Grants & Development Specialist

The Organization: Merit America
The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage.

These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don't offer enough flexibility, and online courses don't have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.

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.

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.

Role Overview Reporting to the Director of Institutional Giving, the Grants & Development Specialist will play a central role in stewarding Merit America's institutional funding portfolio. This is a writing-forward, relationship-oriented position designed for someone who enjoys crafting compelling narratives grounded in data and takes pride in producing high-quality funder communications.

You will lead the development of grant reports and contribute to proposals, while also helping build our pipeline of funders.

We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, startup environment, is expected regularly to use AI tools as a core part of their workflow to enhance efficiency, storytelling, and research, and approaches both stewardship and pipeline development with curiosity, ownership, and initiative.

Responsibilities
Stewardship, Communications & Funder Experience (50%)
• Develop compelling, customized grant reports for our portfolio of 30+ funders aligned to each funder's priorities and deliverables; translate program data and learner outcomes into clear, persuasive narratives
• Produce high-quality funder communications and stewardship materials (impact updates, acknowledgements, briefing memos, etc.)
• Develop and refresh learner and alumni stories tailored to specific funder interests and geographies
• Coordinate with external partners on joint grants (or subgrants) to gather required data and reporting inputs
• Support stewardship campaigns and "big idea" engagement strategies throughout the year
• Draft proposals, LOIs, and grant applications in partnership with the Development Manager, as needed
• Prepare for and participate in funder meetings, as needed
• Leverage AI tools to streamline writing and reporting, and enhance efficiency

Data Management & Administration (25%)
• Serve as central liaison for grant reporting, managing the reporting calendar and upcoming deadlines
• Coordinate cross-functional information sharing and data collection to ensure timely, accurate submissions
• Monitor progress toward funder deliverables and flag risks early to internal teams when appropriate
• Maintain accurate grant records in Salesforce and Google Drive, and support continuous improvement of tracking and reporting systems
• Organize post-award meetings and communicate funder data requirements internally

Funder Pipeline Development (25%)
• Conduct proactive prospect research and qualification of new funder and grant opportunities; identify alignment, assess fit, and recommend next steps for cultivation
• Continuously monitor funder news and trends, and share insights with the team to strengthen funder engagement
• Regularly analyze program data (with support from the Data team) to identify funder-relevant insights that strengthen reporting, stewardship, and strategic positioning.
• Collaborate with the Development Team to identify partnership opportunities that grow revenue

Skills and Competencies
We recognize that some individuals from underrepresented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don't meet 100% of the listed qualifications. Please don't let that discourage you from applying! We value the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that each applicant brings,