Grants administrator
Also known as: grants & contracts officer, grants and contracts officer, proposals administrator, grants and trusts administrator, grants and contracts administrator, grants administration funding officer
About this occupation
Grants administrators handle the pass-through track of grants, often given out by the government to the grant recipient. They prepare the paperwork such as the grant applications and give out the grants. They are also responsible to make sure that the grant recipient spends the money correctly according to the terms laid out.
Essential skills and knowledge
- instruct grant recipient
- financial management
- grant concessions
- complete administration
- help grant recipient
- manage grant applications
- follow up awarded grants
- give out grants
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Fundraising Managers (O*NET 11-2033.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Manage fundraising budgets.
- Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Reading Comprehension
US median pay: US$125,470 a year (2025), 38,810 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.3)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingImportant (3.5)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.4)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Fundraisers
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Financial Managers
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Marketing Managers
- Sales Managers
- Treasurers and Controllers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.