Grants and Development Coordinator

The ASHA represents one of the world’s largest Indigenous-led forest conservation and stewardship initiatives. Led by leadership of Indigenous nations whose territories comprise the majority of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters bioregion, this alliance is uniquely positioned to deliver significant results: protecting the headwaters of the Amazon River Basin across Ecuador and Peru, while catalyzing ecological transitions at the level of the two countries. Following a 3.5-year participatory process with the Indigenous organizations and key allies, the alliance elaborated a Bioregional Plan 2030 offering a ‘living’ blueprint and a model for the ecological and economic transition towards permanently protecting this living bioregion. The Alliance is carrying out fundraising, communication, and advocacy strategies at a national and global level to capitalize support and generate funding for implementing the Bioregional Plan.

Position Overview

To implement the bioregional plan, support Indigenous Peoples's organizational strengthening, and catalyze the bioeconomy in the region, the alliance is seeking a skilled Grant and Development Coordinator to support the fundraising team. The Grant and Development Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the timely preparation of compelling fundraising proposals and engaging, well-written reports. This is a long-term full-time contract position with the potential to grow into a full-time staff position as the Alliance grows.

Reporting to the Lead of Fundraising and working closely with the Donor Relationship Manager, the Grant and Development Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the growth and consolidation of funding. This includes supporting area planning and design and researching prospective funders. The position will require tracking and processing donations through a built project management platform.

The Foundation’s Grant and Development Coordinator will coordinate with key staff members and partner organizations to gather information and proposal ideas from the field. The Grant and Development Coordinator will also play a key role in compiling updates on the Foundation’s working areas for internal and external reporting, including the results of our work and strategic plans.

The successful candidate will be able to craft funding proposals and reports clearly and compellingly primarily in English. Excellent writing, analytical, and research skills are essential. Working proficiency in both Spanish and English is required. Candidates must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and highly organized, and have experience using online databases and other sources to locate biographical, financial, and philanthropic information.

Responsibilities:

• Learn the history, structure, objectives, programs, and financial needs of ASHA;
• Assist in the development of ASHA’s annual fundraising work plan, strategies, and goals;
• Analyze RFPs and lead a process starting from evaluating RFPs under consideration all the way to
• grant submission;
• Manage an updated grants calendar including internal and external deadlines;
• Coordinate the preparation of high-quality grant proposals, budgets, and reports in close
• consultation with key ASHA teams and Indigenous member organizations, in case needed, and to ensure the documents are well aligned with grant selection criteria and grant agreement requirements;
• Work with financial staff to create quality budgets and financial reports and update the schedule of projected grants;
• Support the development of material to engage donors such as mid-term and year-end reports of our activities and achievements, donor webinars, and events;
• Collaborate with communications and program teams and occasionally with external consultants and advisors to develop donor communications, including letters of inquiry, donor information packets, updates, and brochures with the intent to retain or upgrade gifts when possible;
• Generate materials, brochures, leaflets, presentations, and other resources related to ASHA projects and initiatives to present to donors and key stakeholders
• Maintain up to date information system that includes organized grant files as well as the status and timelines of grants due or received (currently using ASANA);
• Constantly strive to improve both the quality of our proposals as well as our processes; ensure that the learning from our program monitoring and evaluation system is integrated into the redesign process of future initiatives;
• Participate in ASHA’s in the design of strategies, processes, and methodologies for our ongoing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System;
• Maintain confidentiality of information related to donors and funding partners and follow the code of ethical standards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; and
• Support the coordination and engagement with donors through in-person or online meetings, donor briefings, and fundraising events.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in English, Journalism, Media, Public Administration or related field
• 4 - 6 years of experience in producing grant proposals and reports, with a track record of successful
• grant submissions, OR comparable advocacy writing experience in a professional setting;
• Proficiency in foundation fundraising research and in creating income projections;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
• Excellent organizational and project management skills;
• Experience using online databases and CRM systems;
• Experience and skills in maintaining effective donor relations;
• Highly attuned interpersonal skills and experience working constructively across teams;
• Strong time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities on short deadlines;
• Highly attuned intercultural skills and experience working effectively with grassroots organizations,
• prominent Indigenous leaders, and civil society partner organizations.

Language:

• Professional working proficiency in English is required; being a native English speaker is considered an asset.
• Ability to work effectively in a Spanish-speaking environment.