Reporting to the VP of Development, the Grant Writer plays a critical role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the organization by securing funding through grants from foundations, corporations, and government entities. This position involves identifying funding opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements. As a key member of the Development Team, the Grant Writer collaborates with staff, leadership, and external stakeholders to maintain a robust grant portfolio, build lasting relationships with funders, and create a sustainable pipeline of support.

The ideal candidate is a strong researcher, an excellent writer, highly organized, self-motivated, and has exceptional attention to detail. This is a new position in the Development Department created to achieve our aggressive growth goals. The successful candidate will work closely with our Development Team and will collaborate with colleagues across several departments, including Programs, Finance, and Marketing/Communications.

Essential Functions

Work with the VP of Development to develop and execute annual institutional and corporate revenue goals.
Write, edit, and submit compelling letters of intent, proposals, and funding applications, ensuring all submissions align with funder requirements and organizational objectives.
Manage the grants pipeline, including researching and identifying funding opportunities and outlining targeted engagement strategies.
Track grant deliverables and ensure all grant reporting requirements are met, including the development and timely submission of progress and final reports.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of grant proposals, correspondence, funder updates, submission statuses, projected and received funding, and overall outcomes in Raiser’s Edge/NXT and other tracking systems.
Gather and analyze data, statistics, and trends to enhance the quality and impact of proposals.

Relationship Building and Management (20%)

Cultivate and steward relationships with foundation officers, corporate representatives, and other funders to strengthen long-term partnerships, ensuring funders are kept informed through timely updates and consistent communication.
Represent the organization professionally in all interactions with funders and community partners.
Create and provide funder briefings and develop talking points to support leadership’s engagements with prospective and current funders.

Internal Collaboration (5%)

Partner with VP of Development and key senior staff to create project budgets, timelines, and action plans for grant submissions.
Facilitate cross-departmental communication to ensure alignment between fundraising, programs, and operations, including communicating grant terms to staff and supporting the Finance Team in tracking grant-related expenditures.

The following requirements are necessary to perform the essential functions of the job:

Commitment to The Cradle’s mission, values, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethics.
BA/BS degree in related field or equivalent experience preferred
5-7+ years of successful nonprofit grant writing experience, with a strong track record of securing 6-7 figure gifts, including general operating and multiyear grants.
Experience in budget preparation and analysis, ensuring alignment between funder interests and proposal narratives.
Deep knowledge of Chicagoland human services funders, as well as local and national foundation donors, government funding systems, and funding trends.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to various audiences.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail and organizational capabilities.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Self-motivated, disciplined, and accountable, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Proficiency in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM systems.
Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.
Flexibility to assist with other projects and duties as needed.

Summary and Purpose

Benefits

Our robust benefits and paid time off policies include:

Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, short-term disability, 403b;
3 weeks vacation, 9 paid holidays, up to 3 personal days per year, paid sick leave.

Our robust benefits and paid time off policies include:

Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, short-term disability, 403b;
3 weeks vacation, 9 paid holidays, up to 3 personal days per year, paid sick leave.