Job Summary
The Senior Grant writer provides a critical connection between the mission of Solid Ground and our funding partners and is responsible for accurately representing our community’s needs and how our programs respond to those needs. In addition to the duties and responsibilities in the Grant Writer job description, the Senior Grant Writer is responsible for an expanded set of duties including but are not limited to: (1) sole lead on all donor outreach, engagement, stewardship and cultivation for more complex grant & contract funders; (2) participates on coordinating and submitting public grants & contract submissions and renewals for programs in their portfolio; (3) writes proposals and reports for a select group of general funders; (4) develops messaging and proposal strategy for new pilot and expansion programs, as well as supporting post-award project management, data and financial tracking, and reporting; (5) takes lead on Joint RD-Volunteer Services-Communications Team projects which may include agencywide messaging & communications, stock messaging curation, in-kind donation coordination with programs, administrative fact sheets, materials for Board of Directors, agencywide demographic reports, and more. The Senior Grant writer’s impeccable execution of the entire grant funding process—from prospecting to closing grants with reports—is critical to maintain and grow Solid Ground services, in addition to supporting the grants team in being a critical repository resource for the Joint Team and across the agency. The Senior Grant writer is also expected to support projects that may arise and be a lead support for the Grants & Contracts Manager’s annual workplan.
Essential Responsibilities, Duties & Tasks
25% Build Internal & External Relationships – Senior Grant writer is responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with private funders in their portfolio, as well as building rapport and strong relationships with program and finance staff in their portfolio. The Senior Grant writer is solely responsible for all donor outreach, engagement, stewardship, and cultivation for more complex grant & contract funders.
- In collaboration the Grants & Contracts Manager and program leads, initiate and build relationships with existing, lapsed, and prospected private funders above $45,000 in annual giving. Prepare materials for, coordinate with program staff for, and participate in site visits with current and potential grantors.
- Build strong internal relationships to obtain information necessary to write strong proposals. Develop clear, thorough understandings of program operations, understanding the nuances and overlaps between programs, focus populations, and activities.
- Communicate regularly with program leads, administrative program staff, and the finance team on the status of private funds, award spenddown, reporting requirements, and identified funding needs in program budgets. Set expectations and schedule for follow-up in post-award meetings and subsequent check-ins on spenddown and reporting requirements. Collaborate with Grants & Contracts Manager on public funding internal communication needs.
- Live into team values of reducing the burden of fundraising on program staff by clearly communicating expectations, deadlines, and application needs in a timely manner. Meet program and finance staff where they are!
40% Write Strategically for public and private funding sources – including private funder portfolio of more than 30 foundations, corporations, and organizations; and public funding from a variety of City, County, WA State, and federal agencies as opportunities arise.
- Write strategic, well-informed, and clear letters of inquiry (LOIs) and private & public grant proposals including RFAs/Qs/Ps and more! Act as lead for straightforward public submissions and renewals in program portfolio, as well as a select number of private general operating funders. Support development of messaging and proposal strategy for program pilots and expansions in alignment with organizational strategy, including Vision 2030 Strategic Plan.
- Produce additional writing needed to create grant acknowledgments, reports, and various funder stewardship communications under the direction of the Grants & Contracts Manager and in conjunction with agency staff.
- Support collaborative Grants Team writing – in editing proposals that others are lead on including public grants, general operating proposals, and more.
- Support the Resource Development, Communications & Volunteer Services Joint team with up-do-date program details, strategy, and metrics.
- Act as lead on Joint RD-Volunteer Services-Communications Team projects which may include agencywide messaging & communications, stock messaging curation, in-kind donation coordination with programs, administrative fact sheets, materials for Board of Directors, agencywide demographic reports, and more.
15% Data Entry & Tracking – Maintain data integrity of grant funders, proposals, and gifts in Virtuous CRM by completing data entry on actions in a timely fashion and keeping contact information up to date.
- Personally responsible for tracking due dates, checking guidelines, stewardship engagements, reporting and more for portfolio.
- Coordinates with RD Operations Coordinator and Finance team on gift forms and associated accounting paperwork requirements.
5% Research Community Needs & Prospect Potential Funders:
- Research & identify private funding opportunities through community outreach and convenings, Puget Sound Grantwriter Association participation, Foundation Directory Online, Form 990s, internal systems, and the internet, including prospecting for new bodies of work.
- Vet & assess foundation priorities, read and interpret Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and develop strategies to solicit grants.
- Build a repository of external data on relevant topics and social issues affecting our target population; develop library of best practices within the field; draw conclusions from statistics and studies to support program effectiveness.
- Support public funding advocacy efforts at local levels primarily including Seattle City and King County.
10% Attend meetings, trainings, and anti-racism capacity building – Participate in frequent department and agency meetings including anti-racism action teams, caucusing, and affinity groups and, as required, relevant trainings covering grant writing and anti-racism growth.
5% Support special projects that may arise, for example supporting Grants & RD new team member onboarding and be a lead support for the Grants & Contracts Manager’s annual workplan. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Solid Ground is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on sex or sexual orientation, gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Full Job Description