Grant Lifecycle Management & Data Analyst

Department: Finance & Operations

Reports To: Executive Director of Finance & Operations

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid)

Salary: Starting at $55,000- $60,000 annually

About NAMI Illinois

NAMI Illinois is the state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Through advocacy, education, support, public awareness, and partnerships with affiliates across Illinois, NAMI Illinois works to build better lives and stronger communities.

We are seeking a highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented Grant Lifecycle Management &Data Analyst to support the financial and operational management of our growing portfolio of government and private grants. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, budgets, financial reporting, and compliance while helping ensure that grant-funded programs make a meaningful impact throughout Illinois.

Position Summary

The Grant Lifecycle Management & Data Analyst plays a key role in supporting NAMI Illinois' financial stewardship and grant compliance by monitoring grant expenditures, analyzing financial data, preparing reports and dashboards, and ensuring timely, accurate grant reporting.

Working closely with the Executive Director of Finance & Operations and program leadership, this position helps ensure grant funds are managed responsibly and in compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements.

The ideal candidate enjoys applied work with budgets and grant-tracking tools, solving problems, organizing complex information, building reports, and translating financial and program data into meaningful insights to support grant reporting and informed decision-making.

Essential Responsibilities

Grant Financial Management

• • Monitor post-award grant expenditures to ensure compliance with approved grant budgets and funding requirements.
  • Track grant spending, remaining balances, encumbrances, and budget modifications.
  • Review grant expenditures for allowability, allocability, and compliance with organizational policies and funding guidelines.
  • Assist with monthly grant reconciliations and financial close processes.
  • Prepare financial reports for government agencies, foundations, and other funding partners.
  • Support grant audits and monitoring visits by organizing required documentation.
  • Maintain grant files, financial records, award documentation, and reporting schedules.
  • Assist with grant budget development, forecasting, and budget revisions.
  • Support staff members with monthly credit card reconciliations and reimbursement claims. Monthly updates to the organizational standard expense forms
  • Support grantors, vendors, and contractors with invoice requests and payments.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• • Prepare recurring financial reports for leadership and funders.
  • Develop dashboards, charts, graphs, and visual reports that communicate organizational and grant performance.
  • Support preparation of internal management reports and Board financial reporting materials.
  • Produce ad hoc financial analyses as requested.

Data Management & Analytics

• • Collect, validate, and analyze financial and programmatic data from multiple internal and external sources.
  • Ensure data accuracy, integrity, and consistency across reporting systems.
  • Design, update, and maintain reporting tools using Excel and other reporting platforms.
  • Generate meaningful metrics and performance indicators that support organizational planning.
  • Assist with continuous improvement of data collection and reporting processes.
  • Create visual presentations that communicate organizational impact to leadership and funders.

Financial Operations Support

• • Oversee the accurate, efficient, and compliant workflow of transactional financial processes across departments.
  • Review reimbursement requests, expense reports, and exception forms requiring additional analysis or approval.
  • Assist with purchasing, procurement documentation, and grant allocation coding.
  • Support month-end and year-end financial reporting activities.
  • Collaborate with program leaders to monitor spending against approved budgets.
  • Maintain financial documentation in accordance with organizational record retention policies.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• • Ensure compliance with federal regulations, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), state grant requirements, and organizational policies.
  • Assist in maintaining internal controls related to grant management and financial reporting.
  • Recommend improvements to financial processes and reporting efficiencies.
  • Maintain confidentiality of sensitive financial and personnel information.
  • Support implementation of financial policies and standard operating procedures.

Qualifications

Required

• • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Data Analytics, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
  • One to three (1–3) years of professional experience in grant administration, grant financial management, accounting, nonprofit finance, budgeting, or financial reporting.
  • Experience monitoring grant expenditures and preparing financial reports.
  • Strong analytical and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, formulas, charts, and data analysis.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and strict deadlines with minimal supervision.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.

Preferred

• • Experience working with government grants.
  • Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles.
  • Familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
  • Experience with QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, or similar accounting software.
  • Experience using reporting or data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI.
  • Experience with grants management or CRM platforms.
  • Understanding of nonprofit financial compliance and budgeting.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• • Strong analytical and quantitative reasoning.
  • Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to interpret data and communicate findings clearly.
  • Ability to build reports, dashboards, and visual presentations.
  • High level of integrity and professionalism.
  • Excellent collaboration skills with cross-functional teams. Agility and Adaptivity.
  • Ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
  • Commitment to accuracy, quality, and continuous improvement.
  • Passion for supporting a mission-driven nonprofit organization.

Working Conditions

This position is based in NAMI Illinois' downtown Chicago office and follows a flexible hybrid office/remote work model.

Specific schedules are established in consultation with each employee based on organizational needs, job responsibilities, supervisory requirements, HR policies, and individual circumstances.

Occasional travel throughout Illinois is required for meetings, trainings, conferences, and organizational events. Approved business expenses are reimbursed in accordance with NAMI Illinois policies, including mileage reimbursement at the current federal rate.

Why Join NAMI Illinois?

At NAMI Illinois, your work directly strengthens mental health services, education, advocacy, and support programs that reach individuals, families, and communities across the state. As part of a collaborative and mission-driven team, you will help ensure responsible stewardship of public and private funding while contributing to initiatives that improve the lives of thousands of Illinois residents living with mental health conditions.

NAMI Illinois is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Employees are eligible for salary increases and promotional opportunities after one year of successful employment, based on individual performance and the availability of agency resources and needs.

NAMI Illinois offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• • Medical insurance (PPO, HSA, or HMO options)
  • Dental and Vision insurance
  • Employer-paid Short-Term Disability
  • Employer-paid Long-Term Disability
  • Employer-paid Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Health insurance coverage beginning the first day of the month following 30 days of employment, with coverage available for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with a 4% employer match after four months of employment
  • Eleven (11) paid holidays annually
  • Paid Time Off (PTO):
  • 15 days during the first year of employment
  • 20 days beginning in the second year
  • 30 days thereafter
  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Hybrid work environment that supports collaboration and work-life balance