Grants Specialist; Fremont

A little about us… Kidango (kidango.org) is an early learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in kindergarten and in life. We believe that all children can reach their full potential if they and their families have access to the right opportunities and resources. As the largest child care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships.

Through our policy work, we aim to take our expertise beyond the children and families that we serve, and drive change in early childhood education at the local, state and federal levels. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.

The Grants Specialist supports Kidango’s Grants team by providing essential coordination, research, data management, and administrative functions across both government and foundation grants. Reporting directly to the Grants Manager, this role is the operational backbone of the grants function, keeping deadlines on track, information organized, and processes running smoothly.

Under the general supervision of the Grants Manager, the Grants Specialist maintains grant records in Salesforce, coordinates meetings and internal communications, assists with the preparation and submission of grant applications, and supports post-award compliance and reporting. The Grants Specialist is also a key contributor to funder research and prospecting efforts, identifying new funding opportunities aligned with Kidango’s programs and strategic priorities.

The Grants Specialist has responsibility for, and demonstrates strong attention to detail in, key areas of grant data management and process coordination. They maintain comprehensive grant calendars and filing systems, manage Adobe/Docu Sign workflows for grant agreements and funder documents, and support the creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support a well‑organized and efficient grants operation.

• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records for all government and foundation grants in Salesforce, including tracking submission deadlines, award status, reporting due dates, and funder communications.
• Extracts grant applications from funder portals and prepares initial drafts for the Grants Manager's review.
• Maintains comprehensive grant calendars and filing systems to ensure all documents, correspondence, and reports are organized and accessible.
• Manages Adobe/Docu Sign workflows for grant agreements, amendments, and other funder documents requiring electronic signatures.
• Monitors scheduled and as‑necessary audits, reviews, and quarterly and annual reports required by grant‑making organizations, and flags upcoming deadlines to the Grants Manager.
• Conducts research to identify new government and private foundation funding opportunities aligned with Kidango's programs and strategic priorities, monitoring grant databases, government portals, and foundation websites for new funding announcements and tracking them in Salesforce.
• Compiles and summarizes funder profiles, RFP requirements, and eligibility criteria to support the Grants Manager's evaluation and prioritization of new opportunities.
• Assists with assembling grant application materials, including gathering supporting data, program narratives, budgets, and attachments from internal departments.
• Formats and assembles grant applications in accordance with each funder's submission guidelines and deadlines.
• Reviews draft applications for completeness, formatting, and grammar prior to submission.
• Supports the preparation of renewal grant applications as applicable for local, state, and federal government agencies, foundations, and corporations, under the direction of the Grants Manager.
• Coordinates and schedules internal and external grant‑related meetings, including pre‑submission planning sessions, funder check‑ins, and post‑award kick‑offs.
• Prepares and distributes meeting agendas, sends reminders, and circulates follow‑up summaries; tracks action…