GRANT WRITER AND MANAGER (PART-TIME)
Organization: YouthBeat
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Part-time, hourly, non-exempt employee
Schedule: Typically 10–15 hours per week, expected to average approximately 12 hours
Compensation: $40–$50 per hour, depending on experience
Location: Primarily remote, with periodic in-person meetings and events in Oakland
ABOUT YOUTHBEAT
YouthBeat educates, empowers, and employs Oakland youth through digital media training, mentorship, and paid work experience. We provide free and paid programs in filmmaking, animation, photography, and related media arts, helping young people build creative and professional skills, express their voices, and pursue pathways to college and careers. Through our social enterprise, YouthBeat PRO, advanced students and alumni also gain paid experience producing media for community and nonprofit clients.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Grants are a central part of YouthBeat’s funding model and make it possible for us to offer high-quality programs at no cost to Oakland youth. We are seeking an experienced, highly organized Grant Writer and Manager who is both a strong writer and a dependable project manager.
This is a focused, hands-on role responsible for maintaining YouthBeat’s grants calendar and leading the development of priority proposals, letters of inquiry, renewals, and reports. The Grant Writer and Manager will work closely with the Executive Director, Development Manager, finance support, and program staff to translate YouthBeat’s work, results, and vision into clear and compelling funding requests.
We are especially interested in candidates who understand the Bay Area philanthropic landscape and have experience in education, youth development, workforce development, arts and culture, or related fields. Grants will remain the clear priority. If the grants calendar permits, the person may also contribute to selected donor communications, sponsorship proposals, campaign materials, or other fundraising projects agreed upon with the Executive Director.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Grant Coordination, Research, and Planning
- Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar and tracking system covering prospects, applications, renewals, reports, award requirements, and internal deadlines.
- Research and recommend a manageable number of foundation, corporate, and public funding opportunities aligned with YouthBeat’s programs and strategy.
- Give particular attention to Bay Area and California opportunities in education, youth development, workforce development, media arts, and economic mobility.
- Assess funding opportunities for strategic fit, competitiveness, staff capacity, and reporting requirements before recommending that YouthBeat pursue them.
- Proactively communicate upcoming deadlines and coordinate the information, data, budgets, and supporting documents needed from staff.
Proposal Development and Reporting
- Lead the writing, editing, and submission of high-quality letters of inquiry, proposals, renewals, and grant reports.
- Adapt YouthBeat’s case for support to each funder while maintaining an accurate, consistent, and strengths-based organizational voice.
- Collaborate with program staff to gather program plans, participant data, outcomes, stories, and evaluation findings.
- Work with the Executive Director and finance support to develop grant budgets, budget narratives, and other financial materials that align with proposal narratives.
- Coordinate attachments, approvals, and online submissions, ensuring complete applications and reports are submitted on time.
- Maintain an organized library of current narratives, outcomes, program descriptions, budgets, organizational documents, and submitted materials.
- Record key grant deliverables and reporting requirements in YouthBeat’s tracking system and communicate them to responsible staff.
Limited Additional Development Support
- Prepare selected funder updates, briefing materials, talking points, and correspondence.
- As capacity allows, contribute to a limited number of other fundraising materials, which may include donor communications, sponsorship proposals, campaign messaging, or impact materials. Grant applications, reporting, and calendar management will take priority.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- At least two to three years of successful nonprofit grant writing, grants coordination, institutional giving, or closely related experience.
- Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to make complex program information clear, concise, and persuasive.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple proposals, reports, and deadlines with strong attention to detail.
- Experience collaborating with program and finance staff to develop accurate narratives, outcomes, budgets, and supporting materials.
- Sound judgment in evaluating funder fit and balancing opportunity with organizational capacity.
- Ability to work independently, communicate proactively, receive feedback, and keep collaborative projects moving.
- Availability to attend periodic in-person meetings or events in Oakland.
Preferred
- Familiarity with Bay Area philanthropy and funders supporting Oakland, education, youth development, workforce pathways, economic mobility, or arts and culture.
- Experience with city, county, state, or federal grant applications and reporting.
- Knowledge of career-connected learning, pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship, creative youth development, or media arts education.
- Experience using a CRM, grants database, project-management system, or other deadline-tracking tools.
- Experience developing fundraising communications beyond grants.
- Familiarity with community-centered fundraising and strengths-based writing about communities that have experienced systemic inequities.
No specific college degree is required. We value demonstrated skill, relevant experience, sound judgment, and commitment to YouthBeat’s mission.
COMPENSATION AND WORK STRUCTURE
This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position typically requiring 10–15 hours per week and expected to average approximately 12 hours across the year. The hourly pay range is $40–$50, depending on experience. Hours will fluctuate with the grants calendar, with busier periods around major deadlines and lighter periods at other times. YouthBeat will work with the employee to prioritize assignments within the available hours; the position is not expected to absorb an unlimited number of applications or last-minute requests. There are, however, plenty of future growth opportunities at this rapidly expanding non-profit.
The position is primarily remote, but candidates must be able to participate periodically in person at YouthBeat’s program and office space at KDOL-TV in Oakland and at selected organizational events. Bay Area candidates are strongly preferred.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DISCLOSURE:
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
We know strong candidates may bring skills or perspectives beyond what’s listed, if that’s you, we encourage you to apply and share how you can contribute to our mission.
