Grant Writer Job Descriptions for Hiring Managers and HR

What Does a Grant Writer Do?

Grant writers prepare grant proposals on behalf of individuals, organizations, or institutions seeking funding for specific projects. Non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies typically hire grant writers, but they may also work as freelancers.

A grant writer may also report on progress, manage budgets, and communicate with funders once their grants are awarded, in addition to writing grant proposals. In general, grant writers play a crucial role in helping organizations obtain funding to advance their missions.

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National Average Salary

Grant writer salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

Grant Writer salary data

The average U.S. salary for a Grant Writer is:

$68,150

Grant Writer Job Descriptions

The first step when hiring a great grant writer is a well-crafted job description. Below are real-world examples to help give you the best chance of success on your recruiting journey.

Example 1

[Your Company Name] is looking for a motivated and successful grant writer! The grant writer will be responsible for locating, researching, and applying for potential funding opportunities in order to ensure successful budget operation. The ideal candidate should have previous experience and proven success in the grant writing field. This employee will be required to provide high-quality grant proposals, contact sponsors, companies, and organizations that offer grants, and submit grants to these locations. This position will be full-time. If you are motivated, hard-working, and have previous experience in this field, please do not hesitate to apply. We would love to have you on our team!

Typical duties and responsibilities

Research and identify grants that match the objectives of the organization
Develop proposals for matching grants
Oversee preparation of grant proposals, conduct a final review, and ensure timely submission
Maintain accurate record of past and present grant opportunities, deadlines, and proposals
Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and donors
Respond to funder questions in timely manner

Education and experience

Bachelor’s degree in English, marketing, communication, or a related field required
Certifications preferred

Required skills and qualifications

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to conduct thorough research
Detail-oriented and ability to multitask
Knowledge of current trends in donating
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite tools

Preferred qualifications

Experience writing government grants
Experience working on a research team and securing grants
Excellent grammar and strong attention to detail
Master’s degree in related field

Example 2

Responsibilities

The Grant Writer will research, write, format, and submit compelling, high-quality grant proposals to funding agencies (federal, state, and private foundations) while applying knowledge of fundraising methods and plans to reach goals. This role is responsible for proactively researching and analyzing grant opportunities and making recommendations on their feasibility. Position will collaborate with leaders and team members to develop relationships with key stakeholders and develop supporting documents and maintain donor database and records.

Required qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree required in related field; RN and Master’s degree is a plus
At least five years of grant writing experience
Familiarity with health care and hospital fundraising strategies
Strong research, communication, and publication writing skills
Experience writing for web, presentations, and executive communications; Able to translate complex scientific information into practical communications
Critical thinking skills; must be autonomous and self-driven; must be able to work well independently and with others

Example 3

Primary purpose of position:

The Grant Writer will participate in the strategic planning, budgeting, development for grants, and fundraising. This position is responsible for all phases of grants development, evaluation, and compliance, including research, pre-award grant writing, the coordination of grant applications, post award support for grant-funded projects, managing the grant reporting process, and successfully closing out grant projects with final budget and report outcomes to stakeholders.

The Grant Writer will actively research and pursue prospective public and private funding sources, while developing relationships with potential funders. This position will coordinate with fund personnel, and other stakeholders as necessary.

Duties and responsibilities:

Performs internal reviews of institutional needs, collects and gathers program data, and assesses the feasibility of obtaining external funding for project and program proposals
Investigates local, state, federal, private, foundation, and corporate sources of funds. This includes reviewing materials, listservs, meetings, telephone contacts, and correspondence
Develops and maintains an internal grant application process
Develops and maintains a grant management system for funded grants that includes report due dates, budget adherence, and any other grant requirements
Develops and maintains a library of information on funding sources, grant writing, and community and state data relevant to the foundation’s programs and services
Collaborates with fund personnel to gather input for all projects and comply with requests for data and other information
Coordinates, develops, and processes grant applications from conceptual to submission stage while working closely with staff throughout all phases
Manages multiple projects and priorities including searching for funding sources, writing proposals, managing existing grants, reporting to stakeholders, and working on special projects
Cultivates a network of dedicated donors and volunteers, and form strong relationships with external stakeholders
Plan fundraising initiatives to help the organization meet financial goals

Qualifications:

The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

Skills and abilities:

Excellent oral and written communication skills
Excellent time management and critical thinking skills
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
Knowledgeable of funding sources, compliance issues, and legal and fiscal policies of funding sources and appropriate government agencies
Implement the use of technology to assist with grants development and management
High degree of initiative to find solutions and meet deadlines
Read, comprehend, interpret, and apply governmental regulations and proposal guidelines
Work independently, be computer literate, and possess the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Example 4

Essential qualities

This opportunity is only for those looking for a fast-paced startup environment. Let’s start with the essential qualities and values we are looking for in a candidate:

Self-motivated, fast-learner who is ready to hit the ground running
Organized and detail oriented
Problem solver with an elevated level of curiosity and who is an independent thinker
Good listener and maintains accountability for their actions
Ability to work independently and under tight timelines
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Active team member with the foundational elements of a good leader: humble, collaborative, can-do attitude, etc.

