Description
Grants Manager
Location: El Cajon, CA (onsite)
Grade: Management
Reports to: Vice President of Development
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $32-$41/hr.
Job Summary
At Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), we believe innovation and community partnerships drive meaningful change. The Grants Manager is a key player in this mission—turning strategy into impact by securing the funding that fuels our programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This role goes beyond writing proposals. The Grants Manager will:
- Shape the future of HGH’s programs by identifying, writing, and managing competitive grant opportunities from corporate, foundation, and government partners.
- Ensure accountability and compliance by supporting the Finance Department with complex billing and reporting requirements tied to federal, state, and local funding.
- Represent HGH with influence—building relationships with community leaders, collaborating with partner organizations, and presenting confidently to audiences that include elected officials and decision-makers.
The ideal candidate is a proactive storyteller and disciplined project manager, equally comfortable with deadlines and data as they are with people and presentations. This role is for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in delivering high-quality work, and is inspired by the chance to create lasting impact.
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Development and working alongside the Finance and Executive Teams, the Grants Manager will be at the heart of HGH’s growth—fueling opportunities, expanding services, and strengthening the foundation of nearly six decades of community leadership.
What You'll Be Doing:
Grant Writing & Management
- Write and/or manage grants including, but not limited to:
- Unrestricted funding to grow organizational capacity
- Restricted funding to maintain and expand programs
- Capital campaign grants
- Research and identify online grant opportunities
- Collect, organize, and maintain all electronic and hard copy documents needed for complete grant files and records management
Take responsibility for researching, writing, compiling, and managing the timeline of all grants - Maintain and oversee workflow processes and procedures to ensure accurate and efficient collection and timely submission of grants
Reporting & Compliance
- Track and manage grant reports, deadlines, deliverables, and agreements
- Collaboratively support the Finance Department with reimbursement grant invoicing and reporting
- Work with all departments to collect and synthesize data
- Oversee grant workflow processes related to data entry to ensure adequate internal controls and accuracy in all grant reporting
- Provide strong links between program, finance, and other staff to ensure smooth coordination of all activities related to grant data collection and reporting
Collaboration & Team Leadership
- Bring together members of other departments and assign roles, when necessary
- At times, direct external grant writing contractors and oversee other members of the grant writing team, including staff, interns, or volunteers
- Provide general support to the Development Department during peak periods, including special events
Relationship Building & Stewardship
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with grantors and donors
- Represent HGH with professionalism and credibility in all grant-related communications and interactions
What You'll Bring To The Role:
Strategic & Project Management
- Proven track record in executing strategy, setting priorities, and managing multiple projects
- Ability to work effectively under pressure to achieve individual and organizational goals
- Strong project and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize, delegate, and meet deadlines
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to multitask and handle several projects simultaneously
- Self-motivated, disciplined, and able to work with minimal supervision
Communication & Presentation Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Comfortable with public speaking and presentations to diverse audiences
- Skilled in technical writing and storytelling for proposals, reports, and community engagement
- Ability to build rapport and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Collaboration & Leadership
- Ability to work cooperatively and collegially with others
- Experience supervising and mentoring college interns seeking academic credit or professional experience in grant writing
- Interpersonal skills to create, cultivate, and maintain effective relationships across teams and with external partners
- Utilizes sound judgment and maintains strict confidentiality in all professional interactions
Compliance & Technical Knowledge
- Experience working with program staff/managers in developing, implementing, and monitoring procedures to track grant requirements
- Familiarity with state and federal record-keeping laws
- Understanding of PHI laws and best practices
- Knowledge of and commitment to the AFP Code of Ethics
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, DonorPerfect, and Instrumentl
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum of two years of experience in technical writing and storytelling, preferably in:
- Writing, developing, and researching letters of intent
- Preparing and submitting government grant proposals
- Writing corporate grant applications
Physical requirements/Working conditions
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform physical activity including walking, standing, sitting, reaching, carrying, lifting, bending, twisting, stooping and kneeling.
- The employee may be required to lift office equipment up to 30 lbs.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Home of Guiding Hands is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression), age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
About HGH
Home of Guiding Hands is a non-profit organization that was established in 1967 by a small group of dedicated and ambitious community members. The Mission of HGH is "to improve the lives of those we serve". We support children and adults in San Diego and Imperial Counties with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy. We provide a full continuum of care including residential care in specialized group homes, independent living support, respite care, and adult foster home services. Additionally, we provide early childhood assessments and services, tailored day support, Life Planning workshops, county-wide transportation services, and on-site activities at our resource center.
To see all our available career opportunities please visit: https://www.guidinghands.org/careers/
