Note: This position can work out of the Knoxville, Nashville or Memphis office.
ABOUT US
tnAchieves is dedicated to enhancing postsecondary opportunities and outcomes by providing holistic student supports rooted in community and accountability. The organization works at scale, serving more than 85,000 students annually through college access and success initiatives. Our team is part of micro and macro change, and the work is technical and metrics-driven, resulting in life-changing outcomes for students and positive workforce development for the state of Tennessee. tnAchieves has supported over 50,000 students to a degree or credential and into the workforce.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Grants Manager plays a critical role in securing and stewarding the resources that allow tnAchieves to serve students at scale. This person researches funding opportunities, develops compelling proposals, manages grant reporting and ensures tnAchieves consistently communicates its work, outcomes and impact with accuracy and clarity.
This is a writing-intensive role for someone who can take complex programs, data and ideas and shape them into a clear, cohesive and persuasive story. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and editor who is highly organized, attentive to detail and able to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders without losing sight of the larger goal. This person should understand, or be prepared to quickly develop a strong understanding of, tnAchieves, Tennessee's higher education landscape and the national philanthropic organizations investing in college access, completion, workforce development and economic mobility. Experience analyzing and translating data would be a significant asset.
Equally important is the opportunity for continuous learning and professional development as part of a mission-driven team. tnAchieves invests in each team member to identify and foster skillsets that will serve individuals throughout their careers. The organization is intentional about creating a strong culture of shared values. This contributes to a talent pipeline for growth opportunities as the organization evolves to expand its impact.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Grant Development and Management
- Research and evaluate local, state and national funding opportunities that align with the tnAchieves mission, programs and strategic priorities
- Develop a strong understanding of tnAchieves programs, outcomes, data and organizational priorities to accurately and compellingly communicate the organization's impact
- Write, edit and submit clear, persuasive and accurate grant proposals, letters of inquiry and other funding requests
- Manage all reporting requirements for existing grants, ensuring submissions are thorough, timely and responsive to funder expectations
- Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar and tracking system that includes deadlines, reporting requirements, audiences, requested amounts, award decisions and next steps
- Coordinate the collection of program, financial and outcome information needed for grant proposals and reports
- Partner with the Vice President of Finance to ensure grant budgets, expenditures and financial reporting are accurate and aligned
- Organize and facilitate regular Grant Committee meetings with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Content Officer and Vice President of Finance
- Provide the President/CEO and senior leadership with regular updates on the grant pipeline, current awards, upcoming deadlines, funding trends and potential opportunities
- Build knowledge of national funders and philanthropic trends related to college access, persistence, completion, workforce development and economic mobility
Data and Reporting
- Gather, review and organize program data for grant proposals, funder reports and other internal and external materials
- Manage required state reporting and ensure all submissions are complete, accurate and timely
- Work with the Chief Content Officer and Chief Operating Officer to translate data into clear narratives, reports, one-pagers and other organizational materials
- Review data and written materials for accuracy, consistency and alignment, identifying gaps or questions before materials are finalized
- Support the analysis of program outcomes and funding trends to strengthen proposals, reports and organizational decision-making
- Research, write and submit conference proposals that position tnAchieves as a leader in college access, completion and workforce development
Organizational Support
- Support cross-functional projects that require strong writing, editing, organization, research or reporting skills
- Assist with TN Promise meetings and other major organizational initiatives as needed
- Respond to routine student communications during periods of increased organizational need
- Approach all responsibilities with flexibility, accountability and a willingness to support the broader tnAchieves team
- Attends individual and team meetings as scheduled by direct supervisor and leadership
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required
- Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly, accurately and persuasively
- Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, stakeholders and deliverables simultaneously
- Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing polished, high-quality work
- Ability to gather information from multiple programs and sources and develop a cohesive narrative
- Knowledge of tnAchieves, its programs and its role in advancing college access, completion and workforce development across Tennessee
- Familiarity with Tennessee's higher education landscape, including state agencies, public institutions, policies and initiatives, strongly preferred
- Knowledge of national philanthropy and funders focused on postsecondary education, workforce development and economic mobility preferred
- Experience with grant writing, grant management, nonprofit communications or a related field strongly preferred
- Experience analyzing data or translating quantitative findings into clear, accessible and compelling language is a plus
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to coordinate effectively across departments
- Sound judgment, initiative and the ability to work independently while keeping appropriate team members informed
- Commitment to the tnAchieves mission and a belief in the potential of every student
ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Research and evaluate local, state, federal, and private foundation grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities
- Increase the volume, quality, and total dollar value of submitted funding requests
- Write, edit, and submit compelling grant proposals compliant with funder guidelines and deadlines
- Collaborate with leadership, finance, and program teams to create realistic budgets and measurable outcomes
- Manage the full grant lifecycle to ensure compliance with funder metrics and standards
- Maintain grant calendars to guarantee on-time submission of progress reports, financial updates, and renewals
- Partner with finance to monitor grant expenditures and ensure proper fund allocation
- Collect program impact data to produce accurate reports demonstrating outcomes and performance
tnAchieves offers a competitive hiring package, complete with generous paid time off, a hybrid work schedule, opportunities for growth and a full benefits package.
Starting base salary is $50,000 with full compensation package (benefits and PTO) totaling $65,000.
*This compensation package includes: employer-covered health insurance, employer-paid life insurance, paid holiday time, PTO, an employer 401K match, and financial advising services.
Please attach a grant writing sample to your application.
Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Knoxville, TN 37915
