ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY
The ocean is at the center of the most important food, energy and resource issues of our time. Ocean Conservancy champions science-based solutions to tackle the largest ocean conservation challenges we face and collaborates with partners to strengthen the health of the ocean for future generations. We mobilize citizen advocates to facilitate change, and we are committed to supporting efforts that benefit the people who depend on the ocean for food, jobs and recreation. Ocean Conservancy shapes the political agenda for the ocean so sound decisions are made that sustain our planet and improve lives. We engage on a range of issues from fisheries recovery to marine wildlife protection to ecosystem conservation and more.
FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM
Ocean Conservancy has support from a robust community of foundation and government donors that provide a mix of restricted and unrestricted support in the range of $8 million annually. The Foundation and Government Support Team is a fast-paced, mission-driven group of professionals with expertise in all aspects of portfolio management and new business generation from a wide range of philanthropic institutions. They work in close coordination with Ocean Conservancy staff from across the organization, harnessing the talents of program, executive office, communications and finance colleagues among others to ensure strong and healthy relationships with the organization’s foundation and government partners. They also work together closely with Ocean Conservancy’s other revenue units — Individual Giving, Planned Giving, Corporate and Membership — to maximize opportunities and ensure high-quality, donor-centered approaches to fundraising.
This is a dynamic position that includes significant interaction across the organization and with external stakeholders. The Senior Portfolio Manager / Foundation Grant Writer reports to the Director of Foundations and Government Support.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Portfolio Manager / Foundation Grant Writer provides comprehensive portfolio management to a docket of foundation donors, including overarching relationship management, grant writing and reporting, donor record maintenance and financial report preparation. To succeed, the Senior Manager must have exceptional writing and project management skills and must be intrepid about meeting deadlines and managing all that deadline-driven work entails. The Senior Manager should have a well-honed ability to design effective stewardship approaches for existing donors, along with the ability to conduct the research and outreach needed for new partnership development. Strong candidates will have a background in either global or domestic policy advocacy, an ability to stay current on a dynamic body of program work, and an understanding of how to grasp and communicate core programs as well as impact and results. This work encompasses all of Ocean Conservancy’s program areas and requires the ability to translate science and policy language into accessible, compelling and informative material for target audiences. Successful candidates will be internally motivated, able to build productive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, and be good at bringing hustle and discipline to their work. The Senior Portfolio Manager / Foundation Grant Writer must be able to work well under the pressure of tight deadlines and must be able to multi-task and work congenially across the organization’s fundraising, programmatic, finance and communications areas.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Overseeing all aspects of portfolio management for a robust docket of foundation donors and supporting government grants as needed.
Working collaboratively with development and senior program staff to articulate our mission and program objectives to new and existing individual and institutional partners. This includes planning and facilitating interdepartmental meetings with key program staff to identify and prioritize project needs and key messages for funders.
Developing compelling cases for support in ways that convey the impact and imperative of Ocean Conservancy’s programmatic initiatives. This includes but is not limited to preparing proposals, letters of inquiry, grant reports, email correspondence, presentations, and acknowledgment letters. Responsibilities include drafting original copy, copyediting and proofreading, and formatting documents.
Working with finance staff and program staff to prepare project budgets and financial reports to submit to funders.
Researching and identifying new U.S. and international government and foundation grant opportunities as needed. This includes developing research briefs as well as preparing senior staff for meetings and phone calls with foundation staff.
Working with the Director to develop fundraising strategies, especially as part of the annual revenue projection process.
Contributing to other written materials that serve the organization’s mission and conservation agenda as needed. This may include assisting with development of year-end annual reports to individual major donors.
Ensuring continuity in and accountability for relationship management by maintaining systems and files to track funder contacts, funder profiles, proposal and reporting deadlines, and philanthropic commitments in Raiser’s Edge and hard-copy files. Also responsible for tracking proposal and report preparation assignments with program staff.
REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
Minimum of five years of experience in grant writing, editing and related work (with proven track record of successful grant awards);
Foundation and government grant experience preferred;
Strong preference for experience working at a nonprofit organization, especially either domestic or global policy advocacy groups and/or conservation-related groups;
Experience reviewing budgets and financial reports preferred;
Superior written communication skills, including capacity to communicate complex ideas compellingly to a variety of audiences;
Strong grammar and editing skills (knowledge of AP style a plus);
Knowledge or experience with environmental policy issues preferred;
Strong computer skills, including experience with prospect research tools, Excel and funder databases (Raiser’s Edge experience a plus);
Successful track record in crafting effective and compelling proposals, reports and budgets to meet specified guidelines;
Attentiveness to details and strict adherence to deadlines and deliverables;
Ability to work flexible hours (i.e., occasional evenings and weekends) demanded in a deadline-driven position;
Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills; and
Highly collaborative with an appreciation of the benefit of a multi-disciplinary team approach.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field (degree in English a plus) or related experience
HOW TO APPLY
If you think you have what it takes to join Ocean Conservancy’s team, please send a cover letter speaking to your qualifications and abilities, along with your resume and salary expectations, to jobs@oceanconservancy.org and note “#16-17 – IL – Foundation Grant Writer” in the subject line.
Ocean Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.