Grants Specialist

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. We promote and protect the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities. Believing that war causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield, our mission is to support veterans as they navigate the challenges of post-military life, and to prevent and end veteran homelessness through wrap-around care and informed advocacy.

To learn more about Swords to Plowshares, please visit our website rds-to-plowshares.org.

Job Title: Grant Specialist

Location: War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Ave Ste 313 SF, CA 94102

Schedule: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Reporting Type: Hybrid; 4 days remote, 1 day in-person with the team, and occasional in-person events required

Employment Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $40.87 per hour

Swords to Plowshares is seeking a Grant Specialist to lead the research, pipeline management, and systems that power our foundation, government, and corporate fundraising program. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Resource Development, this role is split between two connected halves of the work: proactively researching and managing a pipeline of new funding opportunities, and taking ownership of a portfolio of grants from proposal through reporting.

You'll use tools like Candid/Foundation Directory and Instrumental alongside Linked In and other professional networks to identify prospects and track shifts in the funding landscape, while also keeping the full foundation, government, and corporate portfolio — not just your own grants — organized, current, and moving through a clear stewardship and engagement calendar that keeps the Grants Team on track with timely touchpoints.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable digging into research and building a case for support in writing — someone who enjoys spotting a good-fit funder, translating program data and client stories into a compelling narrative, and creating the systems and habits that keep a growing grants program running smoothly.

Research and track potential foundation, government, and corporate funding opportunities using Candid/Foundation Directory, Instrumental, Linked In, Federal/State/Local grant announcements, and other relevant research tools and networks.

Build and maintain a pipeline of new funding prospects, prioritizing opportunities based on fit, capacity, and organizational need.

Prepare detailed overviews of funding opportunities, including alignment with STP's mission and programs, key points of contact, strategies for getting on a funder's radar, funder values and priorities, what to focus on in outreach and proposals, best-fit programs and timing for application, and examples of similar grantees.

Monitor trends in the funding landscape — including shifts in funder priorities, new RFPs, and government funding opportunities — to keep the organization's prospect pipeline current and competitive.

Manage a personal portfolio of grants from proposal through reporting, including drafting, submission, and stewardship.

Draft and compile all materials relevant to grant proposals and reports.

Communicate directly with funders regarding proposal submission, reporting, and any follow-up documentation requested.

Work with Executive staff, Program Directors, and program staff to identify funding needs and translate program data into compelling, fundable narratives.

Keep funder information and contacts updated across the full foundation, government, and corporate portfolio in Salesforce — not limited to your own assigned grants.

Review and incorporate funder notes and updates from emails and grants team meetings to keep records current.

Build and maintain a stewardship and engagement calendar for each foundation partner and prospective partner, covering both formal and informal touchpoints across the entire portfolio.

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