Grants & Corporate Partnership Manager

Job #2025-00106

The King County Library System is seeking a Grants & Corporate Partnership Manager to drive strategic fundraising efforts for the KCLS Foundation by cultivating and securing grant funding and corporate support that align with the mission and priorities of the Foundation.

In this position, you will have the opportunity to:

• Develop and implement strategies to secure corporate grants and partnerships
• Research, identify, develop, write, and submit grant and sponsorship proposals, applications, and letters of inquiry for foundations, government, and corporations
• Manage the KCLS Foundation Advance and Agility grant application and grant-making processes

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with demonstrated experience with the grant lifecycle, securing corporate partnerships, and a commitment to the KCLS mission, vision, and values.

Applicants must attach a current resume and cover letter which addresses why they are interested in the position and how they meet the qualifications listed.

About King County Library System (KCLS):

KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.

KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.

Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email employment@kcls.org.

KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.

The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Develops and implements annual grant, corporate partnership, and solicitation strategies. Cultivates new funders and stewards existing private and corporate funders into long-term, established relationships.
• Researches, identifies, develops, writes, and submits grant and sponsorship proposals, applications, and letters of inquiry for foundations, government, and corporations.
• Creates and maintains templates, background data, grant and sponsorship language, and program profiles for use in grant applications.
• Manages the KCLS Foundation Advance and Agility grant application and grant-making processes. Serves as staff liaison to the KCLS Foundation Social Impact Committee to facilitate grant review and approval.
• Provides instruction, training, and resources for grants literacy and skill development for KCLS staff. Fosters productive working relationships to facilitate successful grant and sponsorship proposals and compliance with award requirements.
• Works with staff responsible for evaluation and metrics to ensure alignment with KCLS strategic goals, evaluation practices, and success measures.
• Ensures that grant and sponsorship materials reflect KCLS and KCLS Foundation activities and services in an accurate, compelling, and persuasive manner. Aligns communications with mission, strategic goals, policies, evaluation practices, and success measures.
• Prepares and provides progress reports on grant and sponsorship activity to KCLS Foundation Board of Directors, KCLS Leadership Team, internal departments, and external stakeholders. Submits progress reports and final reports to funders.
• Conducts ongoing prospect research, including opportunities specific to the library industry, ensuring efforts are aligned to KCLS mission, vision, and values.
• Provides strategic recommendations to the Foundation and KCLS leadership of potential areas of emphasis and growth for grant and corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Secondary Duties

1. Attends and actively participates on various employee and KCLSF Board committees.
2. Provides general event support.
3. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.

Organizational Competencies

• Valuing Diversity

Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably. Respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.

• Customer Focus

Primarily focused on customer needs. Able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.

• Ethics, Values and Judgement

Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct. Consistently demonstrates organizational values, moral principles, and accountability in behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.

• Professional and Technical Knowledge

Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas. Purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.

Job-Specific Competencies

• Communicates Effectively

Conveys ideas and information in a way that is clear, engaging, and suitable to the audience. Main point of their message is apparent. Listens more than they speak and responds appropriately. Seeks influence.

• Interpersonal Savvy

Relates well to all kinds of people at all levels, both internally and externally. Builds appropriate relationships. Interactions are often purposeful and constructive.

• Decision Quality

Makes decisions and solves problems. Can deal adeptly with varied levels of complexity, ambiguity, and risk. Takes responsibility and accepts ownership for decisions regardless of outcome. Responds promptly and appropriately in crisis situations.

• Drive for Results

Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Does not confuse effort with results. Gets the job done.

Education and Experience

The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in fundraising, including pre-and post-award grant experience, and securing significant corporate sponsorships and partnerships.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive knowledge of public sector and non-profit grant administration.
• Working knowledge of corporate funding landscape and practices.
• Knowledge of people-centered processes, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Working knowledge of strategic and inclusive communications best practices.
• Effective project design and management from inception through completion.
• Critical thinking and sound judgement.
• Leverage interpersonal skills and technical knowledge to bring people and ideas together aligned with organization goals. Gain trust and establish credibility with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Effective verbal, written, and active listening communication skills.
• Presentation and public speaking with diverse and varied groups.
• Responsive to demands in a proactive and effective manner.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

• A valid Washington State Driver’s License is required.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:

• Constantly sit throughout work shift and seldom stand and walk.
• Will frequently reach out at chest level with hands and arms, occasionally reach down to work at desk.
• Constantly use hands in conjunction with frequent finger use for keyboarding and 10 key.
• Rotate neck up to occasionally.
• Changing tasks depending upon the shift.
• Require extensive close work, including use of a computer monitor.
• Occasionally operate foot controls.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 lbs. and seldom lift and carry up to 35 lbs.
• Seldom push or pull carts and wheeled equipment with light force.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a typical office environment and in the community for engagement activities. Work schedule requires early morning, evening, and/or weekend meetings and activities. Occasional travel within the service area is required. Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.

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