Director of Grants and Communication

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NEW YORKBreakthrough New York empowers motivated students from low-income communities to achieve a college degree and reach their fullest potential. Our tuition-free program supports over 500 students and their families from 7th grade through college. We accept middle school students who are furthest from high-quality educational opportunities yet show promise and potential: 99% of students identify as persons of color and 56% will be the first in their families to graduate college.
As a ten-year program, Breakthrough New York supports students and their families through key transition points in their academic journeys. We provide academic enrichment through summer and after-school opportunities; coach students to gain admissions into selective high schools and colleges, and expose students to diverse interests and careers so they can shape their own trajectories.
In addition to nurturing individual talent, we cultivate a thriving community of like-minded peers and mentors who encourage each other’s ambitions and passions. Personalized mentorship and holistic support are signature elements of our model, with over 200 near-peer seasonal staff and volunteers who work with students at each stage of our continuum.
The Breakthrough model works: 94% of Breakthrough students enroll in college preparatory high schools, and 97% are on track to graduate from college in four-six years. Learn more at Breakthrough New York's website.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Director of Grants and Communications Manager will join the development team to collaboratively raise an organizational budget of $4.024M annually, and oversee a portfolio of $1.2M - $1.5M current and prospective opportunities. This position is responsible for renewing and identifying new grants from institutional partners. As a skilled written communicator and project manager, they will work closely with the CDO and Executive Director to meet ambitious giving goals by managing and growing existing public, foundation, and corporate foundation funding, identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, and supporting organization communications. This role is crucial for ensuring the organization's financial sustainability and ability to carry out Breakthrough New York’s mission effectively. Grant Writing and Project Management (50%)

• Craft compelling and thorough grant proposals and reports that effectively communicate the organization's mission, programs, and impact to current and potential institutional donors.
• Create standardized templates for grant proposals and reports to ensure consistency and efficiency for all development team usage.
• Curate and update a repository of approved language for proposals and program-related pitch materials.
• Facilitate data requests to the Chief Program Officer, operations requests to the Senior Director of People Ops, and budget requests to accounting as necessary for grant applications and reporting.
• Establish review processes and timelines with the CDO and/or ED as needed for each grant report project to ensure quality and timeliness.
• Maintain a grants management calendar to track deadlines and ensure timely completion of all deliverables.

Prospect Research and Portfolio Maintenance (25%)

• Conduct prospect research to identify single and multi-year institutional funding opportunities.
• Cultivate pathways for introductions to potential institutional donors and create prospect profiles for frontline fundraisers.
• Support the CDO and ED with maintaining relationships with institutional donors through regular communication, event invites, and impact updates.
• Work closely with program staff to understand funding needs and priorities, and align fundraising efforts with programmatic goals.
• Manage the financial aspects of institutional giving, including budgeting and forecasting for the portfolio.

Communications (25%)

• Partner with the full organizational team to write content for BTNY’s monthly newsletter, social media, and other external-facing materials.
• Establish a community spotlight roster in collaboration with CDO, interview BTNY community members, write profiles and blog posts.
• Assist development team with written content for solicitation letters and proposals.

While these are not all requirements, the right candidate is likely to see themselves in the examples below. These examples are designed to help you determine if this opportunity aligns with your own strengths and sense of purpose.

• You have exceptional writing and editing abilities, are capable of crafting compelling narratives that effectively communicate the organization's mission, goals, and impact to potential funders. You can adapt your writing style to meet varied funder needs.
• You have the ability to break down and sequence large projects into manageable pieces for yourself and others - seeing the big picture, but executing on the details (i.e. developing and implementing project plans; creating and testing data collection instruments, writing and reviewing reports).
• You thrive in environments with tight deadlines, and manage your time efficiently to ensure that grant deliverables are submitted on time and accurately.
• You’ve demonstrated the ability to work diligently towards your goals and can comfortably pivot and try new strategies when challenges arise.
• You are a team player and value both external feedback and self-reflection.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of three years experience in grant writing and project management, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in research and analysis, with the ability to identify funding opportunities and assess their alignment with organizational priorities.
• Proficiency in Salesforce. <Preferred>