and weekend commitments are required.

Here’s who we are looking for:

• You must be passionate about gaining fundraising experience.
• You’ve mastered Microsoft Office Suite
• You’re an excellent communicator; oral and written
• You’re energetic, outgoing, organized, detailed and creative
• You’re a detailed planner and love reaching your goals
• You thrive when helping others – you want your work to mean more than just showing up every day
• You enjoy being part of a team and motivate your team to be their best

RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• GRANTS MANAGEMENT

1. Write, organize, edit, and submit grant applications in accordance with grantor requirements and deadlines. Monitor and track the status of proposals.
2. Completes annual competitive and non-competitive renewal applications for funding.
3. Research foundation and public opportunities that align with the organization’s mission and impact with the funder's respective priorities. This includes monitoring local and international announcements to stay well informed of funding opportunities.
4. Assemble all pertinent grant material necessary for final submission and develop proposal budgets in partnership with program services and accounting.

Maintain excellent knowledge of grant giving bodies, the charity sector and trends, identifying and capitalizing on relevant opportunities for WAVDI.

1. Develop and maintain the West Africa Volunteers Development Initiative calendar of grant-related deadlines, tracks necessary actions, and coordinates timelines with staff as needed.
2. Write and submit all required grant reports and sponsorship reports to demonstrate impact to our donors, investors and stakeholders.
3. Keep abreast of data, research, statistics, and information about issues, trends and community needs relating to target populations and program services.
4. Work collaboratively with program team to obtain information needed for proposals and reports.

Identifying‌ opportunities‌‌ for ‌‌partnership‌‌ through‌‌scanning,‌‌ networking and advocacy‌

1. 1. Develop and maintain case for giving and impact of giving to philanthropic priorities of West Africa Volunteers Development Initiative including written materials and current relevant statistics for proposals and stewardship.
      • • • • Engage in any other development activities, and wider charity activities, that will help further the organization’s objectives.
          • Identifying‌ opportunities‌‌ for ‌‌partnership‌‌ through‌‌scanning,‌‌ networking, advocacy‌ and ‌‌, and ‌‌policy‌‌work
        • Lead on WAVDI’s grant fundraising (including trusts, foundations, ` corporations, United Nations, Individuals, governments, and lottery grants) as set out in our fundraising strategy, meeting our ambitious targets for funding.

• FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL EVENTS
  1. In collaboration with the ED, implement a continuous donor engagement plan designed to

achieve growth over previous years

1. 1. Support a robust foundation submission pipeline
   2. Manage portfolio of individual donors
   3. Maintain accurate records in the organization database, Salesforce
   4. Plan, coordinated and execute events, including 3rd-party partner fundraising events.
   5. Identify and solicit event sponsors, financial and in-kind
   6. Develop and adhere to event budgets
   7. Manage logistics to ensure successful day-of event experience for partners and participants

• COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC RELATIONS:
  1. Manage annual communication campaigns to donors and volunteers
  2. Promote and market events to increase participation
  3. Assist in the development of the annual WAVDI Report
  4. Create strong presence for West Africa Volunteers Development Initiative locally through public speaking, community involvement, special events and other media initiatives
  5. Create and distribute press releases to media for events or fundraising initiatives as appropriate
  6. Collaborate with Program staff on Monthly e-newsletter
  7. Collaborate with Executive Director on donor stewardship e-newsletter
  8. Submit monthly website updates, including event listings, promotions, sponsor listings and awareness articles
• ADMINISTRATION
  1. Manage solicitation and stewardship processes for donors as assigned, including tracking relevant information, processing gifts, and sending thank you letters

1. Maintain and update the donor tracking system.
2. Manage local matching gifts process and serve as relationship manager for partner

corporations

1. Develop and maintain an efficient system for tracking information regarding event benchmarks, revenue/expenses to date, task designation, and other logistics – provide regular progress reports to the Executive Director