Application Guide

How to Apply for Grants Associate

at SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc.

🏢 About SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc.

SAGE is the nation's largest and oldest organization dedicated exclusively to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults, combining direct services with national advocacy. Working here means contributing to a mission that addresses unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders through supportive services, policy change, and education. The organization's longevity and national network make it a leader in both LGBTQ+ and aging services fields.

About This Role

As a Grants Associate at SAGE, you'll provide critical support for government contracts and private grants, ensuring smooth enrollment processes, accurate monthly spending reports in Excel, and proper documentation for invoices. This role directly impacts SAGE's ability to fund and deliver services to LGBTQ+ elders by maintaining compliance and financial accountability across multiple funding streams.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve preparing monthly spending reports in Excel for your assigned grants portfolio, then routing contract documents via Docusign for signatures. You'd likely respond to team questions about grant expenditures, gather supporting documentation for upcoming government invoices, and organize records in the contract management system—all while balancing multiple deadlines across different funding sources.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc. Is Looking For

  • Has 1-2 years of experience in grants management, accounting, or contract administration, or holds a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or nonprofit management with demonstrated interest in the field
  • Demonstrates exceptional organizational skills with specific experience managing multiple deadlines, routing documents via Docusign, and maintaining meticulous records
  • Possesses advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, data validation) and shows aptitude for learning new systems like Intacct and government contract platforms
  • Combines strong attention to detail with the ability to work both independently on reports and collaboratively with the grants team and other SAGE departments

📝 Tips for Applying to SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc.

1

Quantify your experience with Excel specifically—mention specific functions you've used (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros) and how you've applied them to financial reporting or data management

2

Highlight any experience with government contract platforms or grant management systems, even if you've only used similar systems—SAGE works with various government portals

3

Demonstrate understanding of SAGE's dual focus by mentioning both LGBTQ+ issues AND aging services in your application materials

4

Show how you've managed multiple priorities simultaneously in past roles, using specific examples of contract documentation, report deadlines, or compliance tasks

5

If you lack direct grants experience, emphasize transferable skills from accounting, data management, or administrative roles that involved similar documentation and compliance work

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with Excel for financial reporting and data management, with concrete examples', "How you've managed documentation processes similar to contract enrollment (certificates of insurance, signature routing, record keeping)", "Your ability to balance independent work on reports with collaborative support for team members' questions", "Why you're drawn to SAGE's specific mission serving both LGBTQ+ communities and older adults"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → SAGE's specific programs and services for LGBTQ+ elders (like SAGECare, advocacy initiatives, or local chapters)
  • → The unique challenges facing LGBTQ+ older adults (discrimination in elder care, social isolation, economic disparities)
  • → Government funding streams common in aging services (like Older Americans Act, Medicaid, state contracts)
  • → SAGE's policy priorities and recent advocacy wins for LGBTQ+ elders
Visit SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc.'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would prepare a monthly grant spending report in Excel from raw data
2 Describe your experience with document management systems like Docusign and government portals
3 How do you ensure accuracy when gathering and collating expense documentation for invoices?
4 Tell me about a time you had to manage multiple contract deadlines simultaneously
5 What interests you about working at an organization that serves both LGBTQ+ communities and older adults?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic application materials that don't address SAGE's specific LGBTQ+/aging intersectional focus
  • Overstating Excel proficiency without specific examples of financial reporting or data management applications
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of compliance requirements in grants/contracts work or meticulous documentation practices

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to SAGE | Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders, Inc.!

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