What are the responsibilities and job description for the Grant Writer position at L.e.a.p. Inc.?
About LEAP
For over 30 years, LEAP has worked with children, teenagers, and young adults in New Haven, Connecticut in some of the lowest income urban neighborhoods in America. As the largest youth agency in our city, we provide free academic supports, social enrichment, and leadership development, and we do so in a unique way. LEAP gives older students (ages 16-24) the training, education, and resources they need to work as counselors to our younger students (ages 7-15). In doing so, we go beyond impacting individual lives through education and employment. We build a community with power and purpose.
All LEAP employees must adhere to LEAP's Core Values and Community Agreements.
Core Values:
- Social Justice - Advocating for fairness and equality while challenging systemic injustices
- Caring - Demonstrating empathy and concern for individual and community well-being
- Ethical Leadership - Leading with integrity, fairness, and moral courage
- Accountability - Taking responsibility for actions, outcomes, and commitments
- Collaboration - Fostering partnerships to achieve common goals and maximize impact
Community Agreements:
- Growth Mindset - Embracing challenges as learning opportunities
- Recognition & Appreciation - Expressing gratitude and celebrating achievements
- Conflict De-escalation - Resolving conflicts through open dialogue and cooperation
- Mutual Respect - Honoring diverse opinions, experiences, and boundaries
- Continuous Learning - Promoting ongoing personal and professional development
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Grant Writer to join our mission-driven Development team. This role is essential to sustaining our $7.3M annual operating budget by managing the full grant lifecycle—from prospect research through reporting—with a focus on securing $1M–$1.5M in annual institutional support.
Position Details
This is a full-time, 40-hour/week position with a hybrid schedule (two set days in-office plus additional days as needed). The role requires exceptional writing skills, technological proficiency (including comfort with AI tools), and strong organizational abilities to meet deadlines in a high-stakes funding environment. The ideal candidate is collaborative, deadline-driven, and skilled at translating program impact into persuasive, funder-focused narratives.
Supervision
Reports to the Deputy Director of Development.
Key Responsibilities
Research & Prospect Identification
- Identify and analyze funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies using both traditional and AI-powered tools (Candid, Grant Station, iWave).
- Monitor funding trends and funder priorities to inform strategy.
Proposal Development
- Develop and submit high-quality proposals aligned with organizational goals.
- Collaborate with program staff to craft compelling narratives with measurable outcomes.
- Integrate AI tools strategically while maintaining organizational authenticity and voice.
Grant Management & Compliance
- Oversee the full grant lifecycle from application to reporting, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Maintain records and tracking systems through CRM platforms (Raiser’s Edge).
- Submit compliance documentation and funder updates on schedule.
Relationship Support & Stewardship
- Draft professional funder correspondence and communications.
- Prepare research, briefing materials, and support for funder meetings and site visits.
- Ensure complete and accurate donor database records.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in grant writing preferred; related fields such as journalism or marketing encouraged.
- Proven ability to manage complex, deadline-driven projects.
- Exceptional research and writing skills with strong writing samples.
- Proficiency in databases (Raiser’s Edge), Microsoft Office 365, project management platforms (Asana), and AI tools.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and execution skills.
- Commitment to diverse communities and cultural competency.
- Self-directed with high attention to detail and adaptability to new technologies.
- Experience in youth development, education, or social services a plus.
Performance Expectations
Success is measured by producing competitive proposals, strengthening tracking and reporting systems, and cultivating funder relationships to help meet annual institutional fundraising goals.
Personal Attributes
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Growth mindset and eagerness to expand skills over time.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $50,000–$55,000, commensurate with experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Retirement plan with employer contribution.
- Generous PTO, holiday leave, and professional development opportunities.
To Apply: If you are interested in this position, please send a letter of interest, your resume, and a writing sample to this link: Career Center | Recruitment
Note:
Note: This is a hybrid position based out of the LEAP office in New Haven, CT.
Additional information about the organization is available via www.leapforkids.org.
LEAP is an equal opportunity employer.
Salary : $50,000 - $55,000