The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is seeking an experienced National Associate Director, Grant Development & Management to for lead the development and submission of complex, high-value funding proposals that advance the ADA mission and strategic priorities. Reporting to the National Director, Grants & Foundation Relations, this position serves as a senior grant development professional responsible for managing proposal strategy, leading cross-functional proposal development efforts, producing competitive funding requests for a diverse portfolio of public and private funders, and supporting the cultivation, management, and stewardship of institutional partner relationships.
Working collaboratively with program, research, advocacy, evaluation, and finance teams, the Associate Director translates organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities and develops responsive, evidence-based proposals that align with funder requirements and ADA objectives. This role combines advanced proposal writing expertise with project leadership, budget development, outcomes planning, and grants management to support the organization's institutional fundraising efforts.
Responsibilities
Grant Development & Proposal Leadership
- Lead the development, writing, and submission of complex grant proposals, cooperative agreements, funding applications, concept papers, letters of inquiry, and other institutional funding requests.
- Research and monitor funding opportunities from federal, state, and local government agencies, foundations, corporations, healthcare organizations, and industry partners.
- Manage the proposal development process from opportunity identification through submission, including timeline development, document coordination, review management, and final production.
- Develop proposal strategies that align funder priorities with ADA programs, capabilities, and strategic objectives.
- Coordinate proposal development activities across multiple departments to ensure timely completion of all application components.
- Establish proposal timelines, milestones, review cycles, and submission plans.
- Manage multiple high-priority funding opportunities simultaneously while ensuring quality, responsiveness, and compliance.
- Conduct comprehensive reviews of funding applications to ensure consistency, competitiveness, and adherence to funder requirements.
Relationship Development & Partner Management
- Support the identification, cultivation, and engagement of foundation, government, healthcare, and other institutional funding partners.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with funding partners and prospective funders in collaboration with the National Director, Grants & Foundation Relations, program leaders, and organizational leadership.
- Prepare briefing materials, talking points, meeting agendas, follow-up communications, and other materials that support funder engagement and partner relationship management.
- Coordinate internal preparation for funder meetings, site visits, presentations, and stewardship conversations to ensure consistent messaging and strategic alignment.
- Track funder interests, relationship history, proposal status, stewardship needs, and next steps within organizational systems to support proactive relationship management.
- Partner with program, research, advocacy, evaluation, and finance teams to identify fundable opportunities that align with funder priorities and ADA strategic objectives.
Proposal Writing & Content Development
- Write, edit, and refine compelling proposal narratives that effectively communicate organizational expertise, community need, program design, outcomes, and impact.
- Translate technical, scientific, programmatic, and evaluation information into clear, persuasive funding requests tailored to diverse audiences.
- Synthesize information from subject matter experts, research findings, community assessments, and program data into compelling funding narratives.
- Ensure alignment across proposal narratives, workplans, budgets, evaluation plans, and supporting documentation.
- Provide editorial oversight and quality assurance for proposal materials developed by internal staff and collaborators.
- Support the development of concept papers and funding opportunity responses that position ADA for future investment opportunities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Manage proposal development teams comprising program leaders, subject matter experts, and organizational leadership.
- Facilitate collaboration among internal stakeholders to gather information, secure approvals, and resolve proposal development challenges.
- Build strong working relationships across the organization to support effective and efficient proposal development.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of proposal tools, templates, and resources that strengthen organizational grant-seeking capacity.
Budget Development, Outcomes Measurement & Evaluation
- Collaborate with ADA staff to develop project budgets, budget narratives, and supporting financial documentation.
- Partner with evaluation and program teams to develop logic models, outcomes frameworks, performance measures, and evaluation plans.
- Ensure proposed objectives, activities, outputs, and outcomes are measurable, feasible, and aligned with funder expectations.
- Integrate evidence-based approaches, impact measures, and performance indicators into funding requests.
- Support the collection and organization of programmatic, evaluation, and outcomes information used in proposals and reports.
Grants Management & Stewardship Support
- Maintain proposal calendars, submission schedules, grant records, and supporting documentation.
- Ensure funding opportunities and proposal activities are accurately tracked within organizational systems, including customer relationship management platforms.
- Support post-award transitions by organizing proposal materials and funded project documentation.
- Assist in preparing funder reports, stewardship materials, and impact updates that demonstrate program outcomes and return on investment.
- Monitor funding requirements and deadlines to support compliance and effective grant management practices.
- Contribute to continuous improvement efforts related to grant development processes, systems, and organizational best practices.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree required; Preferred fields include public health, healthcare administration, nonprofit management, communications, public policy, business administration, health sciences, or a related field.
Experience
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in grant development, proposal management, institutional fundraising, foundation relations, or related fields.
- Demonstrated success developing and securing competitive funding from foundations, corporations, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and other institutional funders.
- Experience cultivating, managing, and stewarding relationships with institutional funding partners, including foundations, corporations, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and other strategic partners.
- Proven experience leading the development of large, complex, and multi-partner funding proposals.
- Experience developing budgets, budget narratives, outcomes frameworks, evaluation plans, and grant reports.
- Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of public health, healthcare delivery, chronic disease prevention, health access, or related fields preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Exceptional grant writing, editing, and proposal development skills.
- Ability to translate complex scientific, technical, and programmatic information into persuasive funding narratives.
- Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail and quality.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex proposal development processes.
- Excellent analytical, critical thinking, communication, relationship development, and partner cultivation and management skills.
- Knowledge of government funding requirements, foundation funding practices, compliance standards, and grant management principles.
- Ability to prepare funder-facing materials and support effective engagement, stewardship, and follow-up with institutional funding partners.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on proposal development responsibilities.
- Proficiency with grants management and CRM systems; Blackbaud and Salesforce experience preferred.
Why Work Here
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) offers a rewarding career working for one of the premier voluntary health organizations in the world supporting people living with diabetes and/or obesity. Our employees consistently say that our mission, culture, work-life balance, and total rewards package are what they like most about working at the ADA. benefits and our culture:
- Industry competitive base pay. Base offers are determined by several factors including but not limited to your relevant work experience, education, certifications, location, internal pay equity, etc.
- A culture of recognition including new hire welcome announcements, service anniversary awards, referral bonuses, monthly All Employee Assembly, appreciation awards
- Generous Paid Time Off, including holidays, vacation days, personal days and sick days
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), disability & life insurance, pet insurance, and retirement savings
- Guided by our mission, we provide full diabetes supply coverage through our medical benefits program
- A company focus on offering mental health programs and work/life balance with most of our employees working remote
- Joining our dedicated team affords the gratification of knowing beyond a doubt that you will impact the lives and well-being of millions
About the Organization
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people living with diabetes thrive. Since 1940, we have driven discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes. We advocate for policy changes and improved access to quality care for all people living with diabetes and/or obesity. Through the Obesity Association, a division of the ADA, we are also working to reduce the prevalence of obesity-a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes.