Job Description

Location: Hybrid / Albany Park, Chicago

Reports to: Director of Development

Full-Time Exempt | Salary Range : $65,000–$75,000

Position Summary

The Grants Manager oversees APTP’s institutional and government funding portfolio by managing the grants calendar, writing compelling proposals and reports, supporting funder stewardship, and identifying new funding opportunities. This role partners closely with the Director of Development and collaborates across the organization to gather information, maintain strong internal systems, and ensure APTP presents clear, timely, mission-aligned materials to funders. The Grants Manager plays a key role in advancing APTP’s fundraising goals through excellent writing, thoughtful project management, and a commitment to equity, youth leadership, and community-rooted storytelling.

About Albany Park Theater Project

Albany Park Theater Project (APTP) creates transformative experiences that forge an inclusive community of youth artists, adult artists, and audiences to envision and build a more just, equitable, and joyful world. APTP’s teen ensemble and adult artistic team collaborate to devise world-class original theater that amplifies and illuminates the voices and experiences of our immigrant and first-generation community. Our creative process prepares and propels teens to lead civically engaged and choice-filled lives, while our performances foster empathy, humanize challenging social issues, encourage new ways of seeing the world, and inspire action. Our staff is powered by a deep commitment to equity, community storytelling, and the belief that young people thrive when they are supported, empowered, and seen.

Position Responsibilities:

Grant Writing & Reporting

• Write, edit, and prepare compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and reports, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with APTP’s mission and programs.
• Collaborate with program staff, finance, and leadership to gather data, budgets, narratives, and supporting documentation needed for grant proposals and reporting.
• Tailor all materials to each funder’s guidelines, priorities, and communication style, ensuring inclusion, diversity, equity, and access are centered throughout.

Grants Calendar & Project Management

• Manage APTP’s grants calendar, ensuring all proposal and reporting deadlines are met with adequate review time and payment schedules are upheld.
• Maintain organized, up-to-date records of submissions, outcomes, and funder correspondence.
• Oversee grants folders, ensuring common attachments and metrics documents are accurate and regularly updated.

Research & Prospecting

• Identify and evaluate new funding opportunities that align with APTP’s programs and priorities.
• Conduct prospect research using databases, directories, and philanthropic networks.
• Prepare briefings and recommendations on qualified prospects.

Funder Stewardship & Communication

• Support the Dir. of Development in planning and preparing funder meetings and site visits.
• Communicate with foundations as needed to confirm eligibility and clarify funding alignment.
• Engage as an articulate, passionate spokesperson, storyteller, and prominent fundraising presence for APTP among stakeholders and in the Chicago philanthropic community.

Internal Collaboration

• Partner with the Dir. of Development to refine funding strategies, assess pipeline progress, and strengthen proposal systems.
• Collaborate with leadership and program staff to develop narratives that reflect APTP’s voice, values, and community impact.
• Contribute strategic insight to institutional and government revenue targets during the annual participatory budgeting process.
• Help foster an organizational culture of philanthropy across staff and the board.

Qualifications

Essential Skills and Attributes:

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in non-profit fundraising with a proven track record of securing grant funding.
• Strong writing and storytelling abilities; able to synthesize program information into clear, compelling narratives tailored for a variety of audiences.
• Ability to receive and integrate feedback quickly and adapt writing to APTP’s voice, tone, and cultural context.
• Strong research skills with the ability to analyze funder guidelines, priorities, and historical giving patterns to assess alignment with APTP’s programs.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to plan, manage, and complete long-term projects.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to APTP’s values of art, youth leadership, immigrant justice, and community-rooted storytelling.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Familiarity with youth development, arts education, community-based arts, or immigrant-serving organizations.
• Knowledge of foundation, government, and corporate giving trends.
• Familiarity with budgeting for proposals, reviewing financial reports, or partnering with finance staff on grant compliance.
• Ability to translate both qualitative and quantitative program outcomes into compelling case statements.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc.) and fundraising CRM/databases.

Values and Work Environment

APTP strives to maximize scheduling flexibility and provide a hybrid work environment for its employees. This role requires a minimum of 2-3 days onsite every week, depending on production schedules, team meetings, special events, donor and stakeholder visits, and other factors. Some travel to off-site locations in the Chicago metro area is required. Some evening and weekend work may be required. APTP leadership expects its staff to communicate clearly and specifically to establish a schedule that supports department and organizational goals as well as work/life balance for the team.

We strongly encourage applicants who share APTP’s commitment to equity, anti-racism, and inclusive practices. Candidates should be comfortable working in a multiethnic, multilingual, youth-centered environment that values lived experience, cultural humility, and collaborative leadership.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs