Grants Manager

Foundation for Defense of Democracies•Washington, DC

1d•$85,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Grants Manager plays a critical role in strengthening and streamlining FDD's foundation fundraising efforts. Working in close partnership with the Director of Grants and Special Projects, this position manages grant operations, improves internal systems, and ensures timely, high-quality submissions and reporting. By owning coordination, research, tracking, and process management, the Grants Manager enables the Director of Grants to focus on strategy, relationship-building, and revenue growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
2–4 years of experience in grants management, fundraising, nonprofit development, or related programming.
Proficiency in Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, DonorSearch, and Candid a plus.
Strong organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to support senior leadership with discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized and systems-oriented; comfortable managing operational complexity with minimal oversight.
Discreet and dependable with sensitive information.

Responsibilities

Manage the full lifecycle of assigned foundation grants, including proposal preparation, submission, reporting, and renewal tracking, in close coordination with the Director of Grants and Special Projects.
Maintain and update grant calendars, deadlines, and deliverables to ensure compliance and on-time submissions.
Coordinate with program, finance, and impact staff to gather required data, budgets, and narratives for grant applications and reports.
Conduct ongoing research on new and existing foundation funders to identify emerging funding opportunities aligned with FDD's priorities.
Maintain an active pipeline of prospective funders and contribute to long-term revenue growth planning for the grants program.
Serve as the development team's lead on wealth screening tools and platforms, including DonorSearch and Candid.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in the grants database and CRM, ensuring data integrity across the full grant portfolio.
Support development team-wide data practices and contribute to the continuous improvement of grants management systems and workflows.
Manage complex scheduling for virtual and in-person meetings with foundation representatives and internal subject-matter experts, coordinating across time zones as needed.
Prepare agendas, briefing materials, and logistical support for donor-facing meetings and internal grant strategy sessions.
Set up meeting rooms with necessary materials and equipment; greet and escort guests as needed.
Collaborate across the development, policy, research, and finance teams to support cohesive stewardship and reporting.
Contribute to team-wide best practices, process improvements, and the continuous refinement of grants operations.