Grants Specialist

Title: Grants Specialist

Reports to: Director of Development

Salary range: $50,000-$60,000

Organizational Summary: Palenque LSNA is a catalyst for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities and allies to take care of one another and take strategic action for systemic change and a just, resilient, and joyful future. Our tagline is: Liberating Spaces through Neighborhood Action. Palenque LSNA (formerly known as Logan Square Neighborhood Association) is a community-based organization building power for education, immigration, and housing equity, particularly in the Avondale, Hermosa, and Logan Square neighborhoods of Chicago, and leads and collaborates with coalitions for policy change across the city and state.

Palenque LSNA is a woman of color led organization that centers the voices and experiences of the primarily Latinx, indigenous, and immigrant leaders who guide our work. We channel our power and energy through Palenque. Historically, Palenque is an example of Black, Brown, and Indigenous resistance and solidarity—spaces where radical liberation could both exist and thrive. Palenque describes a spirit of resistance, solidarity, and self-reflection, intentionally centering Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.

Position: The Grants and Development Manager partners with Palenque LSNA’s Director of Development and Individual and Communications Manager in developing and implementing Palenque LSNA’s fundraising and communications efforts. The Grants and Development Manager is responsible for writing and submitting grant proposals to public and private external funding agencies and organizations. The Manager will take the lead on government grant writing and will support the Director of Development with renewals of private grants.

Key Responsibilities

• Write and manage all government grants. Collaborate with program leads or other key staff to filter funding opportunities and ensure alignment with organizational and programmatic priorities; lead and facilitate content creation; submit applications by the deadline as instructed.
• Write and manage private institutional grant renewals, including managing site visits and funder relationships. Possibility for portfolio growth in the future.
• Maintain and develop current knowledge in the field of development, particularly emerging trends in public and private sector grants.
• Develop relationships with contacts for potential funding opportunities as appropriate.
• Develop expertise in communicating Palenque LSNA’s programs, campaigns, and issues areas effectively and persuasively to a variety of audiences.
• Take lead on interfacing with finance/operations team to ensure operational items are regularly updated (Certificate of Insurance, SAM registration, ICQ, etc.)
• Maintain library of grant support documents, including resumes, bios, board/staff diversity lists, board and staff lists, etc.
• Organize and prepare attachments for proposals and support online systems interfaces.

Education, Experience, Qualifications:

• Minimum 3-5 years of fundraising experience, particularly in grant writing, ideally in grassroots, social justice organizations.
• Ability to persuasively articulate passion for Palenque LSNA’s mission and values.
• Excellent computer skills. Expertise/experience in MS Word and Excel, Google Drive, and Adobe. Experience with CRMs a plus.
• Excellent project management skills. Capacity to see the “big picture” while also being goal-oriented and detailed. High level of initiative and ability to work independently, while also collaborating with a small, close-knit team.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement complex plans; follow-through.
• Adept at building relationships; strong interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice.
• Spanish speaker a plus.

Benefits: Paid time off for sick, personal, holidays, and annual vacations. Palenque LSNA covers 80% of health benefits and offers a 401(k) plan. Palenque LSNA offers paid days off during the last 2 weeks of December through the beginning of January. Flexible work environment, including a hybrid schedule.

To apply: Please send materials to Lisette Arzuaga, Director of Development, at larzuaga@paleqnuelsna.org by Friday, November 28. Please include cover letter, resume, and writing sample. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Position will be filled as soon as possible with a start date in early January 2026.

Paid time off for sick, personal, holidays, and annual vacations. Palenque LSNA covers 80% of health benefits and offers a 401(k) plan. Palenque LSNA offers paid days off during the last 2 weeks of December through the beginning of January. Flexible work environment, including a hybrid schedule.