Director of Grants, Strategy & Impact

Children's Friend•Providence, RI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Children's Friend, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. For more than 190 years, we've been strengthening families and building brighter futures through innovative programs that support children from birth through adulthood. We're looking for a strategic, collaborative, and passionate Director of Grants Strategy & Impact to lead our institutional fundraising efforts and help secure the resources that make our mission possible. If you're an experienced grant professional who enjoys building relationships, managing complex projects, crafting compelling proposals, and translating meaningful outcomes into funding opportunities, we'd love to meet you. As the Director of Grants Strategy & Impact, you'll serve as a key leader within our Philanthropy team, shaping the strategy behind a diverse portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government grants. You'll collaborate closely with program leaders, finance, executive leadership, and community partners to identify funding opportunities, develop competitive proposals, and ensure successful stewardship of grant-funded programs. Even better—you'll step into this role through a thoughtful leadership transition, working alongside the current Director to gain valuable insight into our funders, grant portfolio, internal processes, and collaborative culture before taking full ownership.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
6+ years of grant writing, nonprofit fundraising, program development, or related experience
Demonstrated success securing grants from foundation, corporate, and/or government funders
Exceptional writing, editing, research, and communication skills
Experience managing multiple deadlines and complex projects
Strong organizational and relationship-building skills
Ability to translate data, outcomes, and community impact into compelling funding narratives

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Experience collaborating with finance teams on grant budgets is preferred
Experience in human services, healthcare, early childhood, education, or community-based organizations is highly valued
Strategic and forward-thinking
An exceptional writer and communicator
Organized and detail-oriented
Collaborative and relationship-driven
Curious, innovative, and solutions-focused
Passionate about making a lasting impact in the community

Responsibilities

Research and identify public and private funding opportunities.
Evaluate funding prospects for strategic fit and organizational capacity.
Develop and lead high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and renewal applications.
Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar to ensure timely submissions and reporting.
Build systems that keep grant information organized, accessible, and compliant.
Partner with Program Leadership to understand community needs and program outcomes.
Collaborate with Finance to develop accurate grant budgets.
Coordinate internal review processes and manage proposal timelines.
Keep stakeholders informed and projects moving forward.
Build and maintain strong relationships with foundation, corporate, and government funders.
Coordinate meetings, site visits, and ongoing communications.
Identify future funding opportunities that align with agency priorities.
Oversee grant reporting and compliance requirements.
Track deliverables, outcomes, and reporting deadlines.
Share the impact of grant-funded programs through meaningful stewardship communications.
Supervise and mentor the Program Development Coordinator.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-focused team environment.
Serve as a member of the Philanthropy leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and fundraising success.