Position: Fund Development Specialist
Reporting to: CEO
Location: 70 Brookfield Road, St. John’s
Contract Duration: 1 year with potential for extension
Summary
First Light is a registered non-profit organization that serves the urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous community alike by providing programs and services rooted in the revitalization, strengthening and celebration of Indigenous cultures and languages in the spirit of trust, respect, and friendship. Guided by fostering community and culture at the core of everything we do, First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre supports and empowers the community through a broad range of programs, including housing, justice and social supports, health services, childcare, and advocacy.
We are seeking a skilled Fund Development Specialist to join our team and help strengthen our grant applications, funding proposals, and strategic initiatives that benefit our community and further our organizational goals.
Reporting to the CEO, the Fund Development Specialist will collaborate with internal teams to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, maintain and expand existing funding streams, and ensure successful execution and compliance with funding requirements. This role also involves supporting the design and enhancement of organizational processes, and driving successful outcomes that align with First Light’s mission to preserve, revitalize, and celebrate Indigenous culture while fostering a strong sense of community among those we serve.
Core Skill Set – Fund Development Specialist
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Report & Proposal Writing
- Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Attention to Detail & Time Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building
- Cultural Competence
Essential Responsibilities
Grant Writing and Proposal Development
- Draft compelling funding proposals that reflect the organization’s mission and vision while ensuring alignment with broader strategic initiatives.
- Customize proposals to reflect the unique interests and requirements of each funder, ensuring a personalized and impactful approach.
- Develop and maintain documents to optimize the proposal development process, including proposal templates, success stories, and supporting documents.
- Assist teams in identifying and articulating program needs that align with funding opportunities.
- Work closely with internal teams to gather quantitative and qualitative data that strengthens grant proposals and funding applications.
Strategic Planning and Development
- Collaborate with leadership to create a long-term grant and funding strategy aligned with organizational priorities and community needs.
- Assist in identifying funding gaps and design initiatives to address unmet needs in the community.
- Stay informed on emerging funding opportunities and trends to identify potential new funders, or any changes to existing funding streams.
- Conduct regular reviews of funding strategies to ensure they adapt to changing organizational priorities and community needs.
Funder Engagement and Relationship Building
- Establish and maintain relationships with funders by providing regular updates, participating in meetings, and responding promptly to inquiries.
- Prepare clear and compelling impact reports to communicate outcomes effectively to funders and stakeholders.
Compliance and Reporting
- Monitor and ensure all funding conditions are met, including progress reports, milestones, financial documentation, and required deliverables.
- Establish systems and processes to track grant compliance across all stages of funding cycles.
- Analyze and report on funding success rates to identify trends and improve future applications
- Foster strong cross-departmental collaboration to ensure grant strategies and reporting are integrated across organizational functions.
Qualifications
- College Diploma or equivalent experience in a relevant field
- Proven experience in proposal and grant writing for public and private funders, including supporting project reporting requirements.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of Indigenous private and public funding streams is an asset
- Demonstrated experience collaborating in capturing qualitative and quantitative data, ensuring alignment with funding requirements and maximizing requests.
- Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments, collaborating with diverse teams.
- Proficiency with Google Suite and Slack is an asset.
*We acknowledge systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system disproportionately affects Indigenous people and marginalized groups. Our approach to reviewing Records of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSCs) reflects our commitment to justice and equity, ensuring that a conviction or non-conviction record alone will not automatically disqualify someone from employment.
Apply
To apply please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] by February 5, 2025.
First Light celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of Indigenous identity or status, lived experience, national or other origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, or other characteristics. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who carry lived experience expertise, acknowledging the value and alignment with First Light’s organizational goals. We’re committed to supporting candidates throughout the application process by accommodating any disability-related requests.