The Organization
Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Search seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects from 56 offices in 35 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with dedicated and enthusiastic staff who love their work. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.
Summary of Position
The Grant Writer’s main responsibilities are to research, write, and at times manage unrestricted grants supporting core operating expenses. The Grant Writer will also ensure timely and accurate reporting to donors of such grants when required.
The Grant Writer will report to the Strategic Development Manager. The Strategic Development team is responsible for fundraising from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support Search’s core and unrestricted funding needs. It is an exciting time of opportunity, growth, and new challenges for the department as we dramatically expand Search’s core revenue to provide the infrastructure needed to implement and manage a global organization.
Responsibilities
Understand institutional history, programs, and funding needs.
Communicate need for core operating expenses in a compelling way that reflects the vitality and efficacy of the organization as more than the sum of its component programs.
In coordination with Executive Team, Strategic Development Director, and Global Affairs and Partnerships Team, create relationships with foundation and corporate prospects. When appropriate, make appointments for Senior Management with foundation officers and other prospects.
Conduct the full range of activities required to identify, research, prepare, submit, and manage letters of inquiry, concept notes, and grant proposals to foundation and corporate sources.
Maintain a calendar of all proposal and grant-related deadlines, such as RFP and report due dates.
Perform prospect research on foundations and corporations to evaluate prospects for corporate and foundation grants.
Comply with all grant reporting as required by foundation/corporate donors.
Work with Finance to gather information necessary to report to corporate/foundation funders on grants when needed.
Provide stewardship to current donors, including work with Strategic Development Director to provide regular written program updates (success stories, etc.) to corporate and foundation donors.
Maintain current records concerning foundation and corporate grants in database and joint files, including grant tracking and reporting. Report progress to team regularly.
Track statistics relevant to development and provide department with written materials necessary for donor stewardship and reports to Board and its Development Committee.
Provide Search colleagues with input related to foundation and corporate funding for the organization’s reports, audits, program grant applications and communications materials such as the website and annual report.
Achieve a minimum 30% win-rate by year 2 of position.
Assist with other Strategic Development projects as requested.
As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position-holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications
Essential:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject.
Minimum of two years experience with grant writing, including unrestricted operating expenses.
Familiarity with fundraising information sources, basic fundraising techniques and strategies, and research techniques for donor prospect research.
Able to monitor and meet revenue goals.
Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
Strong written communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals. Native-speaker level fluency in English.
Strong editing skills.
Strong contributor in team environments, with positive personality and can-do attitude.
Highly organized with excellent attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
Proactive, initiative-taking, and able to work independently.
Able to identify and solve problems on an immediate basis.
Computer literacy proficiency, including solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google applications (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Hangouts) and Internet research skills.
Desirable:
Interest and knowledge of conflict resolution, passion for the mission.
Experience working in a conflict resolution setting.
Experience working in a non-profit or similar environment.
Previous experience with non-profit fundraising other than grant writing.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience, with excellent benefits
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