Grants Writer

General Description:  

Position Summary

The Grant Writer develops and supports a coordinated funding program that advances the mission of Youth Emergency Services, Inc. (YES House). The position researches funding opportunities; prepares accurate, persuasive, and timely proposals; supports post-award compliance and reporting; and cultivates professional relationships with public, private, corporate, foundation, and community partners. The employee works with a high degree of independence while collaborating closely with program, finance, and executive leadership.

Essential Functions

The following duties are fundamental to the position. Reasonable accommodations will be considered as required by applicable law.

1. Funding Strategy and Grant Development

Develop and maintain a comprehensive grants and funding calendar aligned with agency priorities, program needs, and strategic goals.

Research federal, state, local, corporate, and private-foundation opportunities; evaluate eligibility, competitiveness, restrictions, match requirements, and organizational fit.

Lead or coordinate letters of inquiry, concept papers, applications, renewals, and other funding requests from planning through submission.

Write clear, accurate, compelling narratives using approved program information, measurable outcomes, evidence-informed practices, and funder requirements.

1. Budget, Compliance, and Post-Award Support

Collaborate with finance and program leadership to develop accurate proposal budgets, budget narratives, timelines, performance measures, and implementation plans.

Review award terms and communicate key obligations, including allowable costs, reporting deadlines, record-retention requirements, procurement conditions, and other grant-specific requirements.

Maintain complete and organized grant files, submission confirmations, correspondence, agreements, amendments, reports, and supporting documentation.

Coordinate timely narrative and performance reports and support financial reporting without assuming or replacing the Finance Department's authority for accounting records or certifications. Follow applicable federal grant requirements, including 2 C.F.R. Part 200 when applicable, as well as state requirements, award terms, agency policies, and funder guidance.

1. Data Integrity and Internal Coordination

Gather, verify, synthesize, and present program, demographic, outcome, and financial information from authorized sources; identify inconsistencies before submission.

Coordinate proposal and reporting assignments with program, finance, quality, and executive staff; establish internal deadlines and communicate risks promptly.

Protect confidential, personally identifiable, health, education, donor, personnel, and proprietary information in accordance with applicable law, grant terms, and agency policy.

Use de-identified or aggregate client information whenever individual-level information is not required and obtain required approvals before disclosure.

1. Community, Donor, and Agency Communications

Build and maintain professional, ethical relationships with funders, community partners, businesses, and individual supporters.

Represent YES House accurately and professionally in meetings, presentations, public speaking, media contacts, and community events when assigned.

Support development and periodic updating of brochures, case statements, presentations, donor communications, and other approved materials.

Coordinate external messages with agency leadership and follow approval, branding, confidentiality, lobbying, and public-communication requirements.

1. Professional Accountability

Manage multiple projects and competing deadlines; prioritize work, monitor progress, and alert the supervisor early when a deadline, deliverable, or compliance obligation may be at risk.

Exercise sound judgment, attention to detail, discretion, and ethical stewardship of agency and funder information.

Learn, support, and communicate the agency's mission, philosophy, programs, professional boundaries, and trauma-responsive approach.

Participate in supervision, training, performance improvement, and agency meetings as assigned.

Required Qualifications

A combination of education, training, and directly relevant experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Demonstrated experience preparing professional written materials such as grant proposals, reports, fundraising communications, or comparable persuasive and technical documents.

Ability to research and interpret detailed application instructions, laws, regulations, contracts, and funder requirements.

Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, proofreading, and project-management skills.

Working proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, online grant portals, and presentation or desktop-publishing tools.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively, meet fixed deadlines, and maintain accurate records under pressure.

Basic knowledge of budgets and financial terminology sufficient to collaborate with finance staff and review proposal information for consistency.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in English, communications, nonprofit management, public administration, business, social sciences, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Two or more years of successful grant writing, fundraising, nonprofit development, contract administration, or closely related experience.

Experience with government and foundation grants, federal grant systems, 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and grants supporting youth, behavioral health, education, housing, or human services.

Experience tracking outcomes, preparing reports, and collaborating across program and finance functions.

Core Competencies

Mission alignment and ethical judgment

Research and critical analysis

Persuasive and technical writing

Accuracy and attention to detail

Relationship building and professional communication

Planning, prioritization, and deadline management

Collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement

Confidentiality and responsible data stewardship

Work Environment and Functional Requirements

The position is primarily office-based and requires regular use of a computer, keyboard, telephone, and standard office equipment; sustained reading, writing, data review, and virtual or in-person communication; and the ability to organize and retrieve electronic and paper records. The employee may periodically attend meetings or community events at other locations and may occasionally work outside normal business hours to meet a fixed submission deadline or approved event obligation. Travel is required only when assigned and must be performed in accordance with agency policy.