Grants Manager

Position Summary

AAPD is seeking a mission-aligned, detail-oriented, and collaborative Grants Manager to manage and coordinate the organization's grant reporting and compliance efforts, while also supporting fundraising and donor stewardship. This role is ideal for a strong writer and relationship-builder who understands the power of narrative and the importance of inclusive, cross-team collaboration.

We strongly encourage people with disabilities and those with lived experience in the disability community to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Grants Management & Reporting (~60%)

• Take the lead on grant reporting, including writing narrative reports, gathering metrics and program updates from staff, and ensuring timely submission.
• Develop and maintain a grant calendar to track application deadlines, reporting schedules, and deliverables.
• Ensure organizational compliance with grant requirements, coordinating across departments to collect required documentation.
• Serve as a liaison between AAPD and funders by staying engaged throughout the grant cycle, proactively asking questions to ensure clarity on requirements and alignment on deliverables.
• Collaborate with program staff to tell the story of AAPD’s impact through compelling, disability-centered narratives and data and to be responsive to grant applications, calls for proposals, and grant reporting requirements.

Grants Prospecting & Applications (~20%)

• Research and identify new funding prospects, including foundations, corporations, and other institutional and individual donors.
• Support the President and CEO and other Program leads in writing and coordinating grant applications, including drafting components, gathering data, and meeting deadlines.
• Assist the President and CEO in preparing for funder meetings by providing research on past projects funded, funding priorities, and other relevant information.
• Maintain a database of grant opportunities, deadlines, contacts, and application outcomes.

Donor Stewardship & Communications (~20%)

• Assist President and CEO with donor relationship management, including tracking communications and supporting stewardship efforts.
• Draft communications and propose outreach efforts to donors and prospects, including drafting and sending thank-you notes, donor updates, and invitations to AAPD events.
• Help maintain accurate donor records and support AAPD’s transition to and implementation of a new donor management system, Bonterra.
• Create and maintain integrity of electronic files that meet legal, and internal storage and retention requirements.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the disability community and disability rights and justice values.
• Excellent writing skills, with experience writing grant proposals and/or reports.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate across teams.
• Experience with donor relations and fundraising communications.
• Familiarity with donor databases, prospecting tools, and CRMs.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, remote/hybrid work environment.
• Coursework, certifications, or other training in nonprofit management or fundraising practices are a plus.

Application & Interview Process

Please submit your application materials on the AAPD’s job posting platform, Rippling, including:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Writing Samples
• Short Answer question responses

Short Answer Questions

1. Please discuss a grant you shepherded from start to finish. What was the process like and how did collaboration factor into your grant management decisions? (max. 250 words)

1. Please describe any previous experience you have developing processes or structures from scratch? What did you like and dislike about it and what were some highlights of that work? (max. 250 words)

Selected candidates will participate in a 15-20 minute screening. Next, the candidate will participate in two rounds of interviews, one panel interview and a final round interview. If you have any inquiries, please email sisenberg@aapd.com with the subject line, “Grants Manager Inquiry.” AAPD will accept applications on a rolling basis.