Grants Manager

Who We Are

Children's Law Center is a mission-driven organization focused on providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. As an organization, we envision a world in which all children have a strong foundation of family, health and education and are free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our mission is to do this work together with DC children and families, Children's Law Center uses the law to solve children's urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures. A key part of our mission is to challenge and reduce ways in which racism and other biases – structural and interpersonal – prevent each of us, our organization and the systems in which we work from providing children a strong foundation from which to thrive.

Our greatest assets are our people. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients and our community. Staff members at Children's Law Center advance the organization's mission through their leadership, result-oriented mindset and commitment to cultural humility. We are looking for individuals who like to be challenged to grow both personally and professionally and value the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Children's Law Center's continued success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and exemplify these attributes.

Program Description

The Development Team at Children's Law Center (CLC) is charged with raising private dollars to fund the work CLC staff do each year to carry out the mission of the organization. We build relationships with donors from local, regional and national foundations, law firms and corporations and individuals to give annual and multi-year gifts. Each year the team raises more than $4 million through a variety of campaigns, events and personal solicitations.

Job Summary

The Grants Manager plays a critical role in supporting the Development Team by managing the full lifecycle of institutional grants. This includes coordinating grant applications and reports, tracking deadlines and deliverables, aligning grant budgets with programmatic needs and ensuring compliance with funder requirements. The Grants Manager will serve as a central liaison between Development, Finance and Program teams to ensure strategic and effective use of grant funding.

Role Responsibilities

Grants Coordination and Project Management

• Manage the full grant life cycle in coordination with external grant writing firm, including prospecting, proposal development, submission, reporting and stewardship for foundation, corporate and government grants.
• Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar, tracking deadlines for proposals, reports, renewals and deliverables.
• Coordinate internal and external workflows for grant submissions and reporting, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Support the Chief Development Officer (CDO) in identifying new funding opportunities and stewarding existing fund-raising relationships. Lead cross-functional collaboration to gather necessary data, narratives and financials for grant proposals and reports.
• Lead the internal project management for all funded grants, ensuring effective communication and collaboration between the Development, Program and Finance teams.
• Develop clear work plans with grant writing firm and internal stakeholders to meet grant deliverables and deadlines.
• Facilitate regular meetings with grant writing firm and program managers to review grant progress, anticipate challenges and develop solutions.
• Monitor progress on grant-funded projects to ensure alignment with stated objectives and timelines.

Grant Writing and Relationship Management

• Prepare and submit timely, high-quality grant applications for funding opportunities managed internally.
• Prepare and submit timely, high-quality grant reports that clearly articulate program impact and financial expenditures for funding opportunities managed internally.
• Create and maintain relationships with Foundation and Institution contacts to cultivate and steward strong, ongoing relationships.

Compliance and Deliverables Oversight

• Maintain meticulous records of all grant-related documentation, including original proposals, contracts, reports and correspondence.
• Develop and maintain a robust system for tracking grant performance against key deliverables, outcomes and timelines.
• Ensure rigorous compliance with all funder requirements, terms and conditions, serving as the internal expert on grant reporting and regulatory standards.
• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure grant budgets are accurately developed and aligned with programmatic needs and funder specifications.
• Facilitate regular check-ins with program and finance teams to assess grant performance and compliance.
• Monitor grant expenditures and budget variances, ensuring funds are used appropriately and efficiently according to grant agreements.
• Provide regular financial updates and analysis to the CDO and program staff on the status of grant spending.
• Ensure all grant activities comply with funder requirements and organizational policies.
• Assist in preparing for audits and funder reviews as needed.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of four - seven years of experience in non-profit grants management, grant writing or institutional fundraising.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or certification in nonprofit management, public administration or related field preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to craft persuasive and clear grant narratives.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.
• Proficiency in grant tracking systems and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Salesforce or similar CRM, (e.g., Donor Perfect) is a plus.
• Experience with Power BI is a plus.

Organizational Competencies

• Cultural Humility – an openness to self-reflection and to understanding and respecting other cultural experiences and points of view and viewing individuals as experts in their own culture and experiences.
• Giving and Receiving Feedback – the ability to be self-reflective, give and receive appreciative, coaching, constructive, interpersonal and evaluative feedback.
• Conflict Management – a process which is designed to guide individuals and groups from the moment of conflict to the implementation of an identified solution. This process incorporates skills and techniques, including recognizing points of conflict, identifying the facts and feelings involved to get to the root of the issue, investigating equitable solutions, implementing and evaluating solutions, and supporting and guiding others throughout the process.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this position ranges from $65,000-$81,000 annually based on relevant experience. Children's Law Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer-provided retirement contributions; flexible spending plans; and vacation, sick, holiday, family and medical leave. You can find more details about Children's Law Center's comprehensive benefits package at

Children's Law Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Employees with federal student loan debt can apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For more information, go to

Application Instructions

This position will be starting in January 2026. To apply, please submit a resume via CLC's careers page ).

Children's Law Center is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. If you believe that you need accommodation to search for, or apply for, one of our positions please send an email to In your email, please include the accommodation you are requesting and the job title you are applying for. It may take up to three business days to receive a response to your request.

Hybrid Working Conditions

Children's Law Center is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule. Employees are required to work in-person from Children's Law Center's office a minimum of two days per week. At least one of these days must be either Tuesday or Wednesday. The hybrid work schedule is subject to change based on organizational needs and/or best practices for health and safety. Hybrid work expectations may vary depending upon role responsibilities.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Children's Law Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Background Checks

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EEO

Children's Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and existing employees. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our company and our career opportunities ).

Our Commitment

Children's Law Center is dedicated to building a world that is inclusive in approach and has equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all. Our organization is committed to developing and supporting a robustly diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community, where all members can create and feel a sense of belonging. Through our collective deliberate efforts, we work toward racial and social justice for children and families in DC.