Development Manager & Grants Writer (Remote)

Full-Time, Remote, Exempt Position

Start date: Position will be open until filled

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Advancement

THE ORGANIZATION

MISSION

As You Sow seeks to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.

VISION

Our vision is a safe, just, and sustainable world in which protecting the environment and human rights is central to corporate decision-making.

OVERVIEW

As You Sow is a Berkeley-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1992.  We believe that the path to a safe, just, and sustainable world for all can be achieved by moving corporations to take greater responsibility for the impacts of their environmental, social, and governance policies and practices. We achieve this goal through direct engagement with corporate management, formal shareholder resolutions, original research and scorecards, and legal action. Our work spans climate change, energy, and fossil finance; biodiversity loss; ocean plastics and the circular economy; pesticides and regenerative agriculture; antibiotics and factory farms; racial justice and workplace equity; and enabling alignment of investing with values.

COMMITMENT TO DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)

As You Sow actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff in all areas of operations. As You Sow will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation.

THE POSITION

This is a full-time exempt position. Title, salary, and extent of responsibilities will depend on the candidate’s level of experience and competence.

The Development Manager & Grant Writer will work with the Senior Vice President of Advancement to write grant proposals and reports across five program areas, with the goal of maintaining and expanding this dynamic organization’s primary revenue source. The Manager will also track awarded grants status and data; research and identify prospects for new foundation funding; and conduct donor and funder communications. As You Sow writes between 40-50 foundation grant proposals every year, and the interim and final reports that follow grant awards. These run the gamut from specific, single-issue threads within initiatives to proposals for overall support of the organization, building on our theory of change. 

The three primary requirements for success in this role are the ability to write convincing and persuasive proposals and reports that clearly communicate deeply nuanced ideas; a love for and ability to create robust, compelling arguments and connect the dots for specific donors and audiences; and the ability to condense a narrative without losing or changing meaning. Equally important are the ability to think critically; absorb complex issues and details quickly; effectively juggle multiple topics and time-bound deliverables; communicate closely with program staff; and offer innovative solutions to roadblocks when they occur. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

GRANTS (85% - 90%)

Grant and Report Writing

• Write and submit compelling new grant proposals and renewal requests and subsequent grant reports tailored to each specific funder’s priorities, including working with program staff; writing, editing, and proofing grant proposals and reports; organizing supporting materials; and uploading complete applications to foundation online portals
• Write meaningful proposals that draw from and reflect As You Sow’s mission, values, and programs; highlight the organization’s progress, objectives, goals, and deliverables; and demonstrate a thorough understanding of how our theory of change functions in the real world
• Understand the organization’s mission and values and how that mission interacts with corporate incentives, policies, and practices

Grant Research and Management

• Stay on top of grant proposal, renewal request, and report due dates, ensuring program staff has sufficient time to review and edit proposals and reports where appropriate
• Research and identify new grant opportunities to support As You Sow’s organizational and program-specific funding needs
• Maintain an organized and up-to-date filing system of common documents required for grant submissions
• Update and maintain the organization’s Grants Pipeline documenting past, current, and prospective grants
• Ensure program staff is aware of grant deliverables and critical calendar milestones
• Schedule and participate in meetings and timely touch-bases with appropriate foundation staff
• Email foundation funders with particularly noteworthy mid-grant achievements and press

DEVELOPMENT WRITING (10% - 15%)

• Supervise/edit donor-centric monthly outreach emails
• Supervise/edit twice-yearly four-page hard copy Newsletters and once-yearly hard copy Annual Wrap-Up
• Write and/or supervise/edit other general-audience and donor-specific pieces as required, including power points
• Work with Communications Senior Director and executive staff to make sure donor-centricity is a major part of the organization’s public “voice”

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in grant writing or comparable writing activity
• Excellent writing skills. Ability to adjust tone and framing of material to resonate with different audiences
• Strong research skills, especially those related to understanding and communicating key points on specific program and initiative issues and to finding new prospective funders
• Three years or more of direct management experience
• Familiarity and comfort with the:
• Language and basics of corporations, including basic elements of shareholder, finance, and investing (specifically impact/ESG investing) issues
• Language and fundamentals of climate change and at least two other issue areas that As You Sow Ability to come up to speed quickly and write competently about additional issue areas. Deep interest in and familiarity with our issue areas is a major plus
• Advanced competence in Word
• Competence in Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong administrative skills
• Extreme attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal engagement and communication skills
• Organizational and time management skills
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to act independently, communicate frequently, and ask questions
• Demonstrated commitment to progressive social and environmental change
• Strong work ethic, self-motivation, and commitment to excellence
• Openness to learning from others and developing new professional and personal skills
• Sense of humor appreciated

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US

• Salary: $90,000 - $99,000
• Benefits: Health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; employee assistance program; 401(k) with 4% match; parental leave; phone/internet stipend; 18 holidays; two personal days; one volunteer day; nine sick days; and 10 vacation days in first year of employment, 15 vacation days the second year, and 20 vacation days the third year and beyond.
• A team that is passionate and fun
• A team with passion, fun, and dedication to helping create a better world
• A low-ego, high-performance culture and flexible work environment

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Please apply through our job site: https://asyousow.bamboohr.com/careers/68?source=aWQ9MjM%3D

Applications will be accepted until a great candidate is found. We thank all applicants for your interest.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

As You Sow is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization and is an equal opportunity employer. As You Sow makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs. As You Sow does not unlawfully discriminate on the of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, family care status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or identification, or any other basis protected by law. Women, People of Color, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information about As You Sow, go to: www.asyousow.org