Associate, Private Grants in Chicago, Illinois at START EARLY

Start Early is a champion for early learning and care from a child’s very first moments, so every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and life. Our desire to close the opportunity gap and create more inclusive experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships nationwide.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication. Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do.

The Associate, Private Grants plays a critical role in developing accurate, strategic, and compliant budgets for grant proposals and funding opportunities. Serving as a key liaison among Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Program, Research, Policy, Development, and accounting teams, this position ensures alignment between programmatic goals, organizational priorities, and funder requirements. Through strong cross-functional collaboration, the Grants Associate leads the timely preparation, review, and oversight of proposal budgets, ensuring financial accuracy, consistency, and compliance throughout the grant lifecycle. This role supports sound financial planning, strengthens organizational accountability, and promotes effective stewardship of grant resources. By providing financial expertise and fostering collaborative partnerships across departments, the Grants Associate directly contributes to Start Early’s mission and the successful advancement of its funding initiatives.

Reporting to the Assistant Director, Private Grants, you will:

Grant/Proposal Budget Development & Support:

· Partner with Program, Research, Policy and Development teams to prepare and submit detailed, funder-compliant budgets and proposals for all private funding opportunities and divisions.

· Provide strategic financial guidance during proposal development, ensuring budgets reflect realistic program delivery and align with organizational goals.

Budget Monitoring & Financial Tracking:

· Maintain accurate grant budget records within Awards Managment (grant management system), ensuring timely updates and system integrity.

· Collaborate with Accounting to reconcile pledges and received private funds, providing accurate reporting on the financial status of awards.

· Ensure adherence to internal policies, funder requirements, and applicable regulations in all aspects of grant budget preparation.

Training & Capacity Building:

· Support onboarding of new team members and deliver financial training sessions (group, individual, or recorded) to strengthen organizational knowledge of grant budgeting and compliance.

· Serve as a resource for staff in navigating financial systems, processes, and reporting requirements.

Cross-Functional Financial Partnership:

· Act as a financial partner to internal teams, advising on resource allocation, budget compliance, and allowable costs.

· Support leadership and program staff in interpreting funder requirements, aligning spending with budgets, and maintaining compliance throughout the grant lifecycle.

· Foster collaborative, solutions-oriented relationships across Finance, Development, and Program teams to strengthen grant management processes.

Other Duties:

· Contribute to process improvements, system enhancements, and cross-departmental initiatives as assigned.

Provide back-up support for other Finance or Development functions as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or minimum 3 years of related experience in grant and contract administration
• Proficient in grant budgeting, financial monitoring, and analysis for private funding.
• Experience with financial systems (e.g., Awards Management and a solid understanding of basic accounting principles, including GAAP and revenue recognition.
• Strong data analysis skills with attention to detail.
• Effective time management, ability to handle multiple deadlines across teams and funding cycles and incoming last minute funder requests.
• Skilled at cross-functional collaboration with internal teams (Program, Policy, Development, FP&A, Accounting).
• Clear written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills, particularly in grant proposals.
• Capable of supporting onboarding and leading financial training sessions.
• Capable of working in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to work independently or with a team.

Base Annual Salary: $58,800-$66,700

As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes: Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.