Volunteer Candid & Grant Research Specialist

Company Description

The Animal Cause, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Christian animal-welfare organization dedicated to saving shelter animals and supporting efforts to reduce shelter overpopulation. The organization partners with and supports other groups through volunteer, transport, rescue, consulting, visibility, and foster-partnership services, with a focus on strengthening and reforming animal-welfare systems.

By uniting animal advocates, developing collaborative resources, engaging in public and social initiatives, and increasing awareness, The Animal Cause works to create lasting change for animals nationwide.

The organization is entirely volunteer-based. Its work is supported through donations, grants, fundraising, and in-kind assistance, and no organizational representatives currently receive a salary.

Applicants may learn more at www.animalcause.org or contact info@animalcause.org.

Role Description

The Animal Cause is seeking an experienced Volunteer Candid & Grant Research Specialist to strengthen the organization’s grant-research systems and identify well-aligned funding opportunities.

This remote volunteer will help evaluate and maintain our presence within Candid, research prospective funders, assess grant eligibility, and develop a qualified funding pipeline supporting our national animal-welfare mission and current Texas-based pilot work.

The role is research- and systems-focused. The specialist will distinguish realistic opportunities from poor-fit leads, document findings in the organization’s grant master tracker, and provide leadership with concise recommendations for which opportunities deserve further development.

This is not primarily a grant-writing position. Applicants with grant-writing experience are welcome, but the immediate need is for rigorous prospect research, funder analysis, Candid expertise, and accurate pipeline management.

What You Will Do

• Audit The Animal Cause’s current Candid nonprofit profile.
• Review the organization’s profile completeness, accuracy, public presentation, and Seal of Transparency status.
• Recommend and help implement profile improvements using authorized organizational information.
• Use Candid Search and other reputable grant-research sources to identify prospective funders.
• Research private foundations, community foundations, corporate giving programs, government opportunities, and appropriate in-kind resources.
• Identify opportunities related to:
  • animal welfare;
  • shelter support and animal visibility;
  • animal transport;
  • veterinary and preventative care;
  • foster and adoption initiatives;
  • volunteer infrastructure;
  • technology and capacity building;
  • vehicles, equipment, facilities, and land;
  • women founders, women executives, and women-led organizations;
  • community resilience and emergency animal response.
• Analyze each prospect’s:
  • eligibility requirements;
  • geographic priorities;
  • funding interests;
  • typical grant amounts;
  • prior grantees;
  • application cycles;
  • deadlines;
  • restrictions;
  • required documents;
  • contact and relationship-building opportunities.
• Review funder websites, Form 990 filings, grant histories, guidelines, and requests for proposals.
• Record qualified opportunities in the organization’s grant master spreadsheet.
• Assign recommended priority levels based on eligibility, mission alignment, timing, effort, and probability of success.
• Prepare concise prospect summaries for leadership review.
• Track recurring funding cycles and anticipated future openings.
• Flag opportunities requiring partnerships, matching funds, audited financials, operating history, transportation history, land ownership, or other prerequisites.
• Remove or clearly label opportunities for which the organization does not currently qualify.
• Maintain accurate source links, deadlines, notes, and follow-up dates.
• Document research methods and processes so the system remains usable by future volunteers.
• Protect confidential organizational information and account credentials.
• Submit no inquiry, letter of intent, profile change, or grant application without authorization.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience using Candid, Candid Search, Foundation Directory, GuideStar, or comparable nonprofit research tools.
• Experience researching grants and institutional funding opportunities.
• Ability to determine whether an organization genuinely meets stated eligibility requirements.
• Ability to research foundations through grant histories, Form 990 filings, prior recipients, and published guidelines.
• Strong analytical judgment and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Google Sheets or comparable spreadsheet tools.
• Ability to maintain an organized grant pipeline and accurate research records.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Ability to summarize complex requirements clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work independently while following organizational approval procedures.
• Professionalism and discretion when handling organizational records and account information.
• Interest in animal welfare and alignment with the mission and values of The Animal Cause.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous nonprofit development, prospect-research, or institutional-fundraising experience.
• Experience maintaining or improving a Candid nonprofit profile.
• Experience obtaining or maintaining a Candid Seal of Transparency.
• Relevant Candid training or coursework.
• Experience interpreting nonprofit Form 990 filings.
• Experience researching animal-welfare, capacity-building, transportation, land, capital, or women-led organization funding.
• Grant-writing or letter-of-inquiry experience.
• Professional fundraising or grant credentials are welcomed but not required.

Volunteer Eligibility and Conditions

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
• Applicants must be located within the United States.
• Consistent weekly availability and reliable communication are required.
• This is an unpaid volunteer position.
• Volunteers must complete the organization’s required screening, agreements, confidentiality documentation, and onboarding process.
• Access to accounts and confidential records will be limited according to the volunteer’s assignment and level of authorization.
• Volunteers may not publicly represent The Animal Cause or communicate with funders on its behalf without written authorization.

Mandatory-service-hours policy

This opportunity is not available for court-ordered, probation- or parole-related, diversion-program, judgment-related, school-required, employer-required, or otherwise mandated community-service hours.

The Animal Cause does not monitor, certify, verify, report, or provide documentation for compelled service-hour requirements.