POSITION OVERVIEW AND GOALS

The Grants Writer plays a vital role on the Charleston Promise Neighborhood’s (CPN’s) Development Team, serving as a liaison between the organization and its funders. This position is responsible for researching, preparing, submitting, and managing grant proposals and reports that advance CPN’s mission and strategic goals. The Grants Writer serves as the primary grant writer, ensuring all submissions meet funder requirements, overseeing compliance and reporting, and cultivating strong relationships with new and existing funding partners. This role requires exceptional writing, data analysis, program budgeting, and project management skills, with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Development and Management

Lead the full grant lifecycle from prospect research and proposal writing to reporting and stewardship.
Research and identify new local, state, and federal funding opportunities.
Draft high-quality proposals, letters of intent, budgets, and supporting materials in collaboration with program staff, finance, and executive leadership.
Manage submission processes through various grant portals and maintain accurate records in CPN’s password manager and drive.
Maintain a master grants calendar, ensuring all deadlines, deliverables, and follow-up actions are met.
Develop and maintain a library of grant support documents, such as resumes, bios, IRS forms, financial statements, organizational documents, and any other requests.

Funder Relations and Stewardship

Build and maintain relationships with current and prospective funders, foundations, and strategic partners.
Coordinate and participate in funder meetings, site visits, and special initiatives.
Execute thank you letters, grant agreements, and ensure appropriate funder recognition across our communication channels (website, newsletter, and social media).

Compliance, Reporting, and Evaluation

Ensure full compliance with all grant requirements, deadlines, and reporting standards.
Maintain a system for tracking active grants, reporting schedules, and funding commitments to ensure accuracy and deadlines are not missed.
Collaborate with program and finance staff to align expenditures with approved budgets and that financial documentation is accurate and accessible for reporting.
Monitor progress toward program and organizational outcomes to ensure alignment with grant objectives, collecting both data and stories that demonstrate community impact.
Draft clear, compelling progress reports and targeted program updates to funders that fully capture programmatic success.
Manage reimbursements, drawdowns, and ensure all documentation and supporting materials are organized for audits and funder reviews.
Organize and archive all grant-related materials and correspondence for institutional recordkeeping.

Research and Data Analysis

Conduct research and gather data to strengthen proposals and advocacy efforts.
Stay informed about trends, statistics, and best practices relevant to CPN’s missions and program areas.
Support the development of presentations and reports for leadership, board members, and community stakeholders.

Other Duties

Participate in team meetings and cross-departmental collaborations.
Perform other responsibilities as assigned to support the agency’s fundraising and community impact goals.
Attend CPN programmatic events.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree or 3-7 years of relevant experience in nonprofit administration, grant writing, or fundraising.
Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in grant writing, grants management, and related development functions.
Proven success in securing and managing grants, with strong analytical, persuasive, and technical writing skills.
Excellent editing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
Strong organization and administrative skills; self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar donor development software preferred.
Experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and project management.
Ability to perform under pressure and meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
Demonstrated alignment with the mission, vision, and values of Charleston Promise Neighborhood.
Valid driver's license and automobile insurance must be maintained throughout employment.
Ability to pass a background check.

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary Range $55,000-$60,000 (Depending on Experience)
Retirement Account (up to 3% Employer Match)
Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance (Employee contributes $25 per month)
Short-Term Disability (100% paid by CPN for the individual employee)
Paid Time Off (17 days per year)
Paid Holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after.

Charleston Promise Neighborhood

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Grants Writer