Grants Manager - GRIP Training Institute
Berkeley, CA 94709
About the Job
GRANTS MANAGER
Organization: GRIP Training Institute
Location: California (San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles Area preferred)
Type: Full time, Non-Exempt (40 hours a week)
About: https://grip-traininginstitute.org
DO YOU?
Do you want to be on a team who works toward the dismantling of the mass incarceration system, and strives to turn violence and suffering into opportunities for healing? Do you want to work with proven leaders in the growing global movement toward Restorative Justice? Do you want to make an impact on the lives of justice impacted people? is seeking a to join our growing team and help secure funding and manage relations with institutional donors in support of our mission.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The will seek new funding opportunities and manage existing partnerships with institutional funders, including foundation, government agencies, and corporations. You will be responsible for managing relationships with funders and prospects, drafting and submitting grant proposals and reports, and supporting the overall strategy for growing year-over-year institutional revenue. Reporting to the Development Director, the Grants Manager will contribute to expanding GRIP’s institutional funding base.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
The is responsible for supporting GRIP’s grant-seeking efforts, from identifying new funding opportunities to managing relationships with funders, submitting proposals, and tracking outcomes. This role is a remote role based in California with a preference for someone located in the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Travel to GRIP’s office in Berkeley, CA will be expected 2-4 times a year for in-person meetings and retreats as well as travel to meet with GRIP’s donors and partners, when appropriate, and travel to participate and/or host prison events, when appropriate. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Draft and submit grant proposals and applications to institutional funders, ensuring alignment with GRIP’s mission and goals.
Work closely with program and finance staff to gather data, outcomes, and stories for proposals and reports.
Prepare timely, accurate grant reports to communicate program success, impact, and use of funds.
Track current grant cycles and renewal processes. Create and manage a grants deadline calendar to ensure all funder deadlines are met.
Ensure compliance with grant requirements and maintain organized records of proposals, reports, and communications.
Work in partnership with GRIP leadership to ensure excellent foundation relations and robust stewardship of institutional support.
Cultivate and manage relationships with current and prospective institutional funders, including government agencies, foundations, and corporations.
Support the planning and hosting of funders to prison visits and events.
Serve as point of contact for institutional funders, providing regular updates on GRIP’s work and impact and engaging senior team members when appropriate.
Develop strategies to deepen funder engagement and secure multi-year commitments.
Coordinate site visits, meetings, and other interactions with funders as needed.
Research and identify new funding opportunities from government sources, foundations, and corporations that align with GRIP’s mission and strategic goals.
Maintain a pipeline of institutional funders and track all stages of the grant application process.
Stay informed about trends in philanthropy to identify new opportunities, adjust strategies accordingly and stay up-to-date with funder priorities.
Ensure key interactions with institutional donors and prospects are tracked in GRIP’s CRM (EveryAction).
Work with the Development Director on strategies for growing GRIP’s institutional funding year-over-year.
Oversee CRM data and reporting related to grants administration and work with the Development Associate as necessary to develop systems and processes to support institutional funding.
Contribute to setting and meeting annual revenue goals from institutional funders.
Collaborate with the Development Director to align grant-seeking efforts with the organization’s overall fundraising strategy.
Support the development of new funding strategies and collaborate with appropriate members of the leadership team around the development of new programmatic workstreams when opportunities arise.
KEY PARTNERSHIPS
This role partners with the Development Team, Finance Team, and Programs Teams to secure and manage institutional funding. You will work across multiple internal teams to ensure successful funding efforts that align with GRIP’s programs and mission.
WHO YOU ARE AND KEYS TO SUCCESS (the must-haves)
To be successful in this role, you will excel in these areas:
- You are passionate about the work we do: You resonate with GRIP’s mission of transforming lives through restorative justice and are motivated to secure resources to make this transformative work possible.
- You have 3-5 years of grant writing and fundraising experience: You have experience drafting successful grant proposals, managing funder relationships, and securing institutional funding.
- You are detail-oriented and organized: You can manage multiple projects and deadlines, ensuring accuracy in all grant-related work.
- You are an excellent communicator: You can transform program data into persuasive narratives and enjoy collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
- You are driven to support revenue growth: You are strategic, goal-oriented, and eager to contribute to expanding GRIP’s funding base.
- You have experience using CRM software or grants management databases
- You can utilize such tools to track funders and submissions and identify new opportunities.
- You are interested and ableto be cleared to enter prisons
- CDCR runs a complete background check on every person entering a California prison facility.
BONUS POINTS (nice-to-haves)
The Ideal candidate will also have:
Familiarity with grant opportunities funding people and communities affected by the correctional system and have a nuanced understanding of systemic oppression.
Lived experience of the carceral, parole and/or criminal legal system that can inform the work of writing and relationship-building.
ABOUT THE GRIP TRAINING INSTITUTE
GRIP’s perspective and the title of our coursebook is .” ™ Together we learn that being free it’s not just about finding oneself on the other side of the prison gate; it’s not just a geographic fact. At the heart of being free is not where you are, but how you are. We believe that violence is learned and GRIP’s methodology facilitates unlearning violent behavior to replace it with an attitude of insight, compassion and service.
GRIP’s one-year intensive guides incarcerated people through deep personal transformation and accountability. Developed over 25 years in the California State prisons by founder Jacques Verduin, in collaboration with thousands of life-sentenced (with parole) incarcerated people.
GRIP provides its rehabilitation program to incarcerated people in 7 of our state prisons. Since 2012, GRIP graduated 1,512 students and 750 of those graduates were released from prison. In 2023, GRIP launched its first program at a women’s prison.
The GRIP Training Institute is an inclusive, equitable, respectful and accountable work environment. What we ask of our students inside, we ask of ourselves -- to practice the GRIP tools of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, do-no-harm, and understanding the impact of our actions on others.
We are committed to breaking down systemic structures which contribute to deep inequities in our society and organization, and support members of our community in being racially, culturally literate and ultimately anti-bias change makers.
Persons with lived experience of incarceration strongly encouraged to apply.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
GRIP Training Institute offers competitive benefits, including 100% health and dental insurance for employees, paid holidays and extended holiday office closures, generous paid time off, 401k annual contributions, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) . GRIP Training Institute prioritizes the wellbeing of our staff and teams and promotes self care.
Salary range: $85,000 to $95,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
To apply, please send TO: brian@insight-out.org
- UPDATED RESUME
- TAILORED COVER LETTER
- THREE PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
GRIP Training Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace regardless of race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.