Nonprofit Job Titles Beyond Fundraising: Key Roles and Their Place in Grant Applications
Nonprofits rely on a wide variety of professionals to advance their missions—far beyond just fundraising roles. Understanding common non-fundraising nonprofit job titles and how these positions fit into grant applications is essential whether you’re exploring a nonprofit career, hiring, or preparing competitive grant proposals. This article breaks down important roles outside fundraising and explains why grantmakers want to see them clearly represented in your funding requests.
1. Program Manager / Program Coordinator
What they do:
Program Managers oversee the planning and execution of nonprofit programs—often the core focus of grant funding. Program Coordinators support day-to-day operations, helping ensure the success of projects funded by grants.
Skills needed:
Project management
Communication
Data collection and reporting
Grant application focus:
Grant proposals frequently highlight Program Managers to demonstrate leadership and accountability for funded projects, making this role a key part of any successful application.
2. Community Outreach Coordinator / Engagement Specialist
What they do:
These roles build and maintain community relationships, a vital component of many grant-funded initiatives focused on engagement and impact.
Skills needed:
Relationship-building
Event planning
Cultural competency
Grant application focus:
Funders often look for evidence of community engagement in proposals, so showcasing outreach staff helps demonstrate the nonprofit’s connection to its stakeholders.
3. Communications Manager / Content Creator
What they do:
Communications staff craft the messaging nonprofits use to share their story, raise awareness, and report outcomes—important elements for grant narrative and dissemination plans.
Skills needed:
Writing and editing
Multimedia skills
Strategic messaging
Grant application focus:
Including communications roles in grant applications highlights the nonprofit’s capacity to effectively share results and engage supporters.
4. Operations Manager / Office Manager
What they do:
Operations professionals keep the nonprofit’s internal systems running smoothly, managing budgets, HR, and administration.
Skills needed:
Organizational skills
Financial management
Process improvement
Grant application focus:
Strong operations demonstrate to funders that the nonprofit has sound management practices—critical for building trust in grant applications.
5. Data Analyst / Evaluation Specialist
What they do:
These experts collect and analyze program data to measure impact and inform improvements.
Skills needed:
Analytical skills
Data tools proficiency
Clear communication of findings
Grant application focus:
Grantmakers increasingly demand clear, data-driven evidence of impact. Featuring these roles shows your nonprofit’s commitment to accountability and learning.
Why Non-Fundraising Roles Matter in Grant Applications
Even though these nonprofit roles don’t directly raise funds, they are often essential components of successful grant applications. Funders want to see a well-rounded team that can not only carry out the program but also manage finances, engage communities, communicate outcomes, and measure success. Including these roles—and the skills they bring—in your grant proposals can make your application more competitive and trustworthy.
Final Thoughts
Understanding nonprofit job titles beyond fundraising—and their role in grant applications—gives you a clearer picture of how different professionals contribute to mission success and funding success alike. Whether you’re building your career or strengthening your nonprofit’s grant strategy, recognizing these roles and their importance can make all the difference.
Sheena Link is a grantwriter, nonprofit strategist, and the Co-Founder & COO of PureGrant. After years of writing grant applications, wrangling boards, and managing fundraising teams, she helped build PureGrant to make the grantwriting process faster, smarter, and less painful for nonprofits. She writes about funding strategy, nonprofit careers, and what actually works in real-world development offices. She can be reached at sheena@puregrant.com.