Careers at Urban Alliance

Position Title: Director of Initiatives & Grants

Description Summary

The Director of Initiatives & Grants [non-exempt] is responsible for supporting and advancing Urban Alliance’s strategic initiatives and programmatic efforts through collaborative leadership, coordination, relationship building, and effective implementation.

Working under the direction of the Executive Director and in close collaboration with the Associate Executive Director of Programs, this role assists in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of Urban Alliance initiatives and Learning Communities to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, community needs, and Urban Alliance’s mission.

The position also plays a key role in supporting Urban Alliance’s grant efforts, working collaboratively with the Executive Director to identify funding opportunities, prepare grant applications and proposals, coordinate supporting information, and assist with grant reporting and funder requirements.

Fundraising and broader development strategy are led by the Executive Director. The Director of Initiatives & Grants may support development-related activities, donor or funder engagement, partnerships, and special fundraising efforts when appropriate and strategically aligned with the position’s responsibilities.

The Director of Initiatives & Grants helps connect Urban Alliance’s initiatives, demonstrated community impact, and funding opportunities to strengthen the organization’s ability to sustain and expand its mission.

Reporting Structure

The Director of Initiatives & Grants reports directly to the Executive Director.

This role requires ongoing coordination, communication, and collaboration with the Associate Executive Director of Programs to ensure Urban Alliance initiatives, Learning Communities, and programmatic activities are aligned, supported, and effectively implemented.

The position also works closely with the Executive Director on grant development and funding opportunities, while recognizing that overall fundraising, donor development, and development strategy remain under the leadership of the Executive Director.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Initiatives and Program Support

• Collaborate closely with the Associate Executive Director of Programs in supporting Urban Alliance initiatives and programmatic efforts.
• Assist with the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of initiatives to ensure effectiveness and alignment with organizational goals.
• Develop and monitor initiative work plans, timelines, and implementation supports.
• Support cross-functional collaboration among staff, Program Partners, churches, and Network Participants.
• Help ensure initiatives remain impactful, efficient, and responsive to community needs.
• Assist with program reporting, outcome tracking, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Contribute to strategic planning and communications supporting community engagement and organizational goals.
• Help gather program outcomes, stories, data, and other information that can demonstrate Urban Alliance’s impact and support grant applications and organizational communications.

Learning Communities and Network Engagement

• Support facilitation and planning of Learning Communities, including GenNow and related initiatives.
• Provide technical assistance and engagement support to Program Partners and Network Participants.
• Assist with onboarding and relationship-building efforts involving new Program Partners and Network Participants.
• Foster strong relationships with churches, ministries, and community organizations to strengthen collaboration and participation across the Urban Alliance network.
• Help coordinate communication and follow-up connected to 5C grants and related partnership opportunities.

Research and Evaluation Support

• Provide research and data-related support for initiatives and community engagement efforts.
• Assist with coordination and follow-up of Network surveys and evaluation tools.
• Support data collection and reporting to inform organizational learning and decision-making.
• Assist in gathering and organizing program data, outcomes, demographics, impact stories, and other information needed for grant applications and reports.

Grant Writing and Coordination

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to identify and assess grant opportunities that align with Urban Alliance’s mission, strategic priorities, initiatives, and programs.
• Research prospective foundation, corporate, government, and other grant opportunities as appropriate.
• Assist with and prepare grant applications, letters of inquiry, proposals, and other funding requests in collaboration with the Executive Director and appropriate staff.
• Coordinate the collection of program information, outcomes, budgets, organizational documents, and supporting materials required for grant submissions.
• Maintain and monitor grant calendars, application deadlines, reporting deadlines, and other grant-related requirements.
• Assist with grant reporting by gathering program outcomes, financial information, impact stories, and other required documentation from appropriate staff.
• Help ensure grant applications and reports accurately represent Urban Alliance’s programs, impact, priorities, and intended use of funds.
• Maintain organized records of grant applications, awards, reports, correspondence, and funding opportunities.
• Support communication and stewardship with funders as directed by or in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Work with program and administrative staff to ensure commitments made through funded grants are understood, tracked, and appropriately reported.

Strategic Partnerships and Development Support

• Support relationship-building with foundations, corporations, churches, community organizations, and other strategic partners when connected to Urban Alliance initiatives or funding opportunities.
• Participate in funder meetings, site visits, presentations, donor gatherings, fundraising events, or other development activities at the direction of the Executive Director and when strategically appropriate.
• Provide program information, outcomes, stories, and other materials that support the Executive Director’s fundraising and development efforts.
• Assist with special development or fundraising projects when the Executive Director determines that the position’s involvement would strengthen the opportunity.
• Recognize that overall fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, sponsorship development, and development leadership are led by the Executive Director.

Key Qualifications

Faith and Service

• Active personal faith in Jesus Christ and demonstrated Christian maturity
• Regular participation and involvement in a local church

Skills and Competencies

• Experience in or familiarity with grant research, grant writing, proposal development, or nonprofit funding.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate organizational programs, outcomes, needs, and impact.
• Strong research, organization, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, applications, reports, and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize information from multiple staff members and program areas.
• Ability to build and sustain strategic relationships.
• Strong verbal communication and relationship-management skills.
• Experience coordinating initiatives, events, engagement efforts, or community-based programs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with program, administrative, and executive leadership.
• Ability to take initiative while working within established organizational priorities and leadership structures.
• Awareness of the region’s church, ministry, nonprofit, and community landscape.
• Knowledge of how churches and faith-based nonprofit organizations operate.
• Awareness of the social, economic, and cultural challenges facing underserved communities.
• Ability to adapt communication and support based on diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to work with organizational databases and grant-management tools.

Other Requirements

• Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Local and regional travel as needed for meetings, events, funder engagement, and organizational activities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of related experience in nonprofit programs, grant writing, ministry, community engagement, project coordination, or related work.
• Demonstrated grant writing or proposal-development experience preferred.