Grants Specialist

Position Summary

The Grants Specialist plays a key role in securing funding that supports Selfhelp’s mission and programs. This position requires a skilled and strategic writer who can blend data with storytelling to craft compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports to funders.

The ideal candidate is both creative and detail-oriented, capable of building and sustaining strong relationships with foundation, corporate, and government funders, while maintaining high standards of professionalism and precision in all communications.

Key Responsibilities

·       Develop and write persuasive proposals, budgets, and reports for city, state, federal, institutional, foundation, and corporate funders.

·       Collaborate with program directors, senior leadership, and finance teams to translate complex program data into compelling cases for support.

·       Research and identify new funding opportunities to expand Selfhelp’s grant portfolio.

·       Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders; meet with program officers and potential partners to explore collaboration opportunities.

·       Prepare cover letters, acknowledgments, and other routine correspondence.

·       Attend and report on bidders’ conferences and relevant sessions.

·       Manage grants pipeline and deadlines using Bloomerang database.

·       Ensure compliance with all mandatory annual trainings (e.g., Sexual Harassment Prevention, IT Security, OSHA, HIPAA).

·       Support organizational excellence through professionalism, teamwork, and adherence to Selfhelp’s standards.

Qualifications & Competencies

·       Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

·       Experience: Minimum 5 years of full-time, nonprofit grant writing experience — this is a strict requirement.

o   Proven success securing both foundation and government grants, including city and state RFPs.

o   Demonstrated track record with specific funding wins and measurable outcomes.

·       Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.

·       Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — able to write with clarity, persuasion, and professionalism.

·       Skilled in relationship management; confident in engaging with funders via email, phone, and meetings.

·       Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

·       Experience using Bloomerang or other grants management databases preferred.

·       Must demonstrate professional stability — frequent job changes or short tenures will not be considered.

Writing Standards

Applicants must provide writing samples that clearly demonstrate:

·       Strong storytelling ability with compelling narrative flow.

·       Effective use of data and outcomes to support funding cases.

·       Professional formatting, grammar, and attention to detail.