Grants Specialist

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Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family‑sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low‑wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults:
We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in‑demand, high‑paying tech careers and then work with industry‑recognized partners to train for these roles with part‑time programs that combine flexible online learning with best‑in‑class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher‑earning, family‑sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program.

Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near‑term wage gains for our learners.

As the Grants Specialist, you will lead the full range of post‑award activities required to research, prepare, submit, and ensure compliance for grant reports across Merit America’s 30+ funders—primarily private and family foundations—with opportunities to support a growing and diversified portfolio that includes federal programs, high‑net‑worth donors, DAFs, and additional foundations. You will also play a supporting role in fundraising and business development efforts, including drafting proposals and concept notes, conducting prospect research, and contributing to the development of new funding opportunities.

The Grants Specialist is an exempt role that reports directly to Maureen Silva, Director of Institutional Giving, and works closely with Merit America’s Development team to support activities with existing funding partners and secure their ongoing commitment to the organization’s mission.

• Research, develop, and manage complex grant reports for our portfolio of 30+ funders, and all associated post‑award reporting requirements
• Monitor grant performance against key commitments and communicate progress—and any emerging gaps—to internal teams and funders when appropriate
• Contribute to grant proposals, including multi‑year foundation and federal applications
• Contribute to concept notes, overviews, and external‑facing materials tailored to prospective funders to support early‑stage cultivation and new business development
• Support with the development of other tailored funder‑facing materials, such as learner and alumni stories
• Review grant agreements regularly and maintain systems to track reporting deadlines, data needs, and compliance requirements; engage staff across teams to gather information in a timely manner
• Manage funders’ online grant portals for post‑award processes

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data—including program activity, learner outcomes, and impact metrics—to strengthen funder reporting and renewal opportunities
• Interpret grant‑specific data to identify trends, highlight impact, and inform tailored communications with funders
• Continuously monitor funder news and trends, and share insights with the team to strengthen engagement and renewal strategy
• Stay current on national and regional trends in workforce development and education to incorporate relevant insights into reports and recommendations

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Coaching, Program, Data, Communications, etc.) to produce clear, concise, and compelling communications with existing and prospective funders
• Coordinate with external partners on joint grants (or subgrants) to gather required data and reporting inputs
• Liaise with funders as needed to clarify deadlines, templates, reporting expectations, and compliance questions, when needed
• Prepare for and participate in funder meetings, as needed

• Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to…