United Way of Greater Charlotte -- Grant Manager

United Way of Greater Charlotte • Charlotte, NC

12d • $68,700 - $72,300

About The Position

United Way of Greater Charlotte is boldly investing in what if. When Charlotte ranked last in the nation for economic mobility, United Way challenged ourselves and others to say what if every neighborhood has the resources it needs to break the cycle of poverty? And what if every person has equal access to opportunities? In response, United Way is going directly to where the needs are the greatest and is bringing new voices to the table to promote racial equity and ensure every neighborhood thrives. We believe that by challenging the what ifs and by moving together in hope, we can build thriving communities. United Way of Greater Charlotte is seeking a skilled Grants Manager to strengthen our resource development and funding strategy. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, this role is responsible for the full lifecycle of grant activity, from prospect identification through stewardship, and serves as a key partner in sustaining and growing philanthropic revenue that advances our mission and community impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience researching and writing grants for nonprofits, with demonstrated success securing funding from both private/family foundations and public sources
• Proven track record of developing successful grant proposals, LOIs, and application narratives across a range of funders and funding types
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and cross-functional relationships simultaneously
• Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to translate complex program information into compelling, funder-ready narratives
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in budget development, reporting, and records management
• Proficiency with CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in community impact, human services, or economic mobility-focused organizations
• Familiarity with government grant processes and federal reporting requirements
• Experience supporting board-level reporting or executive-facing communications

Responsibilities

• Grant Prospecting and Pipeline Development
• Research and identify grant opportunities from private foundations, family foundations, corporate funders, and public sources aligned with organizational priorities
• Maintain and manage a master grants calendar tracking deadlines, submission requirements, reporting obligations, and renewal cycles
• Build and manage a robust prospect pipeline to support annual and multi-year funding goals
• Stay current on funder priorities, funding trends, and philanthropic landscape relevant to United Way's work
• Proposal Development and Submission
• Draft compelling grant proposals, letters of intent, application narratives, and budgets tailored to funder guidelines and priorities
• Translate programmatic work into clear, mission-aligned narratives that communicate impact and organizational capacity
• Coordinate cross-functionally with program, finance, and communications staff to gather data, outcomes, and supporting documentation
• Prepare and organize all materials for timely, complete proposal submissions
• Grant Stewardship and Compliance
• Monitor awarded grants through the full stewardship cycle, including compliance tracking, reporting timelines, and funder communications
• Prepare interim and final grant reports that accurately reflect program progress, financial expenditures, and community outcomes
• Maintain strong relationships with program officers and foundation contacts through proactive, professional engagement
• Grants Administration and Records Management
• Maintain a comprehensive library of grant support documents including organizational budgets, audits, IRS determination letters, board and staff diversity lists, resumes, bios, and other standard attachments
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records of all grant activity in the CRM/database
• Develop and maintain scalable systems, templates, and processes to support grant operations
• Organizational Collaboration and Board Support
• Partner with the Philanthropy and Donor Engagement team to align grant strategy with broader fundraising goals
• Assist in preparing materials for Board meetings and related reporting as needed
• Support a culture of continuous improvement by contributing to post-submission reviews and lessons learned

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, a 401(k) defined contribution plan, Paid Holidays, and Paid Time Off.
• Medical Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, Accident and Critical Illness, and Pet Insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level