Application Guide
How to Apply for Grants and Contracts Manager
at The Water Foundation
🏢 About The Water Foundation
The Water Foundation is a unique nonprofit philanthropy focused exclusively on sustainable water solutions, working at the intersection of environmental conservation, community resilience, and climate adaptation. What sets them apart is their holistic approach—they don't just fund projects but work to secure safe, equitable water access while restoring freshwater ecosystems and building climate-resilient communities, making this an ideal workplace for mission-driven professionals passionate about environmental justice.
About This Role
As a Grants and Contracts Manager at The Water Foundation, you'll oversee the entire lifecycle of funding agreements—from proposal development and compliance monitoring to reporting and closeout—ensuring that water projects across Poland and potentially Europe meet both donor requirements and the foundation's mission. This part-time role is impactful because you'll directly enable the flow of resources to initiatives that secure clean water access, restore ecosystems, and build climate resilience in vulnerable communities.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing grant agreements for upcoming water projects in Poland, drafting compliance reports for donors, and coordinating with project teams to ensure documentation aligns with environmental goals. You could also spend time editing proposal submissions, communicating with stakeholders about funding timelines, and organizing files to maintain audit-ready records for the foundation's portfolio.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who The Water Foundation Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of hands-on experience managing grants and contracts specifically in the nonprofit, environmental, or philanthropic sectors, not just general administration.
- Demonstrates exceptional organizational skills with proven ability to handle complex documentation for multiple projects simultaneously, likely using systems like Salesforce or grant management software.
- Possesses excellent communication skills with experience tailoring messages for diverse audiences—from technical project teams in Poland to international donors and community stakeholders.
- Shows strong writing and editing skills with a critical eye for detail, evidenced by experience drafting grant proposals, compliance reports, or contract amendments in English (and ideally Polish).
📝 Tips for Applying to The Water Foundation
Highlight specific experience with water, environmental, or climate-related grants/contracts—even if from a different region—to show alignment with the foundation's niche focus.
Emphasize any familiarity with Polish or European Union funding mechanisms (e.g., EU grants, local environmental funds) since the role is based in Poland.
Quantify your achievements in grants management (e.g., 'managed a portfolio of 20+ contracts worth $2M annually' or 'achieved 100% compliance on grant reporting deadlines').
Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description like 'documentation management,' 'adjusting communication style,' and 'grammar and syntax'—these are explicitly listed as required skills.
If you have part-time experience, specify how you managed grants/contracts in a limited schedule, as this is a part-time role requiring efficiency.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express genuine passion for water security and environmental justice, linking it to The Water Foundation's mission of equitable access and climate resilience.", 'Provide concrete examples of managing complex grants/contracts in a nonprofit setting, emphasizing organizational skills and attention to detail.', 'Explain how your communication skills have adapted to different audiences (e.g., translating technical jargon for community stakeholders or drafting donor reports).', 'Mention any relevant experience with Polish or European environmental contexts, or express willingness to engage with local partners in Poland.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore The Water Foundation's specific projects or focus areas in Europe/Poland (if available on their website) to understand their local impact.
- → Research Poland's water challenges, such as access issues, pollution, or climate impacts on freshwater ecosystems, to contextualize the role.
- → Look into common philanthropic funding sources for water projects in Europe (e.g., EU grants, private foundations) to demonstrate industry knowledge.
- → Review the foundation's mission statement and recent initiatives to tailor your application around 'safe, equitable, clean water' and 'climate resilience.'
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning water, environment, or philanthropy—this shows lack of alignment with the foundation's niche mission.
- Overlooking the part-time aspect by not addressing how you'll manage a grants/contracts workload in limited hours.
- Failing to provide specific examples of grants management experience (e.g., vague statements like 'handled contracts' without details on scale or complexity).
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to The Water Foundation!