Grants & Communications Officer

MISSION STATEMENT

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation keeps music alive in our schools by providing vital support services to school districts, and new musical instruments to underfunded music programs nationwide, giving economically disadvantaged youth access to the many benefits of music education, leading them to success in school, and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music. We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of our work.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Grants & Communications Officer is a senior member of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation’s Development team, responsible for the organization’s institutional fundraising portfolio and public-facing communications.

This position reports to and collaborates closely with the Development Director. The Grants & Communications Officer advises the Director on institutional giving strategy to drive revenue growth and manages the complete grant lifecycle. The position also leads content strategy and production across development communications channels.

The ideal candidate is a versatile writer and disciplined project manager who thrives in an autonomous environment and takes full ownership of the grant lifecycle.

Grants

Manage the full grant lifecycle for institutional funders — foundation, corporate, and government — from prospect identification and cultivation through proposal submission, compliance, reporting, and renewal

Research, write, and edit all grant proposals and reports, ensuring each submission is tailored to the funder’s priorities, represents the organization’s voice, and accurately reflects the foundation’s programmatic work and impact

Manage the grants calendar, tracking all deadlines, reporting requirements, award terms, and renewal windows, supported by the Development Assistant

Support the Director's budget and forecasting process with grant pipeline data, revenue projections, and identification of prospective funders

Build and maintain working relationships with funders, serving as the organization’s primary point of contact for grant-related correspondence

Serve as the primary Development liaison to Program and Finance teams, directing the synthesis of impact data, budgets, and internal support materials, supported by the Development Assistant.

Advise the Development Director on portfolio health, pipeline, and emerging funding opportunities

Communications & Content Strategy

Set editorial standards and oversee execution of content, supported by the Administrative Coordinator and Development Assistant

Create and manage the Development content calendar, overseeing the planning and production of donor appeals, digital campaigns, impact reports, and acknowledgment copy

Write, edit, and proof donor communications across formats — appeals, email blasts, case statements, major gift proposals, impact stories — serving as the primary writer and final editorial check for donor-facing materials

Work with Program team to surface and shape impact, testimonials, and school-level outcomes that bring the Foundation’s work to life for funders

Set and maintain brand and editorial standards across development materials, ensuring consistency of voice across all channels; provide content direction to the team for social media and web execution

Track donor communication performance and use engagement data to inform future campaigns

Team Support

Collaborate with Development Director on organizational reporting: budgeting, forecasting, and revenue projections

Co-create with Development Director internal- and external-facing presentations

Lead and participate in team planning meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-departmental collaborations

Other duties as assigned

Passionate about the mission of Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Communications, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management)

Minimum of 4 years of nonprofit development experience, with a strong track record in grant writing and donor communications

Demonstrated success in securing significant revenue from grants

Excellent writer across formats and audiences — from a grant narrative to a first-time donor email

Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and management skills

Excellent communication and organizational abilities

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat and Blackbaud/eTapestry or a comparable donor CRM

Organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage a complex, deadline-driven workload independently

Experience with arts education or youth-serving organizations a plus