Grants Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of grants specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for grants specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of grants specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for grants specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Grants Specialists?
Do grants specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do grants specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for grants specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Grants Specialists
Jobs Postings for Grants Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 25,751 (60%)
- Master's degree: 7,325 (17%)
- No Education Listed: 7,236 (17%)
- High School or GED: 1,430 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,050 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of grants specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 60% of positions. In 17% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 17% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Grants Specialists
Jobs Postings for Grants Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,868 (7%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,677 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 9,494 (37%)
- 7-9 Years: 3,011 (12%)
- 10+ Years: 1,295 (5%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for grants specialists. In 38% of job postings for Grants Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for grants specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Grants Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for grants specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 17 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective grants specialists, and in 2023 a total of 88,219 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective grants specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Grants Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Grants Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications. | 2,031 |
| Music Management. | 1,986 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 1,835 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General. | 1,026 |
| Meeting and Event Planning. | 759 |
| Health Communication. | 416 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Grantsmanship. | 20 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Other. | 3 |
What Skills Do Grants Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by grants specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for grants specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Grants Specialists
Based on 34,964 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Grants Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | 19,921 | 57% |
| Sales Prospecting | 13,026 | 37% |
| Marketing | 8,180 | 23% |
| Project Management | 7,159 | 20% |
| Philanthropy | 6,900 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Grants Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,139 | 60% |
| Management | 18,303 | 52% |
| Leadership | 15,350 | 44% |
| Research | 12,905 | 37% |
| Writing | 12,890 | 37% |
Based on 34,964 job postings related to grants specialists, fundraising was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 57% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for sales prospecting, marketing, project management, philanthropy and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for grants specialists, followed by management, leadership, research, writing and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | 19,921 | 57% |
| Sales Prospecting | 13,026 | 37% |
| Marketing | 8,180 | 23% |
| Project Management | 7,159 | 20% |
| Philanthropy | 6,900 | 20% |
| Finance | 6,535 | 19% |
| Planned Giving | 5,147 | 15% |
| Accounting | 4,687 | 13% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 4,083 | 12% |
| Grant Writing | 4,015 | 11% |
| Grant Applications | 3,599 | 10% |
| Raiser's Edge NXT | 3,305 | 9% |
| Prospect Research | 3,115 | 9% |
| Auditing | 2,921 | 8% |
| Financial Statements | 2,862 | 8% |
| Salesforce | 2,798 | 8% |
| Advertising Mail | 2,527 | 7% |
| Public Relations | 2,493 | 7% |
| Data Analysis | 2,093 | 6% |
| Newsletters | 1,809 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,139 | 60% |
| Management | 18,303 | 52% |
| Leadership | 15,350 | 44% |
| Research | 12,905 | 37% |
| Writing | 12,890 | 37% |
| Planning | 11,640 | 33% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,296 | 27% |
| Coordinating | 8,148 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 8,085 | 23% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,370 | 21% |
| Operations | 6,649 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 6,282 | 18% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 6,065 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 6,014 | 17% |
| Organizational Skills | 5,783 | 17% |
| Presentations | 5,471 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 5,336 | 15% |
| Self-Motivation | 4,865 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 4,856 | 14% |
| Strategic Planning | 4,810 | 14% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about grants specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for grants specialists.
What do grants specialists do?
How much do grants specialists make?
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