Institutional Giving Specialist

Rainforest Foundation US • Brooklyn, NY

10d • $75,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Institutional Giving Specialist (IGS) manages key grant-related responsibilities: identifying and researching funding opportunities, submitting successful proposals, developing compelling and factual reports, coordinating with program, finance, and communications staff to ensure proper execution of grant requirements, and ensuring all grant-related materials, including deadlines, are properly tracked and recorded. This role includes advanced skills in applying for and managing complex government grant funding.

Requirements

• Minimum four years of fundraising experience, with a proven record of successful fundraising results from institutional funders (foundations, government, etc) and grant management experience.
• Impeccable English writing skills, with a specific emphasis on proposal writing
• Excellent verbal communication skills, and a proven track record of relationship-building with institutional funders
• Exemplary organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities
• Experience with program budgeting and an understanding of financial statements
• High skill level with spreadsheets, especially Google Sheets
• Cultural competency and a learning mindset to support our multi-cultural staff and partners (experience working with Indigenous organizations a plus).
• High level of integrity, and ability to exercise strong judgment and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information
• A proven track record of working well with others, adapting to others’ work styles, and building strong relationships across departments
• Knowledge of, or strong interest in, learning about the issues relevant to the organization’s mission and strategy (Indigenous peoples' rights, forests, climate change, biodiversity loss, climate adaptation, climate finance, etc.)
• Full professional proficiency in English is required; Spanish is a plus.
• The candidate must possess the legal requirements to work in the United States.
• RFUS participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.A.

Nice To Haves

• Cultural competency and a learning mindset to support our multi-cultural staff and partners (experience working with Indigenous organizations a plus).
• Full professional proficiency in English is required; Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage stewardship and expansion of a portfolio of institutional donors, such as foundations, NGOs/intermediaries, and government agencies.
• Identify and research funding opportunities aligned with RFUS’s priorities.
• Write and submit compelling, competitive proposals in collaboration with program and finance teams.
• Coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder funding opportunities, including government grants, ensuring adherence to funder requirements.
• Facilitate and lead some donor meetings and build relationships with new and existing donors, engaging relevant staff as needed.
• Coordinate grant award and post-award activities, including acknowledging grants in a timely manner, ensuring smooth handoff to program teams, drafting accurate reports, and monitoring compliance.
• Assist the Institutional Giving Director in tracking and reporting on institutional giving goals and portfolio progress.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Own and maintain institutional giving processes and workflows, including pre-award checklists, kickoff calls, grant trackers, and deadline calendars to ensure efficient and coordinated grant operations.
• Maintain accurate and organized records of all grant-related materials—proposals, budgets, award letters, reports, and key donor communications—ensuring deadlines, proposals, and prospect information are up-to-date in tracking systems and calendars.
• Monitor compliance through the grant lifecycle and raise flags or recommendations to leadership as needed.
• Analyze portfolio performance and provide insights and recommendations to the Institutional Giving Director on funder engagement, prospect prioritization, and strategy.
• Identify opportunities to improve institutional giving processes and implement enhancements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and impact.
• Serve as a cross-departmental liaison, ensuring program, finance, and communication teams are aligned in the submission of proposals and execution of grants and reporting requirements.

Benefits

• RFUS offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.
• Our full-time employees enjoy generous benefits, including:
• Medical, dental, and vision: We pay 100% of the employee and dependents' health, dental, and vision benefits premiums
• 401(k) retirement plan access
• Generous time off through vacation, sick and personal leave, holidays, summer Fridays, and an extended winter break office closure
• Life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program
• Some positions may be fully remote or hybrid
• Rainforest Foundation US prides itself on providing a flexible, family-friendly work environment that values work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed