Grants Manager

Communities First•Detroit, MI

About The Position

Communities First, Inc. is a Michigan-based nonprofit 501 (c) (3) whose mission is to build healthy, vibrant communities through economic development, affordable housing, and innovative programming. CFI is committed to providing safe, quality affordable housing, increasing economic opportunities, and improving the quality of life for the communities it serves. Position Summary The Grants Manager is responsible for supporting Communities First, Inc.’s institutional fundraising efforts by managing the full grant lifecycle, including research, proposal development, submission, compliance, reporting, and renewal. This role manages foundation, corporate, and government funding, including federal, state, and local grants, and ensures full compliance with all funder requirements. The Grants Manager works closely with staff, finance, fund development staff, and executive leadership to secure, manage, and steward grant funding aligned with CFI’s mission and strategic priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or related field required
Three to seven years of progressive experience in grant writing and grants management
Demonstrated success in securing foundation and government grants
Knowledge of federal, state, and local grant compliance and reporting requirements
Experience managing complex grants with multiple deadlines and deliverables
Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge or similar donor and grant management systems
Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
Ability to work collaboratively across departments
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Experience managing federal, state, and local government funding strongly preferred
Experience with housing, economic development, or community-based funding sources preferred

Responsibilities

Grant Strategy and Prospect Development Identify, research, and evaluate private foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities at the federal, state, and local levels
Develop and maintain a comprehensive grants pipeline and calendar
Assess eligibility, competitiveness, funding alignment, and compliance requirements
Monitor funding trends related to affordable housing, economic development, community development, and supportive programming
Grant Writing and Submission Lead the development and submission of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and applications
Prepare narratives, budgets, logic models, outcomes, and supporting documentation
Coordinate internal data collection from program, finance, and leadership teams
Ensure timely and accurate submission of all grant materials in accordance with funder guidelines
Prepare applications for certain government funding sources, including RFPs, NOFAs, and RFQs
Grant Management and Compliance Manage awarded grants throughout the full grant period
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local government regulations, including reporting, documentation, and audit requirements
Track deliverables, deadlines, and performance metrics
Maintain organized and up-to-date grant files and compliance documentation
Support monitoring visits, desk reviews, and audits as required by funders
Reporting and Evaluation Prepare and submit interim and final grant reports
Collect outcome, performance, and impact data from program teams
Translate program data into clear, funders-facing narratives
Ensure reporting aligns with approved scopes of work and budgets
Financial Coordination Partner closely with the finance department to monitor grant budgets, expenditures, reimbursements, and drawdowns
Track restricted funds, match requirements, and cost allocations
Support accurate grant-related revenue forecasting and financial reporting
Grant Tracking Systems Maintain accurate and up-to-date grant and funder records in Raiser’s Edge
Track grant submissions, awards, reporting deadlines, and renewals
Generate reports and dashboards related to grant activity and funding status
Ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and consistency across systems
Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with program staff to ensure grant-funded activities align with approved scopes of work
Coordinate with fund development staff to align grant activity with the overall fundraising strategy
Provide regular grant status updates to leadership
Support internal training related to grant compliance and reporting requirements
Other Responsibilities Maintain awareness of grant-making trends, compliance updates, and best practices
Support special projects related to institutional funding as assigned
Other duties as assigned