Grants Manager

Grant & Project Manager

DREAM seeks a strategic, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Grant & Project Manager to help advance the organization's work to close the opportunity gap for children and teens through deep community collaboration and sustained mentoring relationships. This role combines grant management, development support, and project management to secure institutional funding, strengthen accountability, and ensure development priorities move forward in a coordinated and timely way.

As DREAM continues to grow, this role will play a key part in coordinating across regions and chapters to identify and map new funding opportunities, establish targets based on market availability, and support the rollout of new grant strategies organization-wide. The Grant & Project Manager serves as a key cross-functional partner across development, finance, programs, evaluation, and leadership — supporting coordination across teams in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and other operating locations.

DREAM is a flexible, mission-driven workplace that values autonomy and trust. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their work and thrives in an environment where initiative is recognized and rewarded. This is a role for someone who is energized by meaningful work, comfortable navigating a growing organization, and ready to make a real impact.

Grant Strategy & Writing

• Identify & Pursue Funding:
  Research and pursue foundation, corporate, government, and institutional funding opportunities aligned with DREAM's mission and strategic priorities.
• Proposal Development:
  Write, edit, and coordinate compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, applications, and reports.
• Pipeline Management:
  Manage a pipeline of prospective and current grants to support annual revenue goals and long-term planning.
• Funder Relationships:
  Build and maintain proactive relationships with prospective and current institutional funders, tracking relationship history and next engagement steps.
• Development Support:
  Contribute written content and coordination support for campaigns, donor communications, and fundraising initiatives as assigned.

Grant Management, Compliance & Operations

• Lifecycle Management:
  Manage all phases of the grant lifecycle — pre-award planning, submission, post-award tracking, reporting, and closeout.
• Compliance:
  Ensure compliance with applicable grant terms and conditions, including foundation, corporate, state, and federal requirements.
• Systems Ownership:
  Own and continuously improve grant operations systems, calendars, templates, and submission protocols. Standardize pre- and post-award handoff processes.
• Finance Coordination:
  Maintain visibility into restricted funding requirements in coordination with finance, including budget monitoring and spending status.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Project Leadership:
  Lead planning and coordination for development and grant-related projects from initiation through completion, including timelines, workplans, and accountability tools.
• Cross-Functional Teams:
  Coordinate teams across development, finance, programs, evaluation, and leadership. Facilitate meetings, monitor action items, and support follow-through.
• Risk Management:
  
  Identify project risks, bottlenecks, and competing demands and escalate issues as appropriate.

Funder Stewardship & Relationship Management

• Funder Relations:
  Maintain strong, professional relationships with funders through timely communication, reporting, and stewardship.
• Leadership Support:
  Partner with leadership on funder meetings, presentations, site visits, and briefing materials for leadership, committees, or board review.

Data, Reporting & Impact Communication

• Impact Storytelling:
  Translate program outcomes, stories, and data into clear, compelling narratives for funders and stakeholders.
• Progress Tracking:
  Track progress against grant deliverables, internal milestones, and reporting schedules.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen grant and development operations.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience…