Manager, Grants

The Grants Manager plays a key role in advancing the Saint Louis Science Center’s fundraising goals by leading the development and submission of compelling grant proposals to private foundations and corporate funders. Working closely with the Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and in coordination with Development, Finance, and Program teams, the Grants Manager manages grant reporting processes and delivers targeted prospect research to inform fundraising strategies.

This role is ideal for an early- to mid-career professional with demonstrated success in grant writing who is looking to deepen their expertise in institutional fundraising and contribute to a dynamic development team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Grant Development, Writing, and Management (75%)

• Lead the preparation and submission of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports to foundation and corporate funders.
• Maintain and manage the annual grants calendar to ensure timely submission of proposals, renewals, and required reports.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., program, education, and finance staff) to gather narrative content, data, and financials to support strong, customized proposals.
• Track post-award reporting requirements, compliance, and internal deliverables to ensure alignment with funder expectations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of submissions, deadlines, and outcomes in the CRM and grant tracking systems.
• Support strategy development for funder cultivation, stewardship, renewals, and new funding opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

2. Prospect Research and Strategic Insight (25%

• Conduct strategic research on foundations, corporations, and major individual gift prospects to assess funding alignment and philanthropic trends.
• Prepare detailed, actionable prospect profiles and briefing materials for development staff and leadership.
• Analyze giving patterns, funder priorities, and peer benchmarking to support pipeline development and strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with Advancement Services to develop dashboards and tools that integrate research insights into fundraising strategies.

Success Metrics

• 95%+ on-time submission of all grant proposals and reports.
• Production of high-quality, tailored proposals resulting in increased or sustained grant funding.
• Delivery of quarterly prospect research profiles that contribute to donor pipeline development.
• Improved strategic coordination between institutional and individual giving teams.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, nonprofit management, public policy, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in grant writing or institutional fundraising, with a strong record of successful submissions to private foundations.
• Demonstrated ability to write persuasive, outcome-driven proposals and reports.
• Experience using donor databases (e.g., Salesforce), prospect research tools (e.g., Foundation Directory Online, iWave), and Excel.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to the mission of the Saint Louis Science Center and enthusiasm for science education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience supporting both foundation and individual giving programs.
• Knowledge of nonprofit financials and program metrics as they relate to grant reporting.
• Familiarity with grant compliance processes and multi-year grant tracking.
• Understanding of donor lifecycle strategies and campaign-based fundraising.