Grants and Development Manager

Position Title: Grants and Development Manager
Supervisor: Development Director
Supervisees: N/A
Employee Status: Exempt / Full-time
Standard Hours: Hybrid, 35 hours per week
Starting Salary: $61,000 annually
Comprehensive Benefits: including medical, dental & vision, generous paid time off, retirement, and disability

Position Summary

As the Grants and Development Manager, you will play a crucial role in the success of Hunger Free Vermont by writing stand-out grant proposals, meeting fundraising goals, and financially powering our work to end the injustice of hunger for everyone. You will be part of a team of two grant writers who together manage our expanding portfolio of private foundation and corporate grants that make up 40% of our annual revenue. As the Grants and Development Manager, you will create strategies to attract individual donors, identify and approach potential business partners, and use online platforms and social media to raise funds. You will help shape the strategic direction of the Development Team, consisting of the Executive Director, Development Director and the Grants and Partner Funding Manager. You will have decision-making authority with revenue-generating efforts, and be relied upon to navigate a changing fundraising landscape in ways consistent with our organization’s values, prior decisions, and communication frameworks.

The Development Team

The purpose of the Development Team is to ensure that Hunger Free Vermont has the financial resources to make the permanent and systemic changes that will end the injustice of hunger for everyone in Vermont. In 2024, this team is responsible for generating over 80% of the organization’s $1.9 million operating budget to accomplish our mission-critical priorities. Our four-member team writes funding proposals and reports; identifies new prospective individual, business, and foundation donors and introduces them to our work, and ensures that we meet our funder agreements with integrity. Development staff works closely with the Administrative Team to ensure that fundraising, goal setting, and budgetary strategy are mutually supportive. A collective goal of the team is to promote growth and diversification with funding sources, including major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and more. The team is committed to Community Centric Fundraising principles and believes that true success in building lasting food security for all Vermonters must include sharing resources with smaller and under-resourced nonprofits whose food and economic security projects prioritize those most affected by hunger in Vermont. This team also collaborates with the Communications Team to create innovative and impactful fundraising messaging.

Working at Hunger Free Vermont 

Hunger Free Vermont is dedicated to ensuring everyone in Vermont has what we need to thrive, including nourishing food. We place a high value on the well-being of both our colleagues and everyone we serve. We have deliberately designed roles that require teamwork and collaboration across teams, because diverse perspectives lead to more effective, equitable, and less biased outcomes, and because shared knowledge lets each of us hand things off to one another so we can all take time off and sustain a work-life balance that supports ourselves and our families. Embodying a learning culture, we encourage curiosity and innovation and actively work to create an environment where colleagues practice open communication. Recognizing that our work requires emotional and mental energy as human beings, we value colleagues who want to contribute to a culture of care.

Focus of Position

• With the Grants and Partner Funding Manager, develop and carry out an annual plan to achieve Hunger Free Vermont’s foundation and corporate grants fundraising goal.
• With the Grants and Partner Funding Manager, effectively manage Hunger Free Vermont’s portfolio of grants. This includes careful tracking and organizing of proposal and report deadlines and documentation, preparing grant proposal budgets and financial reports, and planning ahead to ensure sufficient lead time to receive assistance from other staff members as needed.
• Develop the content of annual fundraising campaigns, donor newsletters, and annual reports to strengthen and grow our community of donors.
• With the Communications Team, maintain a regular posting schedule of our social media and email marketing campaigns, ensuring consistency and adherence to the organization’s voice and style. Digital marketing experience is a plus.
• Create clear, persuasive, and inspiring content across various platforms to represent our work, our impact, and inspire community members to join us.
• Research new donors and prospects, and work with the Development Director to build and execute creative strategies to welcome new donors. Manage the donor database and maintain accurate donor records.
• Partner with the Development Director to create innovative strategies to advance the overall annual fundraising plan and reach revenue goals.
• Collaborate with the Program Department to gather information about current programs and projects to develop detailed and compelling proposals for grants and other funding opportunities.

Important Perspectives, Knowledge, and Skills 

We encourage all candidates who can demonstrate a fit with the role to apply, even if you don’t match every qualification listed below. We embrace nontraditional paths and appreciate the fresh insights they offer. You could demonstrate your experience and skills in a variety of ways, including professional or volunteer work, travel or living abroad, creative pursuits, and military service.

• Ability to read and understand complex materials in English.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas simply, clearly, and persuasively in writing in English.
• Two to four years of experience in fundraising, nonprofits, sales and marketing, or other related fields.
• Capacity to develop grant budgets that accurately reflect project needs and costs.
• Commitment to revenue generation and its critical importance for mission success.
• Successful management of projects; accurately interpret and follow guidelines, keep organized, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in computer literacy is required. Experience in computer and internet programs, like Microsoft Office and GSuite, including working in Excel/Google Sheets. Working knowledge of office equipment and comfort in learning new technological skills, at times in a self-paced manner.
• Be able to bring warmth and genuine curiosity to conversations with donors and potential donors, partner organizations and staff of Hunger Free Vermont.
• Belief that hunger and its root causes are solvable, and a desire to contribute to ending these injustices for everyone in Vermont.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Hunger Free Vermont will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of their work to the degree we are able to do so.

• Internal Work Conditions: Work is performed either from your home, or in a climate-controlled office environment with no exposure to hazardous materials/conditions. There is a moderate level of noise from office equipment (phone, copier, etc) and an office layout that includes open work areas, meeting rooms, and smaller private work rooms.
• External Work Conditions: Occasional in-state travel to events/meeting sites may be required.
• Physical Demands:Reliable attendance at regularly scheduled meeting times is required.
• Must be able to work in an office environment and operate a computer and phone for extended periods of time.

Bringing diverse perspectives into anti-hunger work is critical to affecting meaningful change. To expand the diversity of voices who speak with authority toward this end, we welcome candidates with lived experience in hunger. Hunger Free Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace. If we can assist you in applying for this position, we warmly welcome you to contact us by emailing [email protected] or by calling (802) 865-0255.