Grants Administration & Impact Specialist

Description

The Grants Administration & Impact Specialist supports Arkansas Foodbank’s mission to alleviate hunger and advance health equity by managing grant administration and impact measurement across all programmatic areas.  This position oversees grant processes and reporting that support Agency Services, Member and Partner Pantries, Community Resource Centers (CRCs), Food for Families (FFF), Food for Kids (FFK), Food for Seniors (FFS), Food Is Medicine (FIM), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and education, and other initiatives that contribute to overall program outcomes.

This role is responsible for managing grant lifecycles, incentive-based funding models, data collection, and reporting to ensure program investments are coordinated, measurable, and aligned with organizational priorities. The Grants Administration & Impact Specialist works closely with the Programs Director and Programs Department staff to support Healthy Choice Pantry implementation, integrated support services, and evaluation efforts that demonstrate the collective impact of Arkansas Foodbank’s programs on food security, community capacity, and social determinants of health.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The statements contained herein describe the scope of responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned to support department goals or balance workloads. Occasional evening or extended hours may be required to meet deadlines or program needs.

The Grants Administration & Impact Specialist will be comfortable learning new technology and utilizing Arkansas Foodbank software systems. They will possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.

1. Grant Administration, Program Support, and Capacity Building

· Manage the full lifecycle of grants supporting Arkansas Foodbank programs, including Agency Services, Member and Partner Pantries, Community Resource Centers (CRC), Food for Families (FFF), Food for Kids (FFK), Food for Seniors (FFS), Food Is Medicine (FIM), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and education, and related initiatives.

· Coordinate application intake, eligibility review, scoring, award recommendations, contracting support, payment processing, and grant closeout activities.

· Administer incentive-based and capacity-building funding models that reward measurable outcomes tied to food security, health equity, community engagement, and social determinants of health.

· Collaborate with Programs staff to align grant-funded activities across multiple initiatives, ensuring cohesive implementation and efficient use of resources.

· Support program partners in meeting grant requirements, documentation standards, and reporting expectations.

· Assist Programs staff in supporting Healthy Choice implementation and other programmatic practices that promote dignity, choice, and equitable access to nutritious food.

· Strengthen partner capacity by coordinating grant-funded activities that support operational readiness, service integration, and community-driven program growth.

2. Data, Evaluation, and Impact Measurement

· Collaborate with Programs staff, Social Work, and evaluation partners to support program evaluation processes across all funded initiatives.

· Collect, validate, organize, and maintain data related to grant-funded programs, including food distribution, service utilization, referrals, and partner participation.

· Support tracking of shared indicators across programs such as neighbor reach, program participation, service integration, and outcomes related to food access and health.

· Analyze and synthesize data to identify trends, gaps, successes, and opportunities for continuous improvement across all programs. 

· Contribute to the development of dashboards, summaries, and narratives that demonstrate how multiple programs collectively advance Arkansas Foodbank’s mission.

3. Reporting and Accountability

· Manage grant reporting processes to ensure funders receive clear, timely, and accurate information demonstrating accountability, outcomes, and impact.

· Coordinate with internal teams to gather required data, documentation, and narratives for grant and incentive program reports.

· Support preparation of integrated impact reports that reflect outcomes across Agency Services, Member and Partner Pantries, Community Resource Centers (CRC), Food for Families (FFF), Food for Kids (FFK), Food for Seniors (FFS), Food Is Medicine (FIM), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and education, and related initiatives.

· Maintain organized grant records, compliance documentation, and reporting materials in accordance with internal policies and funder requirements.

· Assist with internal reporting that supports strategic planning, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

4. Collaboration and Cross Departmental Support

· Work closely with the Chief Programs Officer, Programs Director, Agency Services Director and Programs Department staff to ensure grant administration and impact measurement support overall department goals and program outcomes.

· Collaborate with the Finance and Development Departments to ensure external grant funds are expended appropriately, in alignment with grant requirements, and within established funding timelines.

· Collaborate with Community Programs, Social Work, Agency Services, and evaluation staff to understand how food access and support services intersect across Community Resource Center locations and partner sites.

· Support internal learning by sharing insights from grant data, evaluations, and reporting to inform program improvements across initiatives.

· Represent Arkansas Foodbank in partner meetings, training, or convenings related to grant-funded programs, as appropriate.

Core Competencies

· Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

· Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in data, documentation, and reporting.

· Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with community-based partners.

· Proficiency in data management, evaluation support, and impact reporting.

· Clear written and verbal communication skills.

· Commitment to health equity, food security, and community-driven solutions.

Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred; however, related education and/or experience may be substituted with management approval.

· Bachelor’s degree required, degree in public administration, nonprofit management, public health, social sciences, or a related field preferred.

· Experience in grants management, program administration, nonprofit capacity-building, or related field.

· Knowledge of food security initiatives, health equity frameworks, and social determinants of health.

· Experience managing application processes, scoring systems, compliance requirements, and payment workflows.

· Strong skills in data management, program evaluation support, and funder reporting.

· Experience working with community-based organizations, food pantries, or Community Resource Centers preferred.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams) and comfort learning new software systems.

· Ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and work collaboratively.