Director of Grants

About More Than Words

More Than Words (MTW) is a social enterprise that empowers youth, ages 16-24, who are in the foster care system, court involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. By working as a team to manage their own retail and online used book business and community space, youth develop the employment skills, leadership, and self-confidence they need to successfully transition to adulthood.

MTW is an exemplary organization that has continually held up a mirror to identify areas for improvement and accountability; that ethic is part of the culture and fabric of MTW, and it extends to our commitment to ensuring our staff and board reflect the racial and ethnic diversity and lived experiences of the young adults we are privileged to serve. People of color are highly encouraged to apply

The Opportunity

More Than Words (MTW) seeks a Director of Grants to lead the organization in engaging foundation/corporate partners and acquiring and managing government grants and contracts. This position is responsible for approximately $5.5M in revenue across these two funding streams in FY 2026 and meeting annual goals for growth of revenue. The Director will be the organization’s lead grant writer, taking direct ownership of organizing and drafting new or complex proposals, and will lead engagement, cultivation, and prospecting for corporate and foundation stakeholders. The Director will supervise the Grants & Giving Manager who maintains the grants calendar and supports drafting and submitting routine proposals and reports. The Director will also supervise the Senior Government Contracts Manager who manages fee-for-service government contracts and routine government contracting and reporting. This role reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and works closely with the CEO as well as the evaluation and finance teams.

Key responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Grant Writing & Grants Process (40%):

• Manages grant proposals and reporting process for approximately 60 philanthropic funders (contributing $2.4M) and 15 government contracts (totaling $3M+) annually, including reviewing and approving all submissions, collaborating with Finance Department to create relevant budgets and reports, and submitting applications.
• Personally drafts complex, new, or nuanced proposals and reports, and collaborates with internal leaders to gather necessary information and buy-in.
• Supervises Grants & Giving Manager who manages the grants calendar of foundation, corporation, and government grants and reports, drafts proposals and reports, and supports the donation processing functions for the department. Supports the Grants & Giving Manager to ensure an accurate calendar of grants, complete grant agreements and other documents, and maintain library of grant support documents including resumes, bios, IRS forms, Board/staff diversity lists, etc.
• Develops and maintains nuanced knowledge of organization’s programs, goals, partnerships, and new initiatives/needs by attending meetings, talking to staff, and observing programming, to inform proposals and creatively identify fit for varied grant opportunities.
• Proactively communicates with finance team to manage use of funds, including time or purpose restrictions, spend downs, etc.

Government Contract Management (30%):

• Supervises Senior Government Contracts Manager who manages government contract invoicing, paperwork, youth enrollments, database management, fee-for-service reporting, etc.
• Develops and maintains detailed knowledge of all MTW contracts (currently ~15 annually) to support the Senior Manager and ensure redundancy. Regularly reviews invoicing and audits files to ensure compliance with government contracts and attends annual audit meetings with state agencies.
• Manages relationships with government funders and identifies opportunities for new grants.
• Collaborates with Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration to ensure financial reporting is completed and submitted and with evaluation team to ensure data reporting is accurate and complete.

Institutional Relationships & Partnerships (20%):

• Manages foundation and corporation relationships and cultivation, including outreach and connections, maintenance of a cultivation calendar and plans for proactive touchpoints, meetings and phone calls with funders, and follow-up. Organizes and supports visits, tours, and presentations, and other stewardship opportunities, and occasionally attends funder events.
• Makes connections to internal departments and tracks follow-through to involve corporate and foundation partners in book drives, event rentals, youth employment opportunities, pop-up shops, and more. Collaborates with Associate Director of Development and Volunteer Coordinators to engage corporate groups with volunteering opportunities.
• Collaborates with Associate Director of Development to invite foundation and corporate contacts to More Than Words events and seek sponsorships for the annual More Than Dessert fundraiser.

Leadership within Organization & Department (10%):

• Partners with the CEO and Chief Advancement Officer to set ambitious annual and long-term contribution targets; develops, executes, and reports on tactics to meet goals. Finds new sources of funding, research, and determines fit for MTW.
• Advances racial equity and equitable fundraising and funding practices by educating institutional and individual supporters, using asset-based framing, speaking frankly about racism, and collaborating with Chief Advancement Officer to give feedback to stakeholders as needed.
• Operates as a leader within the organization by identifying opportunities and risks, leading ad hoc projects, advancing equitable fundraising practices, participating in goal setting processes, taking meetings, attending events, and supporting staff and service members.

Key Qualifications:

• Experience writing complex grants in a nonprofit setting and/or managing contract compliance
• Experience in nonprofit grant writing, with proven track record of drafting successful six-figure+ proposals
• Experience in managing complex processes such as contract compliance or development operations
• Experience in foundation and corporation relations, budgets, and/or contracts is a plus
• Strong writer, meticulous and fanatical about deadlines and details, with strong planning, project management, and follow through skills
• Motivated by the MTW mission and accountable for ambitious goals
• Lived experiences similar to the young people we serve is desirable
• Ability to support occasional evening and weekend work with prior planning (e.g., attending More Than Words events and partner events)
• Responsible, flexible, hardworking, ethical, trustworthy, sincere, and committed to personal growth in racial equity
• Ability to sit and type at a computer for long periods of time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST with a few evening events per month (with advance planning).

All of MTW’s sites are commuter friendly and are conveniently located near public transportation.

Background Checks

More Than Words requires all staff, service members, volunteers, board members and youth over 18 years of age to undergo background checks. More Than Words is a CORI friendly organization and reviews CORIs on a case-by-case basis.

MTW EEO Statement

MTW is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces and encourages applicants of every background. The organization's policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action, and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to HR@MTWyouth.org.