Grant Writer, Northeast Region

Position: Grant Writer

Reports to: Senior Director, Institutional Partnerships

Location: Northeast United States (prefer Boston)

Status: Exempt; Full Time

Start: October 2021

The Role: The Grant Writer is responsible for securing institutional support for Facing History’s projects and programs as assigned. The Grant Writer will work with regional and project development leads to identify, qualify, and cultivate potential funders; and solicit, develop, close, steward, and report on grants from foundations and corporations based on Facing History’s annual operating plan, operating needs, and capital needs. The Grant Writer will work to achieve activity and revenue goals as determined by the Senior Director, Institutional Partnerships. The Grant Writer will support prospect research and, with fundraising partner(s), build a pipeline of new institutional donors. 

Who You Are: You are an organized, calm, proactive, intuitive, thoughtful, and accurate individual with excellent writing skills. You excel at juggling multiple priorities and feel successful when others around you are successful, too. You are communicative and collaborative; you bring tact, diplomacy, and persistence to the workplace. You are able to build collaborative cross-functional relationships with key stakeholders at various levels within the organization. You have the capacity to solve problems, exhibit grace under pressure, and support teams in adapting to changes in direction and priorities. You are sensitive and adaptive to multiple communication styles, and can easily distill verbal descriptions of activities and ideas into high quality written donor communications.  

Candidate should be based in the Northeast (prefer Boston).  This position is currently remote, but will require meetings in our Brookline office when we return to in-person work. 

Applications will not be considered without a cover letter. Please submit 1-2 writing samples with your application.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Articulating Facing History’s mission, programs, and future development opportunities in writing and verbally for the organization, and for foundation, government, and corporate prospects

• Working with the program staff and finance department to develop project action plans and budgets for program implementation, and meeting regularly with project leads and finance partners to help ensure that grant requirements are met

• Managing a portfolio of corporate and foundation donors and prospects

• Writing letters of inquiry, concept papers, proposals, reports, and letters for foundation, government, and corporate donors

• Contributing to peer review of written materials produced within the Grants Team

• Supporting frontline fundraising staff in liaising effectively with foundation partners, including consulting on strategic relationship management

• Helping regions to qualify prospects

• Special projects, including creating proposals and reports with the individual giving team as needed

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience in grant writing; a plus if experienced in education grant writing

• Excellent writing and research skills

• Excellent communication skills, in person, in writing, and on the phone

• Good time management skills, with an ability to handle multiple projects and meet multiple deadlines

• Good organizational and database management skills, experience with CRM systems a plus

• Ability to work independently and as a member of multiple regional teams

• Creative energy, self-starter

• Interest in and ability to articulate the mission of this nonprofit

• BA/BS