STEWARDSHIP & GRANTS OFFICER in Winston Salem, North Carolina at Winston Salem Rescue Mission

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Stewardship & Grants Officer plays a key role in growing contributed revenue for Winston-Salem Rescue Mission by building relationships with donors, strengthening donor retention and engagement, expanding grant funding, and supporting corporate and institutional partnerships.

Working closely with the Director of Development, this position manages a portfolio of mid-level donors and develops personalized strategies to cultivate, steward, retain, and increase their support. The role also manages the grant development process, including prospect research, proposal development, internal information gathering, submission, tracking, funder stewardship, and reporting.

The position also supports WSRM's developing year-round corporate engagement strategy and works collaboratively with other members of the Development team, program staff, Finance, the Church Ambassador, and other staff to connect donors and institutional partners more deeply with the Mission.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

Manage an assigned portfolio of mid-level donors, developing individualized strategies to strengthen relationships, increase engagement, retain support, and identify opportunities for increased giving.Engage donors regularly through personalized phone calls, emails, handwritten notes, meetings, Mission tours, and other meaningful contacts.Develop and implement a year-round stewardship plan for assigned donors.Identify donors with the interest and capacity to move into the major-gift pipeline and coordinate appropriate next steps with the Director of Development.Support strategies for re-engaging downgraded and lapsed donors.Coordinate WSRM's donor stewardship process, including welcome communications and opportunities for further engagement.Use the donor CRM to document donor interactions, manage assigned portfolios, schedule follow-up activities, and track cultivation and stewardship progress.Review donor giving history and other available information to identify opportunities for increased engagement and support.Assist with donor tours, appreciation activities, small cultivation gatherings, and other stewardship experiences.Work with Development and program staff to identify compelling impact stories, outcomes, and information that can be used in donor stewardship.

Grant Development & Management

Develop and maintain an active pipeline of foundation, corporate, and other appropriate grant prospects aligned with WSRM's mission and funding priorities.Conduct research to identify and qualify potential funding opportunities.Maintain a comprehensive grant calendar including application deadlines, reporting requirements, renewal opportunities, and stewardship activities.Write, edit, and submit compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, applications, and related materials.Collaborate with program staff, Finance, Development, and organizational leadership to gather program information, outcomes, budgets, financial documentation, and other materials required for grant applications.Maintain a strong working knowledge of WSRM's programs, services, organizational priorities, and funding needs.Track submitted, pending, awarded, declined, and renewed grants within the donor CRM and other established Development systems.Coordinate grant agreements, reporting requirements, and funder acknowledgements.Prepare and submit accurate and timely grant reports.Coordinate funder meetings and site visits as appropriate.Help develop long-term relationships with foundation and corporate funders beyond the application and reporting process.Work with the Director of Development to evaluate grant opportunities based on strategic fit, funding potential, organizational capacity, and likelihood of success.

Development Team & Event Support

Work collaboratively with the Director of Development and Development Operations & Database Specialist to achieve annual fundraising and stewardship goals.Participate in Development planning, donor strategy discussions, and portfolio reviews.Serve as project manager or co-project manager for assigned donor cultivation, stewardship, and assist with fundraising events and donor appreciation activities.Represent WSRM professionally at donor meetings, community activities, and other external events as appropriate.Perform other Development responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree preferred in nonprofit management, communications, business, marketing, English, public relations, or a related field. Relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.2–4 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, grant development, nonprofit development, relationship-based sales, or a related field preferred.Demonstrated experience in professional writing and relationship building required.Grant writing or proposal-writing experience strongly preferred.Experience using a donor CRM or comparable relationship-management system preferred.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Christian with a ministry mindset, utilizing the skills, training and experience God has provided.Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents in a diverse community.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong writing, editing, and storytelling ability.Comfortable initiating donor conversations by telephone, email, and in person.Ability to develop strong relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, churches, and other community partners.Comfortable discussing charitable support and inviting donors and partners to deepen their financial engagement with WSRM.Strong research and analytical skills.Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple donor relationships, grant deadlines, projects, and competing priorities.Self-starter who can work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team.Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate recordkeeping.Proficient with Microsoft Office and comfortable learning and using donor CRM, prospect research, grant research, and other Development technology.Ability to represent WSRM professionally and communicate its mission and impact effectively.Ability to travel locally and work occasional evening or weekend events as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL FACTORS:

The work is typically performed in an office environment while sitting, standing, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects, weighing up to 25 pounds, and uses equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity. Work environment may vary based on events and will include working outdoors (occasionally) and potentially in inclement weather.

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS USED:

Computer and related softwareDonor CRMGrant and prospect research toolsEmail and communications platformsCopier/Scanner/PrinterMicrosoft Office