Grant Writer

Human Resources 13

Position Title: Grant Writer

Reports To: Senior Director, Institutional Giving

Department: External Affairs - Development

Location: New York, NY

Work Arrangement: Hybrid work arrangement, 3-4 days in office a week, in accordance with business needs

Salary Range $66,000-$74,000

FLSA Status: Exempt

The Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land protection and creating connections to nature and the outdoors for all people. Over the past five decades, OSI has protected more than 2.4 million at-risk, irreplaceable acres of forests, wetlands, and shorelines across the North American Eastern Seaboard. Expanding in both scope and size, OSI employs entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and expertise to protect the land that matters most – to preserve clean drinking water; improve the public’s access to parks, public trails, and greenways; save at-risk wildlife habitat; strengthen communities; and to combat climate change and mitigate its effects. OSI has an operating budget of $45 million, of which $32 million is derived through philanthropy, and is engaged in several multi-year campaigns and initiatives to support its mission.

Position Overview

Due to rapid programmatic and geographic growth, OSI is expanding our development team and seeks a Grant Writer, a new role that will support our essential institutional fundraising communications. Under the supervision of OSI’s Senior Director, Institutional Giving, the Grant Writer will play a crucial role in researching, writing, shaping, and editing persuasive grant proposals, reports, briefings, and other communications to various foundations, corporations, and government entities. This position requires exceptional writing abilities, keen attention to detail, and the capability to effectively communicate our organization's mission and programs to existing and potential funders.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, briefings, emails, decks, updates, and other communications as necessary to cultivate, secure, and steward funding relationships to support specific projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with funders' priorities and guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with program staff to gather essential information and data necessary for grant proposals, reports, briefings, stewardship updates, cultivation outreach, and any other communications.
• Research municipal, state and federal plans, news items and articles, and policy pieces to develop cases for support of OSI’s work.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of grant inquiries, proposals, and reports, adhering to all requirements and guidelines provided by funders.
• Prepare drafts to support all institutional funder communications to portfolios managed by SVP Philanthropy, Senior Director Institutional Giving, and Manager of Institutional Giving.
• Create drafts in advance of deadlines to ensure ample time for internal review by development and program teams (and executive team when needed).
• Conduct research to identify funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies aligned with our organization's mission and programs.
• Copyedit all institutional funder communications;
• Gather relevant program information to support donor-facing members of executive, development, and program teams in preparation for meetings and in the creation of proposals and reports.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with grant management activities, including monitoring grant progress and reporting requirements, as needed.
• Submit proposals, reports and compliance needs in portals, as needed.
• Assist with reporting to and activities for OSI’s External Affairs committee, Board of Trustees, and various committees.
• Serve as a point of contact between the development department, communications department, and program teams.
• Support and assist with other development activities, including mailings and events.
• Special projects as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience in related field and 3+ years related experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in fundraising/development role in non-profit sector
• Undergraduate degree

Technical Skills and Abilities:

• Superior writing and editing skills, with the ability to craft clear, concise, and persuasive proposals.
• Strong research skills, including the ability to gather and synthesize information from various sources.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or equivalent CRM/donor/grants management database.

General Skills and Abilities:

• Outstanding attention to detail, organization, diligence and commitment to excellence.
• Ability to think and problem-solve creatively.
• Highly organized.
• Ability to meet and work ahead of deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite preferred.
• Ability to work on complex assignments.
• Highly collegial working style.
• Familiarity with environmental and/or land conservation issues is desirable
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of privileged information

Location & Physical Requirements

• The position is based in OSI’s New York City office
• Some evening and weekend hours may be required occasionally for donor events
• Frequently sits for long periods of time
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard
• May require occasional standing, walking, lifting, stooping, and bending

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply.

Apply at https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/careers

Attach a cover letter that includes where you learned of the job posting along with your resume. Applications without a cover letter are not likely to be considered. This position is onsite at OSI’s NYC headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through July 15, 2024. You will receive an acknowledgment once your application has been submitted.

OSI is committed to providing a competitive compensation package. The starting salary for this role ranges from $66,000 to $74,000 commensurate with candidate skill level and experience. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process. OSI offers a generous benefits package including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, life and disability insurance, retirement plan, professional development assistance, and other resources designed to support the passion, commitment, and energy that is vital to our team members.

OSI is an equal-opportunity employer and is actively recruiting a diverse workforce. Land conservation benefits all people. Our mission is best advanced by the contributions and leadership of people across varying identities, including racial, gender, spiritual, and cultural. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment that fosters belonging and we look for future team members who share that same value. We encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records for employment.

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