Grant Writer

Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy; Karachi Division; On-site; PKR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid Society is seeking a grant writer to grow and steward its institutional funding pipeline. You will translate program results and priorities into compelling proposals, manage donor relationships, and produce impact narratives for external funders.

Working with the CEO and cross-functional teams, you will lead concept notes, budgets and results frameworks, ensuring timely, high-quality submissions that support LAS’s growth and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Minimum 5–8 years of institutional fundraising or grant management experience.
• Experience securing awards from EU, FCDO, UN, US government or bilateral donors.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of concept notes, full proposals, LFAs and budgets for institutional funding opportunities.
• Own proposal development timelines and ensure QA before CEO sign-off.
• Develop quarterly program impact narratives and fundraising collateral for external audiences.
• Coordinate with Finance, Communications, and program teams to ground submissions in delivery data and evidence.

Skills

Proposal writing

Budget development

Donor relationship management

Data-driven storytelling

Google Workspace

Education

Master's degree in Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Law, International Relations, or a related field

Job description

The Grant Writer will play a key role in strengthening and expanding Legal Aid Society’s institutional funding pipeline. The position will lead the development of concept notes, full proposals, results frameworks, budgets, and other donor-facing materials, while identifying emerging funding opportunities and supporting strategic go/no-go decisions.

Working closely with the CEO, Head of Program Delivery & Systems, Finance, Communications, and thematic program teams, the Grant Writer will translate program results, evidence, and organizational priorities into compelling funding propositions. The role will also contribute to donor relationship management, impact storytelling, fundraising collateral, and funding intelligence to support LAS’s growth and long-term sustainability.

Position summary

The Grant Writer is a senior individual-contributor role responsible for growing and stewarding Legal Aid Society's institutional funding pipeline. This position owns concept note and proposal development, donor relationship management, and the organization's funding intelligence; tracking calls for proposals, coordinating go/no-go decisions with the CEO, and producing the impact narratives and evidence packages that support both institutional and corporate/foundation fundraising.

This role works in close, structured coordination with the Head of Program Delivery & Systems, who supplies the delivery data, results and evidence this role needs for high-quality submissions.

Key responsibilities

1. Proposal and Concept Note Development

• Lead development of concept notes, full proposals, LFAs and budgets for new institutional funding opportunities
• Own the RACI and accountability structure for proposal development processes; provide quality assurance on all submissions before CEO sign-off
• Coordinate with the Head of Program Delivery & Systems and thematic program teams to ensure proposals are grounded in accurate delivery data and realistic workplans
• Manage proposal development timelines and internal review cycles to meet donor submission deadlines
• Track the funding landscape; identify upcoming calls for proposals and emerging donor priorities
• Brief the CEO on funding opportunities and coordinate organizational response/go-no-go decisions
• Maintain a rolling pipeline tracker of live, upcoming and prospective institutional opportunities

3. Impact Narratives and Fundraising Collateral

• Lead development of quarterly program impact narratives for the CEO and external audiences concrete results, success stories and updated numbers
• Produce program briefs, one-pagers and impact evidence packages to support corporate and foundation fundraising
• Ensure all external-facing fundraising material is accurate, current and consistent with verified program data

4. Cross-Departmental Coordination

• Coordinate with the Head of Program Delivery & Systems to source accurate results, indicators and case evidence for proposals and reports
• Coordinate with Finance on budget development and cost-sharing structures for new proposals
• Coordinate with Communications on donor-facing storytelling and external positioning
• Contribute funding-landscape and donor-priority input to the CEO's organizational strategy and Growth Strategy sessions

Requirements

Education

• Master's degree in Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Law, International Relations, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in institutional fundraising, business development or grant management for a nonprofit or development organization
• Demonstrated track record securing and/or managing awards from EU, FCDO, UN agencies, US government or bilateral donors
• Proven experience leading (not just contributing to) full proposal development concept notes, LFAs, budgets and donor negotiations
• Experience in the access to justice, rule of law, gender, human rights, or legal aid sectors is preferred
• Experience working in Pakistan's donor and development landscape

Technical Skills

• Proposal writing: concept notes, full technical proposals, results frameworks and logic models
• Budget development and cost-sharing structuring for institutional donors
• Donor relationship management and negotiation
• Data-driven storytelling translating program results into compelling donor and public-facing narratives
• Proficient in Google Workspace and comfortable working with data provided by program/M&E teams

Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of institutional donor compliance and proposal frameworks (EU, FCDO, UN, US government)
• Familiarity with thematic areas: gender justice, access to justice, rule of law, child protection, climate resilience
• Understanding of Pakistan's legal, civil society and development landscape

Values and Personal Attributes

• Committed to social justice, equity, inclusion and the rule of law
• Persuasive, precise writer who can turn program complexity into a clear, compelling case
• Proactive relationship-builder; comfortable representing LAS externally at a senior level
• Deadline-driven and organized across multiple concurrent submissions
• Collaborative works closely with program teams without owning their delivery

WHAT THIS ROLE OFFERS

A dedicated senior seat focused purely on institutional fundraising — no operational or people-management dilution

• Direct CEO access and visibility into organizational funding strategy
• High-profile relationships with EU, FCDO, UN and bilateral donors
• Platform to build LAS's fundraising pipeline and external profile as the organization scales

Core responsibilities

Lead the development of concept notes, full proposals, LFAs, results frameworks, and donor budgets for institutional funding opportunities.

Identify and track donor opportunities, funding priorities, and maintain a strategic pipeline of prospective and active funding opportunities.

Coordinate with Program, M&E, Finance, and Communications teams to develop evidence-based, accurate, and compelling funding submissions.

Lead donor-facing impact narratives, program briefs, success stories, and fundraising materials that translate program results into strong funding propositions.

Support senior-level donor engagement, proposal negotiations, go/no-go decisions, and provide the CEO with funding intelligence to inform organizational growth strategy.

EEO & Non-Discrimination Statement

Integrated into our shared values is LAS’s commitment to diversity and equal employment opportunity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of sex, age, race, colour, creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics or conduct protected by law.

LAS is committed to being an inclusive organization where all people are treated fairly, recognized for their individuality, promoted based on performance and encouraged to strive to reach their full potential.

We believe in understanding and respecting differences among all people.

Every individual at LAS has an ongoing responsibility to respect and support a diverse environment.

Safeguarding & PSEA Commitment

Legal Aid Society (LAS) is committed to the prevention and protection from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). LAS explicitly prohibits its staff, associates, partners, consultants, or any other representatives associated with the delivery of its work from:

• Engaging in any form of sexual exploitation or abuse;
• Sexual activity with children (persons below the age of 18) irrespective of a mistaken belief of the age of the child which shall not amount to a defense;
• Exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior, is prohibited. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance;
• Sexual relationships between LAS staff and beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics, undermine the credibility and integrity of the work of LAS and are strongly discouraged.