Grants and Communication Specialist

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) is currently seeking a qualified and motivated individual to join our Advancement and Communications teams as a Grants and Communications Specialist. Reporting to the AVP of Public Engagement, the selected candidate will support MPFI's philanthropic mission through two complementary areas of work: advancement communications and private foundation grant activity. On the communications side, this role produces donor-facing content, manages the monthly Brainwaves newsletter, and supports board and trustee materials.

On the grants side, this role identifies prospective private foundation funders and manages grant reporting - working in close collaboration with the Head of Advancement and the Office of Sponsored Research, whose expertise in grant writing and compliance will guide content and workflow.

• Produces the monthly Brainwaves email newsletter end-to-end - writing, editing, designing, and distributing - incorporating social media posts and other already-created content from the communications team to maximize reach across channels;
• Coordinates with the AVP of Public Engagement to maintain a content calendar and production schedule covering mailings, email campaigns, and other donor-facing communications as needed;
• Manages MPFI's advancement presence on external nonprofit platforms including Candid/Guide Star, Charity Navigator, and Benevity, ensuring profiles are current and accurate;
• Coordinates with external vendors to produce stewardship materials such as print invitations, holiday cards, and birthday cards as directed;
• Assists with donor acquisition events as needed, providing logistical and communications support;

• Produces Board Books using Adobe InDesign and coordinates with the Board Secretary on printing and distribution to trustees in advance of board meetings;
• Maintains, prints, and distributes the three versions of the Trustee Guidebook (Information Guide, Welcome Guide, and Trustee Guide), keeping content current;
• Conducts prospect research on prospective trustees as requested, using specialty databases and publicly available information;

• Conducts research on individual donor and foundation prospects using specialty databases and publicly available sources, producing research summaries for the Head of Advancement;
• Assists the Head of Advancement with donor stewardship activities as directed;
• Attends and provides support at donor and prospect events as needed;

• Researches and identifies private foundation funding opportunities whose missions align with MPFI's priorities, maintaining a prospecting calendar and tracking submission deadlines;
• Manages grant reporting requirements for private foundation awards, ensuring all reports are submitted accurately and on time in coordination with the Head of Advancement and the Office of Sponsored Research;
• Collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Research on grant writing and reporting content, with the extent of writing responsibilities calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and expertise;
• Maintains organized records of all foundation grant activity, proposals, and correspondence;
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in a nonprofit fundraising, development, or communications environment;
• Strong writing, proofreading, and editing skills with demonstrated ability to tailor content for donor and public audiences;
• Strong internet research skills utilizing specialty databases and public websites;
• Proficiency with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact);
• Familiarity with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, or Canva for production of print and digital materials;
• Strong time management skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines;
• High levels of discretion, professional judgment, ethics, and confidentiality;
• Knowledge of donor management systems, particularly Raiser's Edge NXT, preferred;
• Experience with private foundation grant research or reporting is a plus, but not required.
• Must have high levels of discretion, professional judgment, ethics and confidentiality.

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our our commitment, MPFI will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at HR
Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), where employment is…