11 Jan
Youth Empowerment & Support Services
South Central Edmonton
Grants Specialist
Full-Time, 40 hours per week - Monday to Friday
Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) is currently seeking a full-time Grants Specialist. The Grants Specialist will play a critical role in securing funding to support the organization's programs and initiatives, as well develop compelling narrative to support all facets of organizational outreach.
What We Do
YESS is a not-for-profit agency working with youth facing difficult realities. Based in Edmonton, our Youth Support Centre provides immediate and low-barrier 24/7 sleep support and individualized wrap-around supports for young people aged 15 - 24.
We work collaboratively within a network of care focused on the prevention of youth homelessness by providing youth with the necessary supports to stabilize their housing, improve their wellbeing, build life skills, connect with community, and avoid re-entry into homelessness.
What You Will Do
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Grants Specialist will be responsible for researching and identifying funding opportunities from government, corporate, and private sources, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic goals. The Grants Specialist will also lead the preparation, writing and submission of compelling grant proposals that align with YESS mission and goals while collaborating with internal teams to gather necessary information and develop project narratives. Additionally the Grants Specialist will maintain a comprehensive grants database, assist in preparing financial reports and support the organization's long-term funding strategy.
Responsibilities Include:
Grant Strategy & Development:
- Researching and identifying grant opportunities from government, corporate, and private sources to support organizational programs, initiatives,
and strategic goals.
- Writing compelling and persuasive grant proposals that align with the organization’s mission and long-term objectives.
- Collaborating with cross-departmental teams to gather necessary information and develop project narratives that align with funding opportunities.
- Managing the full grant application process from start to finish, including submission, follow-up, and reporting to funders
- Ensuring all grant proposals and supporting documents are error-free, comply with guidelines, and align with organizational priorities.
Grant Tracking & Database Management
- Maintaining a comprehensive database of grant opportunities, applications, and outcomes to track progress and measure success.
- Working with the Development and Marketing team to manage the grant management component of the new CRM and automate related processes.
Strategic Initiatives
- Writing long-form organizational content, such as the Annual Report and Case for Support, in alignment with the organization’s 5-year strategic plan.
- Contributing to the development of impact reports, ensuring the accuracy of all details and aligning them with organizational goals and funder requirements.
Relationship Management & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Maintaining and nurturing positive relationships with funders and stakeholders to foster ongoing partnerships and funding opportunities.
- Building key internal relationships for timely information gathering, content verification, and approval of grant applications.
Process Improvement & Compliance
- Monitoring external markets for best practices and new business models to enhance grant opportunities and organizational growth.
- Collaborating with the finance team to monitor grant budgets, ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance with grant terms.
Additionally, you will provide a professional level of service to donors, promote the agency in a positive manner to the outside community and share information, communicate and collaborate with other YESS staff
What you Bring
- Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, or related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Proven experience in grant writing with a demonstrated track record of successfully securing funding from diverse sources, including government, corporate and private foundations.
- Experience in the higher education or nonprofit sector is highly preferred, with a solid understanding of industry-specific grant opportunities and funding strategies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive and compelling proposals and reports.
- Strong research and analytical abilities, with a keen eye for identifying relevant grant opportunities and aligning them with organizational goals.
- Exceptional attention to detail and a strong ability to manage multiple projects while meeting strict deadlines.
- Experience with CRM systems and grant management software, with the ability to effectively track and automate grant processes.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to collaborate across departments to gather necessary information and develop cohesive grant proposals.
- Knowledge of financial reporting and compliance requirements for grants is an asset.
Prerequisites
- Clear police clearance (CRIM) and Child and Youth Intervention (CYIM)
check both obtained within the last six months
- Valid class 5 driver's license
- Driver's abstract within the last three months
- $1 million personal liability vehicle insurance
YESS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive and safe work environment for people of all backgrounds.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
Impress this employer describing Your skills and abilities, fill out the form below and leave Your personal touch in the presentation letter.