Grants Manager; Prospect Development

Organization: United Way of the Midlands

Job Title: Grant Manager (Prospect Development)

Department: Strategy

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: Omaha, NE (on-site)

About United Way of the Midlands: Since 1923, United Way of the Midlands has served the Omaha‑Council Bluffs metro by bringing together the business, government, and not‑for‑profit sectors and raising money to support our community’s most impactful health and human service programs. UWM’s funded programs and direct services – including JAG Nebraska, 211, and the Weatherization Assistance Program – focus on four key areas to improve health and well‑being for all, build financial stability and strength, help young people realize their full potential, and address urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow.

United Way of the Midlands is seeking a motivated and strategic Grants Manager (Prospect Development) to support our continued organizational growth and evolution. This role offers a unique opportunity for an early‑to‑mid career professional to contribute meaningfully to the development of new funding streams that expand our local impact. In this role, you’ll take the lead on identifying and cultivating new grant opportunities with creativity, urgency, and discipline in a highly collaborative environment.

This position partners closely with an experienced Grants Manager focused on recurring grants, and collaborates with teams across Donor Engagement, Finance, Analytics and Programming. Grants are reviewed by multiple internal stakeholders for alignment and precision. The ideal candidate brings a strong spirit of research, persistence and strategic thinking, along with a desire to uncover funding opportunities that align with UWM’s mission and four impact areas:
Healthy Community, Financial Security, Youth Opportunity, and Community Resilience. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic landscape, can build compelling arguments with data and program insights, and is eager to grow professionally in a purpose‑driven environment.

• Identify and research new grant prospects, with a goal of submitting at least three new proposals per month.
• Develop and manage high‑quality grant proposals, budgets, and narratives in collaboration with internal teams.
• Write and adapt compelling content across a variety of formats including grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, executive summaries, and tailored funder communications.
• Track and manage the grants pipeline, ensuring accuracy and transparency in reporting and updates.
• Coordinate efforts across departments to align on funding strategies and avoid duplication.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, program officers, and community stakeholders.
• Lead grant strategy meetings, offering research‑backed insights and fostering alignment across teams.
• Support reporting requirements, compiling relevant data in partnership with Finance and Data teams.
• Evaluate grant outcomes and refine strategies based on results and funding trends.
• Maintain deep knowledge of UWM’s programs and data to inform persuasive, well‑aligned proposals.
• Offer and accept feedback to continuously improve the quality and clarity of grant submissions.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Strong research and writing skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into persuasive proposals.
• Ability to structure proposals in a variety of formats: grants, letters, corporate proposals, etc. that best fit project and donor.
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proven experience in grant writing and management, with a track record of successful grant awards.
• Demonstrated experience and success with federal, state and other government proposals and reporting.
• Strong understanding of fundraising principles and best practices, particularly in the context of grant funding.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross‑functionally in a fast‑paced environment.
• Familiarity with grant management software and databases is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access).
• Other duties as assigned.