Grant coordinators work for nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies.
Most employers require scholarship coordinators to have a bachelor’s degree, good writing skills, and some fundraising experience or training. It is possible to become a fellowship coordinator without a four-year degree, especially if you work at a young nonprofit organization. However, the more trustworthy the employer, the more likely the job will require a degree. Grants coordinator can be an entry-level position, as it is generally a general title typically used in fundraising offices that do not have a multi-faceted development approach.
Grant coordinators can review an organization’s service history when determining whether to award funds.
Fundraising, also called development, is a unique discipline with a non-uniform staffing structure. Organizations that employ fundraising teams tend to modify job titles and descriptions based on the specific needs of the organization. For example, an organization that uses the title of grant coordinator may be looking for someone to act as individual fundraising director, with grant coordination as the primary role. Another organization might define the grant coordinator as a low-level associate who reports to a director of corporate and foundation relations and a director or vice president of development. The scope of the concessions coordinator position is often related to the size and prestige of the hiring organization.
Strong writing skills and fundraising experience are often required to become a grant coordinator.
Grant coordinators can also be hired on the grant side. Private corporations and foundations hire coordinators to manage the process of accepting grant applications and awarding awards. To become a grant coordinator on either side of the funding equation, your credentials will need to match the sophistication of the development operation.
Small local organizations often have limited resources and hire a grant coordinator who demonstrates the ability to get the job done. In some cases, working for a cash-strapped or start-up company and demonstrating the ability to successfully manage the grantmaking process will give you enough leverage to catapult you into scholarship coordination as a career, even without a bachelor’s degree. One of the most important aspects of donation management is the success rate in obtaining prizes. If you can demonstrate a practical ability to get the job done and combine that with some development training, it can often be enough for you to be successful in this role with certain types of organizations.
Grant coordinators can assess the cost of items that a nonprofit is willing to spend, such as school supplies for children in need.
Grant coordinator training is offered by community colleges, for-profit and nonprofit businesses, and trade associations for fundraising professionals. Trade associations, in particular, offer an accreditation program that can add weight to your grant coordinator application. However, in general, completing any course that describes the application and award process will help you become a grant coordinator.
If you want to become a scholarship coordinator for prestigious national or international foundations, corporations, or organizations with significant operating budgets, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. There is no specific degree requirement for the position, but most employers prefer courses that improve your writing, communication, or business management skills. Alternatively, you can pursue a specialized degree related to the organization’s mission.