Development and Grants Manager

Status: Full-time

Location: Hybrid, four days remote, one day (Tuesday) in the Oakland office. Applicants must live in or be willing to relocate to the Bay Area.

Organization

California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy is a nonpartisan policy and research organization focused on identifying solutions to the state’s most critical challenges at the intersection of higher education, equity, and the economy. Established in 2011, our mission is to help transform the state's higher education system into an engine of economic opportunity that empowers all Californians, particularly those from underserved communities, to achieve their full potential. California Competes benefits from the expertise of our highly respected, bipartisan Board of Directors, which comprises current and former public officials, business executives, and community leaders from across the state.

Our diverse staff brings decades of experience in higher education and public policy. We work statewide and travel across the country to research and advocate for a higher education system that provides opportunities for all Californians. For more information, please visit californiacompetes.org.

Position

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Development and Grants Manager is an integral role in advancing California Competes’s impact by composing and project managing grant writing and other donor communications, providing excellent support and thought partnership to the CEO, pro-actively maintaining robust development systems to administer and track fundraising efforts. The Manager is responsible for all aspects of grant management, including drafting proposals, reports, and funder communications; tracking grant deadlines; researching funder prospects; ensuring compliance with grant requirements; working with partner organizations on joint fundraising efforts; and preparing the CEO for funder engagements. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess excellent communication (particularly writing) skills.

Responsibilities

Grant & Fundraising Management (~60%)

• Collaborate with the CEO and COO to set annual fundraising goals and development plan in alignment with organizational priorities and strategic vision
• From start to finish, manage and lead the drafting of grant proposals and reports for current and prospective funders, including working with staff leads to provide content when necessary
• Work with the COO to develop grant financials for proposals and reports, and track fundraising metrics
• Manage funder tracking tools and systems to keep them up to date and accurate
• Manage and lead donor acknowledgment process, including tracking contact records and preparing tax letters
• Manage calendar of grant proposals and reporting deadlines; build tools and systems to ensure timely and streamlined submission of all requests and requirements

Donor Cultivation and Communications (~30%)

• Provide support to the CEO around donor cultivation and retention, including meeting prep, follow-up, and drafting communications to current and potential donors
• Keep funders engaged by developing or strengthening avenues for regular communication and updates
• Work with the Chief of Staff and Communications Director to link development efforts to programming, including collaborating about the timing of outreach, messaging, etc., and support content development
• Work with the CEO and COO to expand the portfolio of funders and donors to the organization, including prospect research and identifying new fundraising strategies

Other (~10%)

• Manage event sponsorship efforts, including developing requests, determining benefits, drafting request letters, and managing follow-up and benefit fulfillment
• Facilitate board and other individual giving annual solicitations, gift receipts, and gift tracking

Skills and Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent in education and experience
• A minimum of 4-7 years of experience in development, grant management, fundraising, marketing, or communications roles, or other writing-intensive roles requiring managing projects with multiple contributors
• Strong project management skills and the ability to stay on top of multiple deadlines and deliverables
• Excellent communication, particularly writing, skills with the ability to craft clear, concise, and compelling narratives
• Passion for advancing equity and improving life outcomes for marginalized Californians
• Excellent organization and prioritization skills
• Keen attention to detail and ability to ensure accuracy and rigor to the highest standards
• Creative and strategic thinker
• Recognizes ways that race and ethnicity, gender, and other identities intersect in postsecondary access and success
• Understands the historical context for racial inequity and its present-day implications, and is driven to make creative and concrete changes through advancing systemic change through strategic communications
• Growth mindset and commitment to demonstrating results and gathering feedback to inform experimentation, iteration, and improvement
• Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate needs, prioritize, and juggle multiple projects at once

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with philanthropic foundations
• Understanding of California’s higher education and workforce development landscape
• Experience with donor communications
• Master’s degree in a relevant field

Compensation

• Hiring salary range: $88,570-104,200, depending on experience
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) plan with employer match after 90 days
• A minimum of 10 vacation days (increases with time at organization), plus 14 company-observed holidays and two floating holidays, sick leave, and winter office closure.
• Exempt full-time position

Application Process

To apply, please fill out the application using BambooHR and include a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample. Priority review of applications will begin on Monday, May 18, 2026. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

If you have any questions, please contact careers@californiacompetes.org.

California Competes is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) plan with employer match after 90 days
• A minimum of 10 vacation days (increases with time at organization), plus 14 company-observed holidays and two floating holidays, sick leave, and winter office closure.
• Exempt full-time position