Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Funding Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

As a Funding Coordinator, you will be the engine of our fundraising efforts, playing a pivotal role in the financial sustainability and growth of our organization. You will act as the bridge between our impactful programs and the resources required to make them a reality. This position is responsible for the full lifecycle of grants management, from prospecting and research to proposal writing, reporting, and stewardship. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, a meticulous project manager, and a natural relationship builder who is passionate about making a difference.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Development Assistant
Program Assistant or Coordinator
Administrative Coordinator (Non-Profit)

Advancement To:

Grants Manager
Development Manager
Director of Institutional Giving

Lateral Moves:

Communications Coordinator
Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Spearhead the research and identification of new institutional funding prospects, including foundation, corporate, and government sources, to build a robust funding pipeline.
Author, edit, and submit compelling, well-researched, and high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and funding applications tailored to specific funder priorities.
Develop and meticulously manage a comprehensive grants calendar to track all submission, reporting, and stewardship deadlines, ensuring 100% on-time delivery.
Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective funders through consistent, professional communication, updates, and acknowledgments.
Collaborate closely with program and finance teams to gather essential data, narratives, and financial information required for strong funding proposals and accurate reporting.
Prepare detailed and accurate project budgets for grant applications in coordination with the finance department, ensuring alignment with organizational and programmatic needs.
Manage the entire post-award process, including tracking grant deliverables, monitoring project progress, and ensuring compliance with all funder requirements and agreements.
Write and submit timely and compelling interim and final narrative and financial reports to funders, clearly demonstrating the impact of their investment.
Maintain pristine and up-to-date records of all funder interactions, submissions, and awards within the organization’s CRM database (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge).
Coordinate and prepare materials for funder site visits, meetings, and calls, representing the organization with professionalism and passion.
Assist in developing and executing broader fundraising strategies and campaigns to meet annual revenue goals.
Monitor trends in the philanthropic landscape, research best practices in fundraising, and provide insights to the development team.
Draft persuasive donor communications, including acknowledgment letters, stewardship updates, and renewal requests.
Prepare regular, insightful reports on fundraising activities, pipeline status, and progress toward goals for leadership and the Board of Directors.

Secondary Functions

Support the development and creation of compelling fundraising and marketing materials, such as case statements, one-pagers, and annual reports.
Assist the development team with individual donor research and prospecting as required to support major gift initiatives.
Provide key administrative support for the development department, including scheduling meetings, preparing materials, and managing logistics for fundraising events.
Participate in strategic planning sessions to contribute to the long-term financial health and sustainability of the organization.
Reconcile fundraising revenue with the finance department on a monthly or quarterly basis to ensure data accuracy.
Process donations and ensure they are accurately recorded, coded, and acknowledged in the donor database in a timely manner.
Assist in the planning and execution of small-scale fundraising events, donor cultivation gatherings, and stewardship activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven proficiency in grant writing, proposal development, and philanthropic research.
Advanced experience with CRM and donor management software (e.g., Salesforce NPSP, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, Little Green Light).
High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.
Expertise using online grant research tools such as Foundation Directory Online, GrantStation, or similar databases.
Strong budget development skills and financial literacy, with the ability to create and interpret financial documents for grant applications.
Competency in data management, analysis, and generating clear, concise reports on fundraising metrics.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written communication and storytelling abilities, with a keen eye for detail and grammar.
Superior organizational and project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing deadlines effectively.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, capable of engaging professionally with internal teams and external partners.
A proactive and resourceful problem-solver who demonstrates strong initiative and can work independently.
Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all aspects of work, from writing to data entry.
Strong collaborative spirit and a team-oriented mindset, with the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Communications
English
Non-Profit Management
Public Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2-4 years of direct experience in a non-profit development, grant writing, or fundraising coordination role.

Preferred: Demonstrable success in securing a diverse portfolio of grants from foundation, corporate, and/or government sources is highly desirable. Experience managing the full grant lifecycle from prospecting to final reporting is a significant plus.