What are the responsibilities and job description for the Institutional Giving Officer (Grant Writer and Manager) position at The Cancer Foundation?
Job Title: Institutional Giving Officer (Grants and Foundations)
Department: Development
Reports To: Director of Development
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Athens, Georgia
Schedule: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Salary Range: $55,000-$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience
The Cancer Foundation is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to reducing the financial burden of cancer for patients and families across Northeast Georgia. Through direct Financial Assistance and Nutritional Assistance, we help eligible individuals in treatment avoid the impossible choice between basic needs and lifesaving care.
Each year, we serve hundreds of households facing urgent challenges, including paying rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation to treatment. Our work is compassionate, measurable, and community-centered. As we expand over the next three years, institutional giving will be key to our sustainable growth.
The Cancer Foundation is seeking a strategic, results-driven Institutional Giving Officer to lead and grow our foundation, corporate foundation, and grant funding portfolio. This is a high-impact fundraising role for a skilled grant writer and relationship builder who can identify new opportunities, develop compelling proposals, manage funder stewardship, and strengthen long-term institutional revenue.
The Institutional Giving Officer will manage the full lifecycle of institutional fundraising, including prospect research, pipeline development, proposal writing, grant management, reporting, compliance, and funder stewardship. This role will own and expand a portfolio of 80-125 institutional prospects and funders, with a focus on securing 5- to 7-figure grants and multi-year commitments.
This is not a maintenance role. It is a growth-focused opportunity to help build a sustainable institutional funding engine that expands The Cancer Foundation's reach and impact.
- Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of 80-125 foundation and institutional prospects and current funders
- Identify, qualify, and prioritize new grant opportunities aligned with organizational strategy
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
- Build strong relationships with foundation staff and institutional representatives
- Create pathways for renewed, upgraded, and multi-year support
- Evaluate portfolio performance regularly and adjust strategy to maximize revenue growth
- Write, edit, and submit persuasive grant proposals, letters of inquiry, concept papers, and reports
- Translate program outcomes, service delivery metrics, and client impact into compelling narratives
- Develop high-quality funding requests for private, family, corporate, and public foundations
- Ensure timely submission of all proposals and supporting documents
- Track deadlines, deliverables, grant statuses, and outcomes with accuracy and consistency
- Partner with leadership and accounting to manage grant agreements, budgets, and compliance requirements
- Build and maintain a robust institutional funding pipeline using prospect research tools and fundraising platforms
- Identify new prospects with strong alignment to mission, programs, and growth priorities
- Use CRM systems to track funder activity, proposal history, pipeline movement, and performance metrics
- Maintain clear, data-informed strategies for prospect advancement and portfolio growth
- Prepare and submit timely, high-quality grant reports demonstrating measurable impact
- Share data-driven updates, client stories, and program outcomes that strengthen funder relationships
- Partner with the Director of Development on stewardship strategies that increase renewals and upgrades
- Identify opportunities for site visits, impact briefings, recognition, and deeper engagement
- Support strategies that move institutional funders toward larger and multi-year commitments
- Collaborate closely with program staff to gather data, stories, and impact metrics
- Work with accounting staff to ensure accurate budgets, reporting, and compliance
- Partner with leadership to align messaging and strengthen the organizational case for support
- Contribute to department-wide fundraising strategy, planning, and performance tracking
- Champion equity-centered fundraising practices across institutional engagement
Within the first 12 months, the Institutional Giving Officer will:
- Secure at least $150,000 in new institutional funding commitments
- Submit 25-35 high-quality grant proposals or LOIs
- Build and actively manage a portfolio of 80-100 institutional prospects
- Maintain a documented, data-informed pipeline strategy
- Achieve a 100% on-time submission rate for required reports and renewals
- Establish at least three new multi-year funding opportunities
- Demonstrate measurable portfolio growth through new prospect acquisition and upgraded commitments
- 3 years of experience in grant writing, institutional giving, or nonprofit fundraising
- Demonstrated success in securing competitive grants
- Proven experience managing a donor or prospect portfolio through the full cultivation cycle
- Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills
- Ability to translate data and program outcomes into persuasive funding narratives
- Experience with prospect research tools and donor databases/CRM systems
- Strong project management, organizational, and deadline-management skills
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising practice
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Experience in healthcare, cancer-related, human services, or mission-driven nonprofit organizations
- Experience securing 5- to 7-figure grants
- Experience developing multi-year institutional funding strategies
- Familiarity with outcomes measurement and impact reporting
- Knowledge of federal, state, or local grant processes
- Experience with nonprofit CRM platforms
The ideal candidate is a strategic fundraiser and strong communicator who brings:
- A portfolio growth mindset
- Strong relationship-building and donor stewardship skills
- Excellent analytical and writing ability
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
- High initiative, accountability, and follow-through
- Deep alignment with our mission to reduce financial barriers to cancer care
The Cancer Foundation offers a salary range of $55,000-$65,000, commensurate with experience, and a competitive benefits package including:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- SIMPLE IRA with 3% match
- Company-sponsored short-term disability insurance
We are committed to professional growth, collaboration, and an inclusive workplace culture.
This position is based in our Athens, Georgia office, with occasional opportunities for remote work. Standard hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required for special events or deadlines.
The Cancer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants, and we encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Please submit a resume and cover letter. Finalists will be asked to provide at least two writing samples, preferably grant proposals or LOIs, demonstrating experience in institutional fundraising. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.
Join us in building a sustainable funding engine that ensures no family faces cancer alone or financially overwhelmed.
Salary : $55,000 - $65,000