Grants & Research Manager

MISSION ALIGNMENT: Alpha USA exists to equip and serve the Church in its mission to help people discover and develop a relationship with Jesus. Every staff member at Alpha plays a critical role in advancing this mission, contributing to a culture of prayer, hospitality, evangelism, and innovation. PURPOSE OF ROLE, SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES (INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO) We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and persuasive Grant Writing & Research Manager to join our fundraising team. The primary focus of this role is identifying, researching, and securing grant funding from private foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic sources. The role will also support major donor cultivation by researching high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and prospects, and drafting customized major gift proposals, letters of inquiry, and stewardship reports. The ideal candidate is a strong writer with excellent research skills, a proven track record of securing competitive funding, and the ability to adapt tone and style for both institutional funders and individual philanthropists. This position plays a critical role in diversifying and growing our revenue streams to advance our mission ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS: Grants Research, Writing & Management (60%) Conduct thorough prospect research to identify and prioritize new grant opportunities from private foundations, corporate giving programs, and other aligned philanthropic sources. Prepare, write, and submit high-quality letters of inquiry (LOIs), full grant proposals, budgets, narratives, and supporting materials that clearly articulate needs, impact, outcomes, and alignment with funder priorities. Collaborate with program staff, finance, leadership, and other departments to gather necessary data, statistics, outcomes, and stories to strengthen proposals. Manage the full grants lifecycle: track deadlines via a grants calendar, ensure compliance with all application guidelines and reporting requirements, submit applications on time, and prepare timely interim and final reports for funded grants. Maintain accurate records in the donor database/CRM, including grant tracking, awards, reporting schedules, and funder communications. Cultivate and steward relationships with foundation and corporate program officers as needed, including follow-up correspondence and site visit preparation. Major Donor Research & Proposals (40%) Perform in-depth prospect research on individual major donors and high-capacity philanthropists using wealth screening tools, public records, news sources, and other databases. Draft personalized major gift proposals, concept papers, case statements, gift illustrations, and stewardship reports tailored to individual donor interests and giving history. Support major and principal gift officers (and leadership as needed) in preparing donor meetings by providing background research, talking points, and proposal materials. Assist in strategy development for major donor cultivation and solicitation as assigned, working closely with the Major Donor Communications Manager on related communications and materials. ROLE DIMENSIONS: Budget Management: N/A People Management: N/A Key Relationships – Internal: Fund Development Team, Finance Team and Ministry Leads Key Relationships – External: Foundation and Trust Contacts ESSENTIAL SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 4+ years of professional grant writing experience in a nonprofit setting, with a demonstrated track record of successfully securing six- and seven-figure grants. Strong prospect research skills, including experience using online databases, wealth screening tools, and public records for both institutional and individual donors. Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with the ability to produce clear, compelling, persuasive, and error-free documents under tight deadlines. Excellent analytical and research abilities; proficiency in synthesizing complex information into accessible narratives. Highly organized with strong project management skills; ability to manage multiple competing deadlines and priorities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word and Excel); experience with donor/CRM databases (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce). Commitment to the organization's mission and values. Alpha experience is preferred DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS: Embodies Alpha DNA (prayer, invitation, hospitality, etc.) Adheres to Alpha Staff Operating Values (see attached) Guided by the ALPHA values—Attentive to God, Listening, Positive, Humble, and Ambitious—we strive to cultivate a culture rooted in faith, intentionality, and growth. These principles shape our approach to leadership, teamwork, and service. Self-motivated, proactive, and collaborative team player SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKE: Identifies and develops a strong pipeline of aligned grant opportunities. Produces compelling grant proposals, reports, and donor materials that secure new funding. Maintains organized grant tracking systems and ensures all deadlines and reporting requirements are met. Provides high-quality prospect research to support major donor cultivation. Contributes to growing and diversifying Alpha USA’s funding base through strategic institutional and philanthropic partnerships. COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES: Mission-driven: Embodies and champions the Alpha ethos Collaborative: Works well across teams and departments Adaptable: Thrives in a dynamic, changing environment Detail-oriented: Follows through and maintains quality Growth-minded: Open to feedback and continuous learning