Grants Researcher (Volunteer)

Grants Researcher (Volunteer)

PromiseFinance | Grants Research, Funding Intelligence & Prospect Development

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromiseFinance

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Type: Volunteer Specialist Role

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Reports To: Director of Grants & Institutional Giving

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a NYC-based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative opportunity, advocacy, housing innovation, and community-centered support.

Sustainable funding is essential to expanding programs, reaching more children and families, and advancing MAP's long-term mission.

Grant funding plays a critical role in helping MAP build capacity, launch new initiatives, strengthen existing programs, and create lasting impact throughout New York City and beyond.

About PromiseFinance

PromiseFinance is MAP's finance, grants, fundraising strategy, institutional giving, and organizational sustainability division.

The division helps secure and steward resources that support mission growth, program expansion, innovation, and long-term financial sustainability.

Role Overview

The Grants Researcher serves as a key member of MAP's grants and institutional giving team, helping identify, evaluate, and track funding opportunities from government agencies, foundations, corporations, and philanthropic organizations.

This role is responsible for researching prospective grant opportunities, assessing organizational fit, maintaining funding intelligence systems, and supporting strategic grant development efforts.

The Grants Researcher helps ensure that MAP pursues opportunities that align with its mission, programs, capacity, and strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Prospect Research

• Identify public and private funding opportunities aligned with MAP's mission
• Research government grants at the local, state, and federal levels
• Research foundation, corporate, and philanthropic funding opportunities
• Monitor grant databases, funding announcements, and philanthropic trends
• Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective funding opportunities

Opportunity Analysis

• Review grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, and funding priorities
• Assess organizational fit and competitiveness
• Evaluate funding limits, match requirements, and reporting obligations
• Identify strategic opportunities for program growth and innovation
• Provide recommendations regarding grant pursuit decisions

Grants Intelligence & Funding Strategy

• Support development of grant prospecting strategies
• Track emerging funding opportunities and sector trends
• Research funder interests, priorities, and giving histories
• Help identify opportunities for long-term funder relationships
• Support institutional fundraising planning efforts

Database Management & Tracking

• Maintain grant prospect databases and tracking systems
• Track deadlines, reporting requirements, and submission schedules
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of funding records
• Update grant calendars and opportunity pipelines
• Maintain organized funding intelligence documentation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with program, finance, development, and leadership teams
• Gather information needed to assess funding opportunities
• Support grant planning discussions and funding recommendations
• Assist in preparing prospect summaries and briefing materials
• Contribute to organizational fundraising initiatives

Reporting & Recommendations

• Prepare grant research reports and prospect profiles
• Present funding recommendations to leadership
• Support strategic decision-making through research and analysis
• Monitor funding trends and provide ongoing insights
• Help strengthen MAP's institutional fundraising efforts

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in grant research, fundraising, nonprofit development, prospect research, public policy research, philanthropy, or related fields
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills
• Experience working with databases, spreadsheets, or tracking systems
• Ability to analyze complex funding guidelines and requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Passion for nonprofit impact and mission-driven work

Why This Role Matters

Every grant begins with a well-researched opportunity.

The Grants Researcher helps ensure that MAP focuses its time and resources on funding opportunities that have the greatest potential to support children and families experiencing housing instability.

By identifying and evaluating strategic funding opportunities, this role helps create the foundation for future growth, innovation, and impact.

Success Measures

• Number of qualified grant opportunities identified
• Quality and accuracy of prospect research
• Growth of MAP's funding opportunity pipeline
• Timeliness of grant tracking and deadline management
• Strategic alignment of identified opportunities
• Support provided to grant development efforts
• Contribution to organizational fundraising success

Volunteer Expectations

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment
• Maintain timely and professional communication
• Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
• Support MAP's mission, confidentiality requirements, and organizational values
• Participate in fundraising and grants planning meetings as needed

What You'll Gain

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising and institutional giving
• Opportunity to support mission-driven growth and sustainability
• Collaboration with fundraising, finance, program, and executive leaders
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful impact supporting children and families experiencing housing instability

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume and cover letter.

Please highlight experience involving grant research, fundraising, prospect research, nonprofit development, philanthropy, public policy, financial analysis, or related fields.

Help identify the opportunities that make greater impact possible for children and families across Mentor A Promise.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.