Grants and Contracts Specialist at National Association For Education Of Young Children NAEYC

Location: Hybrid (Washington, DC Metro Area – in-office at least 1 day/week)

Job Type: Full-Time

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to promote high-quality early learning for each and every child, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research.

NAEYC is seeking a dynamic, highly organized, and mission-driven Grants and Development Specialist to support and manage all aspects of the organization’s grant portfolio. This role is responsible for coordinating grant development, submission, tracking, and reporting throughout the full grant lifecycle.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Specialist will collaborate across departments to identify funding opportunities, develop grant strategies, and ensure compliance with donor requirements. This individual will also contribute to broader fundraising efforts, donor communications, and special events.

This is a new role offering the opportunity to build and document processes, systems, and best practices that strengthen NAEYC’s development operations.

Responsibilities:

Grant Research & Strategy

• Research and identify new funding opportunities, including grants and sponsorships
• Gather data to support grant proposals and funding requests
• Stay current on fundraising trends, grant regulations, and nonprofit best practices
• Support research and logistics for fundraising events

Grant Writing & Communications

• Write and manage foundation grants, sponsorship proposals, and letters of inquiry
• Develop reports and required grant documentation
• Assist with donor communications, including acknowledgments, invitations, and newsletters

Project Management

• Manage the full lifecycle of grant proposals and submissions
• Track deadlines and ensure timely, accurate submissions
• Lead regular grant status meetings and provide updates
• Develop tools, timelines, and systems to manage multiple grant projects

Administrative & Data Management

• Maintain proposal templates and grant tracking systems
• Prepare compliance and program reports
• Track fundraising and donor data through dashboards and reporting tools
• Coordinate with finance on grant revenue and donations
• Maintain a master calendar of grant deadlines and activities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Administration, Communications, or related field
• 5+ years of grant writing and administration experience (including large, multi-year grants)
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with donor databases and fundraising platforms (e.g., Salesforce)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
• Experience in nonprofit, public policy, or social services sectors
• Knowledge of grant regulations and nonprofit financial practices
• Experience with tools such as Blackbaud Grantmaking, Raiser’s Edge, or Financial Edge
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., SmartSheet)
• Fundraising and donor engagement experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Ability to translate complex funding needs into compelling proposals
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented mindset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and collaboration tools
• Commitment to NAEYC’s core values: excellence, equity, collaboration, innovation, and care

Physical Demands:

There are specific physical demands that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. For example, moving throughout a building, handling materials and objects, and communicating freely – writing, speaking, listening. Further discussion and reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Designation:

Hybrid: Indicates that this role is based in the DC Metro Region and is required to physically be on-site in the DC office at least one day a week due to the needs of the organization. Employees are expected to be in the office on Wednesday’s unless otherwise determined by immediate supervisor and department leadership.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - NAEYC is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, matriculation, genetic information, disability, or protected veterans status, or any other factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable laws and regulations.