Grants Manager

About Mobile Care Chicago

Currently in its 24th year of service, Mobile Care Chicago (MCC) is a non-profit organization which operates mobile medical clinics. These mobile clinics travel into underserved, often disinvested communities in order to provide no-cost diagnosis, medical care, and education to children, young adults and, in some programs, the adult population. Through six mobile clinics (Mobile Medical, Asthma/Allergy, Comprehensive Dental, and Opioid Recovery & Harm Reduction), MCC currently provides health care to over 850 patients each month.

Position Summary

The Grants Manager is responsible for maintaining and growing the organization’s foundation and corporate partners. This role oversees all proposals submitted to grantmaking bodies, ensures timely narrative and financial reports, and works directly with program staff to recognize and support the expansions and innovations in Mobile Care Chicago’s programming. Along with the Director of Development & Communications and the Executive Director, the Grants Manager helps the organization raise over $2,500,000 annually. The individual in this role has regular communication with all of Mobile Care Chicago’s programs, and serves as an external liaison to a network of people eager to create lasting, positive change for people in the Chicagoland area.

Goals of the Position

• Create and lead grantmaking strategy, prioritizing organizational storytelling through collaboration with program staff, the development team, and external partners
• Maintain consistent, well-polished argumentation, narratives, and presentation of program/clinical work that supports the core values, mission, and vision of the organization
• Keep MCC’s grant tracker up to date, and submit materials well in advance of deadlines
• Create ways for like-minded individuals to build relationships with people in the organization, and to engage in the growth of the organization through financial or other means
• Develop and follow consistent workflows for management of grants written by junior staff or external stakeholders, as well as mechanisms to receive programmatic data at regular intervals
• Ensure that all people looking to interface with MCC, including potential external partners, have a positive experience, and that the passions and motivations of people are accommodated into the organization’s communications and fundraising strategy

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Director of Development & Communications and Executive Director to develop and implement the organization’s strategy for grantmaking organizations. This includes all proposal and report writing, prospecting new foundation and corporate partners, as well as cultivation and stewardship of foundation and corporate partners
• Submit timely reimbursement requests to government agencies, including narrative and financial reports
• Works closely with Mobile Care Chicago’s Program Staff to convey the importance of clinical work, progression toward program goals, and overall impact of clinical care on the health and wellness of patients and their families
• Coordinates and oversees data collection toward grant outputs, outcomes, and overall goals
• Establishes and maintains the organization’s grant tracker as well as all grant and MOU files
• Coordinates the efforts of any contracted individuals or fundraising staff who are working on grant proposals
• Works with the Director of Development and Communications to write copy for the organization’s Annual Report, regular solicitations, the organization’s website, and other writing duties as assigned
• Represents Mobile Care Chicago in meetings with various stakeholders
• Assists the Development Department in its fundraising efforts

Mobile Care Chicago’s team emphasizes skills development in a variety of contexts, so the successful candidate will have a natural curiosity and a motivation to have a hand in a range of assignments. Grant proposals are meticulously constructed, so the successful candidate will need to be a strong editor able to craft language free from errors and ambiguities. Because this position will interface directly with patients and donors, the successful candidate will need to be a capable communicator – good at listening and comfortable meeting new people.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience writing grants
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to anticipate deadlines and coordinate multiple efforts well in advance of deadline
• A college degree in the humanities and/or relevant experience communications or storytelling
• Highly developed interpersonal and presentation skills
• Strong project management skills - demonstrated ability to juggle priorities and meet deadlines
• Friendliness and a good sense of humor
• An automobile and valid Driver’s License
• Must be vaccinated against COVID-19
• Most importantly, a commitment to bettering the lives of others

Qualifications Preferred, But Not Required

• Native or long-time resident of Chicago or the surrounding area
• Fluency in Spanish
• Experience with health access issues or chronic disease management
• Background in creative writing
• Front-line experience in the service industry

Mobile Care Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a workplace free from discrimination. No one will be denied opportunities or benefits based on age, color, race, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political belief, or disability, either visible or invisible. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply

This position offers generous paid vacation, health, dental, and vision insurance, a collaborative and encouraging work environment, and the ability to positively impact the lives of children in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Mobile Care Chicago employees qualify for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) through the Department of Education.