Grant coordinators are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree, strong writing skills, and some experience or training in fund-raising by most employers. Without a four-year degree, it is possible to work as a grant coordinator, especially if you work for a small nonprofit. However, the more reputable the employer, the more likely the job will necessitate an undergraduate degree. Grant coordinating is often a catch-all title used in fund-raising offices that do not have a multi-pronged development approach, so it can be an entry-level position.
Fundraising, also known as development, is a distinct profession with a non-standard staffing structure. Organizations that hire fund-raising staff frequently change job titles and descriptions to reflect the organization’s specific needs. An organization that uses the title grants coordinator, for example, might be looking for someone to act as a one-person fund-raising director, with grant coordinating as the primary responsibility. A grants coordinator at another organization might be a low-level associate who reports to a director of corporate and foundation relations as well as a director or vice president of development. The size and prestige of the hiring organization determine the scope of the grants coordinator position.
On the grant-making side, grant coordinators can be hired. Coordinators are hired by corporations and private foundations to oversee the process of accepting grant applications and making awards. Your credentials must match the sophistication of the development operation to become a grant coordinator on either side of the funding equation.
Because small, local organizations usually have limited resources, they will hire a grant coordinator who has demonstrated their ability to do the job. Working for a startup or a cash-strapped organization and demonstrating your ability to successfully manage the grant process may be enough to launch you into grant coordinating as a career, even if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Your success rate in obtaining awards is one of the most important aspects of grant management. It can often be enough to succeed in this position with certain types of organizations if you can demonstrate a practical ability to do the job and pair it with some development training.
Community colleges, nonprofit and for-profit companies, and trade associations for fund-raising professionals all offer grant coordinator training. Trade associations, in particular, have a credentialing program that can help you stand out as a grant coordinator. However, completing any coursework that outlines the grant application and award process will generally assist you in becoming a grant coordinator.
A bachelor’s degree is required to work as a grant coordinator for foundations, corporations, or prestigious national or international organizations with large operating budgets. Although no specific degree is required for this position, most employers prefer majors that focus on writing, communications, or business management. Alternatively, you can earn a degree in a field related to the mission of the organization.