Foundations & Grants Specialist

Permanent, Full-time

At United Way of Calgary and Area, we believe that united, we make the biggest difference. We’re strongest when we come together to improve local lives and communities—and when we come together as a team, we passionately propel our mission forward. We’re currently looking for a Foundations & Grants Specialist to join our Resource Development team.

Reporting to the Manager, Foundations & Planned Giving, the Foundations & Grants Specialist plays a key role in advancing United Way of Calgary and Area’s institutional giving strategy by ensuring the effective execution of the foundations and grants pipeline. This role functions as the operational backbone of institutional fundraising—supporting the development of high-quality proposals, managing deadlines and reporting requirements, and coordinating cross-functional inputs to deliver strong, timely, and consistent submissions.

The Specialist works across United Way departments to translate United Way’s impact into compelling, funder-ready materials. While this role is primarily execution- and coordination-focused, it contributes to cultivation and stewardship strategies and supports prospect identification, qualification, and strategic donor engagement efforts, helping to inform the long-term growth of institutional funding relationships.

If you are passionate about your community, aspire to make an impact, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to make a difference, then we’re looking for you!

What you will do
Pipeline & Grants Management
Maintain and manage the institutional funding pipeline, including deadlines, submissions, and reporting schedules
Track and update all foundation and grant activity in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), ensuring data accuracy and pipeline visibility
Coordinate grants calendar and proactively flag upcoming deadlines and requirements
Support pipeline discipline to improve timeliness, quality, and renewal readiness
Support the identification and preliminary qualification of foundation prospects through research and internal profiles

Proposal Development
Lead the drafting and coordination of Letters of Inquiry (LOIs), grant proposals, and supporting materials
Synthesize input from internal teams to develop clear, compelling, and funder-aligned narratives
Ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with United Way’s strategic priorities and messaging
Support the development of templates, tools, and resources to strengthen proposal quality and efficiency

Stewardship & Reporting
Manage reporting workbacks and timelines to ensure all funder reports are submitted on time and to a high standard
Draft interim and final reports that clearly communicate outcomes, impact, and accountability
Support stewardship efforts by ensuring timely and accurate follow-up on grant commitments
Contribute to renewal readiness through strong reporting and documentation practices

Internal Coordination
Collaborate with Community Impact, Finance, and Marketing & Communications teams to gather required content and data
Coordinate inputs, approvals, and timelines to keep deliverables moving efficiently
Support cross-functional alignment between fundraising priorities and community impact work
Help ensure a seamless flow of information across teams to support institutional giving efforts

What you will bring

Experience:

3–6 years of experience in grants, institutional giving, proposal development, or similar roles
Demonstrated experience writing and coordinating successful grant proposals and reports
Strong writing and editing skills, with keen attention to detail
Experience managing multiple deadlines and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment
Ability to synthesize complex information and translate it into clear, compelling narratives
Experience working with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and managing pipeline tracking
Experience in nonprofit, social impact, or community-focused environments is an asset

Attributes:
Highly organized and process-driven, with the ability to manage multiple deliverables simultaneously
Strong project management skills and attention to detail
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Ability to collaborate effectively…