• Job Description

  Req#: 498205

  Philanthropic Grant Writer

  Location: Remote

  Reporting to: National Director of Philanthropy

  Average Salary: $87,000 + Bonus

  About Children’s Literacy Initiative:
  Founded in Philadelphia in 1988, Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) is a national 501c3 working to advance equity in public education in the U.S. by ensuring Black and Latinx children achieve reading success by the end of third grade. CLI accomplishes this through job-embedded coaching and professional development, seminars, and workshops, and providing the books and materials teachers and children need along their early literacy journeys.

  Learning to read has significance beyond building skills – it is an act of liberation. By helping educators learn and apply high impact, culturally sustaining instructional strategies and nurturing dynamic professional learning communities, CLI is building lasting capacity in teachers and principals to advance equity in education.

  Position Overview

  We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Philanthropic Grant Writer to join our team. You are a social justice writer who is passionate about CLI’s social justice mission and are eager to communicate the significance and impact of anti-racist early literacy instruction on learning outcomes for Black and Latinx children to current and prospective partners and investors. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in securing funding to support our organizational strategic goals and business development. You are an outstanding and adaptive communicator and possess a uniquely compelling writing style. You demonstrate strong organizational skills, have a keen eye for detail, and are comfortable juggling multiple projects, tight deadlines, and a rapid pace of work.

  Responsibilities

  1. Research and Identify Funding Opportunities:

  • Research, identify and rank grants, funding sources, opportunities that support CLI’s short and long-term operational philanthropy goal to raise upward of $6M annually
  • Form relationships with existing and potential funders ensuring long-term positive relationships and outcomes
  • Stay informed about funding trends and opportunities in the field of literacy aligned to CLI’s mission/vision

  1. Proposal Writing:

  • Create grant writing strategies, utilizing research tools and gathered intel to craft individualized approaches and responses
  • Write compelling and persuasive grant proposals and responses that align with the organization's mission and goals
  • Collaborate with National Director of Philanthropy and other team members to gather necessary information and data for proposals and maintain accurate records

  1. Comprehensive RFP and Grant Management

  • End to end grant management for general operating opportunities including:

  1. Identifying strategically aligned prospects
  2. Forming 1:1 relationships with contacts at existing and prospective funding partners
  3. Writing and composition of LOIs, proposals, applications, and reports
  4. Overseeing proofreading and copyediting
  5. Submitting high-quality applications
  6. Cataloging and tracking grant sources, along with deadlines, and requirements; create share a schedule of rolling deadlines and deliverables with various teams
  7. Supporting National Director of Philanthropy and various team members with grant and report narrative composition

  Administration & Reporting

  • Manage and document all opportunities in CLI’s database
  • Ensure appropriate follow-up and excellent stewardship including grant reports and renewal requests
  • Ensure compliance with all requirements and regulations

  Qualifications

  Demonstrate the motivation, commitment, and ability to apply a DEI and anti-racist lens to their work necessary to positively impact and empower our teachers and ultimately children.

  • Deep experience in one of the following disciplines: Fundraising (preferred), Communications, Technical Writing, Education, Journalism, English
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience with successful writing of compelling and well-framed large grants ($50K+) in the private foundation and/or federal government space
  • Communication style meets 5 C’s: Compelling, Clear, Centered, Coherent and inClusive
  • Deep experience with asset-based language norms and standards
  • Exceptional knowledge of institutional grant principles, strategy, tools, and techniques
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills
  • Excellent teamwork and communication skills required
  • Understanding of CLI’s mission, programs, and strategic priorities
  • Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and produce quality results on time
  • Outstanding attention to detail
  • Self-motivated
  • Proficiency in MS Word (Desktop and Office 365) and Outlook required

  Children’s Literacy Initiative is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• About the company

  We work with pre-k through 5th grade teachers to improve early literacy instruction so that children become powerful readers, writers, and thinkers.

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