Grant Writer

Job Description

DEPARTMENT:   Development

POSITION TITLE: Grant Writer                                                                 FLSA: Exempt

SUPERVISOR: CEO                                                                                       Job Code: NA

OVERVIEW: 

Under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer, the Grant Writer researches, writes, and prepares government, foundation and corporate grant proposals that align with our agency’s mission. This position will work as a member of Compliance, requiring participation in regular staff meetings, cross-functional grant strategy meetings, grant compliance hand-off meetings, trainings at agency headquarters, and the attendance of occasional events. The Grant Writer will play a key role in proactively matching and marketing Unity Care Group (UCG) to potential funders, and track, monitor and manage proposals via internal and external data bases. 

DIRECT REPORTS: 

·         None

QUALIFICATIONS:

        Required

1.       Bachelor’s degree or higher in English, Journalism or related field

2.       3-5 years of grant writing/fund raising experience in Social Services / Non-profit arena

3.       Strong oral & written communication skills

4.       Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

5.       Diplomatic team player with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

6.       Project management skills

7.       Experience with coordinating fundraising strategies and activities

8.       Demonstrate flexibility, initiative, reliability, creativity, and integrity

9.       Technical experience required in Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint

1. High degree of professionalism, diplomacy, and ability to interact with staff, clients, funders, community members, and vendors

Preferred

1. Knowledge of and experience working with at risk or high risk youth and other minority populations

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but not limited to):

1.       Through interviews and other means, gather information that will easily allow him/her to grasp the concept of a project or program for which funding is sought as defined by the person responsible for carrying it out.

2.       Acquire and maintain sound knowledge and understanding of the organization, and use that knowledge and understanding to better comprehend all projects and programs for which grants will be sought and to recommend the seeking of grants.

3.       Research grant-making organizations and analyze them to identify likely funding sources for specific projects and programs.

4.       Compile, write, and edit all grant applications exhibiting strong expository writing skills and a high-level command of grammar and spelling.

5.       Review the budget of a project or program for which funding is sought and make recommendations to better present it to grant-making organizations.

6.       Develop individual grant proposals in accordance with each grant-making organization’s preferences and follow exactly each grant-making organization’s guidelines.

7.       Keep in contact with grant-making organizations during their review of a submitted grant application in order to be able to supply additional supportive material.

8.       Work closely with UCG’s leadership team to determine priorities for fund development activities

9.       Prepare reports and proposals in a complete and timely manner

10.   Research new government and foundation funding opportunities

11.   Establish professional relationships with foundations and corporate contacts for potential funding opportunities

12.   Support fundraising outreach; assist in the development of materials for donors including; appeals, newsletter, annual report, website and other publications

13.   Develop a Grant Planning Calendar and review process of proposals; track funding proposal deadlines for follow-up

14.   Continually develop methods for expanding funding by attending relevant community meetings (usually in partnership w/key Program Directors)

15.   Maintain funder files (soft and hard copies)

16.   Work with Program Directors to develop competitive grant funding strategies

17.   Research databases to identify funding sources;

18.   Write, edit, proof, coordinate, and track proposals and grant applications

19.   Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.   The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

1.       Ability to read and interpret documents and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence

2.       Ability to speak effectively before groups of students or employees of organization

3.       Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. 

4.       Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations

5.       Ability to identify negative disruptive behaviors and redirect behavior using mediation techniques

6.       While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. 

7.       The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

8.       The employee may be required to make and/or receive physical contact in the process of delivering First Aid/CPR or Handle with Care, or in training to those methods. 

9.       Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

10.   Ability to get CPR and First Aid certificate within 30 days of start date, and maintain a current certificate

11.   Must clear a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check including fingerprinting before start date and maintain clearance

12.   Must clear a health screening, including TB before start date and maintain clearance

13.   Must be at least 21 years of age and able to work in a Community Care Licensed Facility

14.   Must be able to drive, have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record and maintain a clean driving record.

15.   Meet and maintain the minimum vehicle liability and property insurance limits (in order to be insured by our insurance carrier for transportation of residents)

Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described in this document are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time and the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands at the sole discretion of the company.  The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not to be all-inclusive.  They represent typical elements and criteria to successfully perform the job.

The Unity Care Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Unity Care Group does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.