Reach Out and Read Northeast Grant Specialist (Grant Writer)

The Opportunity

As our Grant Specialist (Grant Writer), you will have the unique opportunity to help shape the future direction of Reach Out and Read (ROR) Northeast as it expands its reach into the state of Maine by identifying and soliciting corporations and foundations to fund the expansion, as well as inheriting a robust existing portfolio of grantors in the Northeast. This role reports to the Northeast Development Director. 

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:

• Manage and expand an existing portfolio of foundation and corporate donors and its grants submission process, including prospecting, proposal writing, reporting, and correspondence
• Lead all stages of the Maine grants and sponsorship process, from initial prospect identification to the proposal and budget creation through continued stewardship and reporting
• Liaise with the Regional Program Director and other team members in order to fulfill data requests for grant applications
• Secure sponsorship and support the logistics for special events 
• Contribute content to newsletters, annual reports, and other stewardship materials 
• Manage grants calendar for the Northeast Region, ensuring team members are on track to meet deadlines
• Assist in the planning and preparation of stewardship and cultivation meetings to be led by the Corporate and Foundations Officer and Development Director 
• Work closely with all departments on project planning, grant deliverables, and project evaluation
• Support additional development projects and activities as requested

Qualifications and Experience:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. We’ll honor your lived and professional experience as key aspects of your candidacy for the role and prioritize applicants with experience dismantling the structural inequities that disproportionately impact children and families with traditionally marginalized identities. We are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below: 

• Commitment to increasing equity in opportunity and outcomes for children and to recognizing factors known to significantly impact differential outcomes for children, including race, ethnicity, language, and socio-economic status
• 2-5 years of grant writing experience, preferably with foundations and corporations
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with colleagues and partners
• Research, writing, and proofreading skills with consistent attention to detail, and/or a willingness to grow and develop these skills
• Analytical skills and use of data to drive decision-making and to build consensus/support
• Organizational skills and ability to create systems to manage multiple projects
• Experience creating effective external communications to partners and supporters
• Self-motivated and organized independent worker who functions effectively in a virtual work environment while being an enthusiastic, collaborative team member committed to shared success
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt flexibly within a growing organization
• Experience with Salesforce or similar donor management software is a plus. Experience with graphic design or email marketing is a plus

Position Specifications:

This is a full-time, exempt position. The Grant Specialist will work from a home-based office. All employees of Reach Out and Read Northeast must live in the Northeast Region- ME, VT, NH, Upstate NY, MA, and CT. Occasional travel and attendance at three to five in person meetings per year is required.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $65,000-$70,000 and is commensurate with experience. ROR offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with match, paid time off, and more. 

Making the Decision to Apply:

To apply to this position, please prepare a resume and cover letter and apply through the application portal run by our recruitment partners at Positively Partners. Promising candidates can expect an initial phone interview with the Positively Partners team, followed by a video interview with members of ROR Northeast’s Development Team. Finalists will be asked to participate in a longer form video interview including an opportunity to share a sample of their previous grant writing work. Our expectation is that a hire will be made in June 2024 and a start date set soon thereafter. For confidential inquiries or for assistance in completing the application, please contact search@positivelypartners.org. 

Commitment to Diversity:

Reach Out and Read is committed to building an organization that embraces diversity, pursues equity, and fosters an environment of inclusion. ROR sits at the intersection of health and education, uniquely positioned to play a critical role in addressing systemic disparities and inequities in the public health framework. ROR strives to be an antiracist organization, using its influence to fight against social injustice by supporting a culture of learning, empowerment, equity, and a deep appreciation for the unique experiences that we each bring to our communities. And, we believe that changing the world begins with holding ourselves and our workplace to that same standard. 

About Reach Out and Read:

Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read is a national non-profit organization working to ensure all families have the opportunity to create meaningful everyday moments through shared reading aloud and building relationships. By leveraging pediatric care to champion the positive effects of reading daily and distributing books, Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success and reaches 4.4 million children across the county – half of whom identify as BIPOC and two-thirds of whom come from low-income families. 

Reach Out and Read’s tens of thousands of trained pediatric providers use books as a diagnostic tool during regular check-ups, and teach parents how to engage their child with a book to promote positive parent-child interactions during the rapid brain growth between birth and age five. The daily practice of reading aloud with a parent supports children’s literacy and math skill development, their social-emotional development, and prepares them for future success in school. Working together with our sites and providers, we leverage our three decades of expertise, build on our literacy foundations, and engage our shared networks as a catalyst for change, focusing on equitably strengthening and deepening our impact on the children, families, and communities we serve.

The Impact:

• Reach Out and Read program sites are located in 6,200 clinics, safety net hospitals, medical systems, and other healthcare settings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Reach Out and Read serves 4.4 million children and their families annually.
• More than 7.1 million new, developmentally appropriate books are integrated into well-child visits with families annually.
• 36,000 clinicians currently participate in Reach Out and Read.
• Our peer-reviewed body of evidence demonstrates that Reach Out and Read parents are two-and-a-half times more likely to read regularly to their children, and that children experiencing Reach Out and Read show enhanced language development.

To learn more about Reach Out and Read, visit www.reachoutandread.org. 

ROR is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Reach Out and Read is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Reach Out and Read is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team. If specific accommodations are needed, please email HR @ reachoutandread.org and our HR team will work to accommodate your needs.