ABC Company is seeking a Medical Writer to assist in creating grants for submission for funding, under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer. The role will involve collaboration with internal team members to manage grant creation and submissions.

Responsibilities include

Write multiple focused needs assessments/grants weekly (~3-4 per week) creating supportive literature reviews and suggesting and/or refining themes, learning objectives, and agendas
Coordinate and review and finalize, grant submission sections according to supporter’s grant portal requirements, including grant summaries, letters of request, etc.
Assist in preparation of grant template documents for upcoming grant development needs
Adapt grant documents to meet requirements of different supporter needs and portals
Identify Request for Proposals (RFPs) or Call for Grant Applications (CGAs) within the dermatology space
Maintain supporter and grant status reports
Assist in completing CME accreditation documents
Collaborate with CME accrediting bodies though relevant stages of the process
Analyze activity outcomes data to identify educational uptake and unmet educational needs and gaps

Qualifications and skills

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated to work independently as well as part of a team and must be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment. The candidate also must demonstrate the following:

4-year degree from an accredited institution
1+ years of work experience in continuing medical education
Knowledge of the rules and regulations overseeing medical education and familiarity with current trends in the industry
Ability to become familiar with new diseases/conditions quickly
Expertise researching, compiling, and analyzing clinical and scientific evidence quickly
Comfort working in a fast-paced, constantly evolving work environment while maintaining attention to detail and quality
Comprehensive understanding of AMA Style Guide
Strong proficiency Microsoft Office Suite required (Word, Excel, and Power Point)

Candidate Certifications to Look For

One Week Grant Writing Certification – The One Week Grant Writing certification, which is offered by WriterHQ, is a great course that provides a certificate to acknowledge a candidate’s technical writing skills as well as their grant writing skills. This certification can be a great start for any grant writer wanting to prove their competency in the field and may be useful for acquiring a grant-writing position.
Portland State Grant Writing Course – The Portland State Grant Writing course is widely recognized as an esteemed certification process for grant writers. It’s one of the foremost providers for this type of material and viewed as beneficial to any grant writers attempting to showcase their expertise and talent in the field.

Grant Writer Qualifications to Look For

Previous experience

Researched, identified, and matched grant opportunities to meet specific organizational objectives
Interpreted and followed grant application guidelines and requirements meticulously
Collaborated with various departments to gather necessary information for grant proposals
Drafted compelling and persuasive grant proposals, detailing the needs, objectives, budget, and anticipated outcomes
Submitted timely and complete grant applications, ensuring adherence to specified guidelines
Maintained an organized database of all grant submissions, including dates, outcomes, and feedback
Managed the reporting process for all awarded grants, ensuring compliance with grant terms and conditions
Built and nurtured relationships with foundation and corporate donors
Kept current with organizational goals and objectives to effectively align grant-seeking efforts
Conducted post-submission follow-ups with grantors as necessary

Soft skills

Excellent communication
Detail-oriented nature
Strong organizational and time management capabilities
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Persuasive and engaging interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree, often in English, Communication, Business Administration, or a related field
Some employers may prefer candidates with degrees or backgrounds in the specific field relevant to the organization (e.g., a health nonprofit may prefer someone with a health-related degree)
Grant writing courses or workshops, which can be offered by universities or professional organizations
Experience or demonstrated success in grant writing, which can sometimes substitute for formal education

Sample Interview Questions

Can you describe your experience with researching and identifying potential grants?
How have you managed the complete lifecycle of a grant application before, from the initial research to the final submission?
Can you explain the process you follow to write a compelling and persuasive grant proposal?
How do you ensure that the needs and objectives of our organization align with the goals of the grant funder?
Have you ever worked on a grant that required collaboration with multiple departments or organizations? How did you manage that process?
Can you discuss a time when you had to meet a tight deadline for a grant submission? How did you ensure everything was completed on time?
What kind of grants have you written in the past, and what were their outcomes?
How do you handle grant rejection, and what steps do you take to improve for the next application?
Can you explain how you would develop and maintain relationships with funding sources?
How do you approach the budgeting aspect of grant proposals?
How do you stay updated about new opportunities for funding and changes in grant regulations or requirements?
What role do you believe a grant writer plays in the overall success of an organization?
Can you share an example of a particularly challenging grant proposal you worked on and how you overcame the difficulties?
How do you ensure compliance with the guidelines and requirements of each individual grant?
How have you used data or metrics to demonstrate need or impact for a grant proposal?