What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grant Writer position at Josselyn?
With several Northern Cook and Lake County locations, Josselyn, a nonprofit community mental health center, has been serving people since 1951. Today, Josselyn is known for its commitment to providing not only high-quality and affordable care, but excellent care for more than 7,500 children, adolescents and adults annually. Josselyn made history and was honored in 2025 as the only nonprofit named to Crain’s Chicago Business Fast 50 list for the second consecutive year!
Job Summary
The Grant Writer is responsible for a portfolio of grants that includes foundations, corporations, and government entities. The Grant Writer will research and draft compelling grant proposals that support the organization’s fundraising goals. They will identify funding opportunities, maintain a calendar of application deadlines, and collaborate with the Grants Project Manager to gather relevant data and with program staff on narratives. The ideal candidate is a strong writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for advancing the mission of the organization.
Tentative Schedule
This is a part time position with a schedule of up to 20 hours per week. Tuesday - Thursday, 9 AM - 3 PM with flexibility.
Essential Responsibilities And Metrics
Job Summary
The Grant Writer is responsible for a portfolio of grants that includes foundations, corporations, and government entities. The Grant Writer will research and draft compelling grant proposals that support the organization’s fundraising goals. They will identify funding opportunities, maintain a calendar of application deadlines, and collaborate with the Grants Project Manager to gather relevant data and with program staff on narratives. The ideal candidate is a strong writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for advancing the mission of the organization.
Tentative Schedule
This is a part time position with a schedule of up to 20 hours per week. Tuesday - Thursday, 9 AM - 3 PM with flexibility.
Essential Responsibilities And Metrics
- Research and identify prospective grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
- Write and edit high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports.
- Maintain a calendar of grant application deadlines and ensure timely submission of all materials.
- Collaborate with Director of Institutional Giving and Grants Financial Manager and Grants Project Manager to gather necessary information for proposals and reporting
- Maintain accurate records of grant activity in the organization’s shared filed and database.
- Assist in developing templates and boilerplate language for future proposals.
- Support the Mission Advancement team with additional writing and fundraising tasks as needed.
- When awards are received, collaborate with the Grants Project Manager and Grants Funding Manager.
- Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or related field preferred or equivalent experience.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in grant writing or related fundraising work.
- Excellent written communication and editing skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines.
- Familiarity with fundraising databases and grant tracking tools is a plus.
