Senior Grants Associate

Careers at PDK International

Senior Grants Associate at PDK International and Educators Rising

This is a remote position.

PDK International and Educators Rising

PDK International and Educators Rising are advancing a national educator pathway that begins in high school and connects to postsecondary preparation and entry into the profession. We work alongside states, districts, higher education, and field‑building partners to strengthen the educator workforce and elevate teaching as a leadership pathway. Philanthropy will power the co‑making, scaling, and long‑term durability of this work. The Senior Grants Associate plays a central role in translating strategy into funded progress.

This is a writing‑intensive, research‑driven role with direct exposure to executive leadership and national funders. You will support the CEO across the full lifecycle of institutional grants, from prospect research through proposal development and reporting. This role is designed for a strong early‑to‑mid‑career professional ready to operate at a high level and grow with a national organization.

The Senior Grants Associate supports institutional fundraising across foundations, corporations, and government sources at both local and national levels. You will:

• Conduct rigorous prospect research and funding fit analysis
• Draft competitive grant proposals and reports
• Translate complex programmatic, workforce, and policy information into clear narratives
• Maintain a disciplined grants pipeline and tracking system
• Support executive preparation for funder engagement

You will report to the Chief of Staff and partner closely with the CEO to ensure our funding strategy reflects our mission, values, and emerging national agenda.

• Identify aligned institutional funders at local and national levels
• Analyze funder priorities, giving history, and strategic fit
• Maintain a structured grants calendar and opportunity tracker
• Partner with Grants Manager to track submission deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance milestones
• Support internal funding forecasts and development dashboards

• Draft proposals, letters of inquiry, and concept notes
• Partner with the team and Grants Manager to draft high‑quality funder reports
• Synthesize data, strategy, and program outcomes into compelling narratives
• Develop reusable narrative language aligned to organizational priorities
• Prepare briefing memos and background materials for CEO meetings

• Partner with program staff to gather impact data and implementation updates
• Collaborate with finance to develop proposal budgets and track grant allocations
• Ensure reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned with funder expectations
• Prepare development updates and materials for Board review

• Maintain accurate records in CRM and grant management systems
• Support basic analysis of funding trends and outcomes
• Leverage AI tools responsibly to improve efficiency in research and drafting
• Exercise independent judgment and critical thinking in all written work

Bachelor’s degree

• Minimum 4 years of experience in nonprofit development, grants, research, policy, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience drafting grant proposals or institutional reports
• Exceptional writing and editing skills
• Strong research and analytical ability
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Experience with CRM systems and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
• Understanding of or strong interest in U.S. public education

• 5 to 6 years of relevant experience
• Experience in education‑focused organizations or philanthropy
• Familiarity with secondary education, workforce pathways, or postsecondary systems
• Comfort working with programmatic and financial data

• Mission‑driven and serious about strengthening public education
• A disciplined thinker who writes with clarity and structure
• Curious about how philanthropy supports systems change
• Comfortable working closely with senior leadership
• Proactive and detail‑oriented
• Thoughtful about using…