Foundations and Grants Specialist/Grant Writer

IDEA; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEA (Islamic Development & Empowerment in America) in Alexandria, VA seeks a Foundations and Grants Specialist/Grant Writer to lead grant fundraising efforts with foundations, corporate, and government donors. You will identify opportunities, build proposal timelines, and coordinate with staff while updating IDEA’s Salesforce database weekly.

The role involves writing letters of inquiry and proposals, translating program details into funder-friendly language, and developing budgets and

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience writing effective proposals, executive summaries, reports, and other fundraising updates for a variety of corporate, foundation, and government funders.
• Bachelor's degree in international development, international affairs, non-profit management, English, writing, or a similar field (CFRE—Certified Fundraising Executive Certificate—preferred).
• Travel as needed to support organizational activities.
• Strong ability to communicate (written and orally) persuasively and strategically; convey complex information to donor audiences.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to coordinate projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize funding opportunities aligned with organizational strategy and program growth goals.
• Write and submit letters of inquiry, concept notes, and proposals to foundation, corporate, and government donors; coordinate with IDEA staff to meet timelines.
• Collaborate with finance and program teams to develop grant budgets and budget narratives; frame outcomes and evaluation plans.
• Write and edit interim and final grant reports; develop impact stories for funder stewardship; ensure consistency in messaging across submissions.

Skills

Proposal writing

Grant writing

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Strategic communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in international development, international affairs, non-profit management, English, writing, or a similar field

CFRE — Certified Fundraising Executive Certificate (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job title: Foundations and Grants Specialist/Grant Writer

Status: Full-time

Division: Development

Location: Alexandria, VA

Overview

This position is responsible for leading Islamic Development & Empowerment in America (IDEA)’s efforts to acquire grant funds from foundation, corporate, and government donors. This individual will identify opportunities, build out proposal timelines, and solicit input from other Fund Development staff members and the Executive Management Team. The individual will also be responsible for updating IDEA’s Salesforce database to reflect the latest information each week and working closely with IDEA’s Programs team to submit grant reports. The candidate must show commitment to IDEA’s faith inspired values and principles as well as a commitment to the vision and mission of the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Business Development

• Identify and prioritize funding opportunities aligned with organizational strategy and program growth goals.
• Analyze funder priorities and tailor approaches to maximize competitiveness.

Proposal Writing

• Write and submit letters of inquiry, concept notes, and proposals to foundation, corporate, and government donors, bringing in other members of IDEA’s staff as appropriate and ensuring that proposal timelines remain on schedule.
• Craft compelling, persuasive narratives that clearly communicate mission, programs, and impact.
• Translate complex programmatic and technical information into clear, funder-friendly language.
• Customize proposals to align with specific funder guidelines, priorities, and evaluation criteria.

Budgeting and Program Framing

• Collaborate with finance and program teams to develop grant budgets and budget narratives.
• Frame program outcomes, logic models, and evaluation plans within proposals.
• Articulate measurable goals, deliverables, and impact metrics.

Grants Reporting

• Working closely with the programs team, write and edit interim and final grant reports, ensuring clear communication of outcomes and impact.
• Develop compelling impact stories and case statements for funder stewardship.
• Ensure consistency in organizational messaging across submissions and reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Competencies

• 5-7 years of experience writing effective proposals, executive summaries, reports, and other fundraising updates for a variety of corporate, foundation, and government funders.
• Bachelor's degree in international development, international affairs, non-profit management, English, writing, or a similar field (CFRE—Certified Fundraising Executive Certificate—preferred).
• This position requires travel as needed to support organizational activities.
• Strong ability to communicate (written and orally) persuasively and strategically, and with tact, diplomacy and/or authority as necessary; proven ability to convey complex information with conciseness and confidence to donor audiences.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to coordinate projects simultaneously, shift priorities, and manage both internal and external deadlines.
• Prior successful track record of meeting revenue targets through prospecting new and upgrading existing accounts.
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to contribute to a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

At IDEA (Islamic Development & Empowerment in America), we are committed to safeguarding and protecting all individuals we come into contact with through our work. IDEA representatives must adhere to its organizational values: Integrity, Service, Resilience, Social Innovation, and Collaboration. In accordance with these values, IDEA operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Code of Ethics, and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination.