Grant Writer

VOICES FOR CHILDREN; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Paid holidays

Additional PTO during holidays

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

Pet Insurance

Flexible spending account

Job summary

Voices for Children in San Diego seeks a Grant Writer to advance fundraising by researching, drafting, and managing grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports. You will collaborate across programs to gather data, develop budgets, and communicate impact to funders.

The ideal candidate writes persuasively, manages calendars, and leverages AI tools to identify opportunities, ensuring confidentiality and accuracy in all donor communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.
• Proven ability to write compelling proposals, reports, and donor communications tailored to funder interests.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational abilities with multiple deadlines.
• Experience with AI tools to support research, content development, and fundraising activities.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate in a team.

Responsibilities

• Write grant proposals, letters of inquiry, applications, and reports aligned with funder requirements.
• Manage grant deadlines and submit materials on time.
• Collaborate with program, finance, operations, and leadership to gather information and budgets.
• Interpret funder guidelines and ensure compliance.
• Research donor interests, funding priorities, and trends.
• Identify new funding opportunities and align with goals.
• Utilize AI tools for research, proposal development, and reporting while maintaining confidentiality.

Skills

Grant writing

Prospect research

Editing

Time management

Independent work

CRM experience

AI tools in fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge NXT

Foundation Directory Online

CRM software

Job description

Are you looking for a meaningful career in a position that allows you to make a positive impact in your community?

Come work at Voices for Children and be part of a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and families in our community and takes pride in serving our children with the highest level of excellence and care. At Voices for Children, you will enjoy a friendly, fun, warm culture with the following generous benefits for our full-time employees:

• 12 vacation days
• 13 paid holidays
• 5 additional days of paid time off after Christmas Day through New Year’s Day
• Medical (one plan is free), Dental, Vision
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible spending account (Health & Dependent Care)
• 403b plans for retirement savings (Traditional & Roth)
• 403b 3% employer contribution (fully vested)
• A welcoming work environment
• Alternate Work Schedule: Choose from a 4/10 schedule (4 days a week / 10 hours a day) or 5/8 schedule (5 days per week 8 hours per day)

And more....

About Us

Voices for Children is a respected, local nonprofit organization focused on fulfilling our mission to advocate for the needs of children in foster care. Our mission is to transform the lives of abused children by providing them with CASAs. VFC believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent home, and to that end, our vision is to provide a CASA to every child in foster care who needs one, monitor every court file in the system, and advocate to improve the lives of Riverside and San Diego County's foster children. Consistently considered a top CASA program out of 1,000 programs nationwide, our team takes pride in serving our children with the highest level of excellence and care

ABOUT THE POSITION

JOB TITLE: Grant Writer

DEPARTMENT: Philanthropy - San Diego

REPORTS TO: Institutional Giving Manager

STATUS: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Non-Managerial

SALARY RANGE: $65,000-$72,000 annually

The Grant Writer reports to the Institutional Giving Manager and works collaboratively with the Philanthropy team to achieve the fundraising goals, objectives, and priorities of Voices for Children (VFC). The Grant Writer plays a critical role in securing funding from foundation, corporate, and government partners by developing compelling grant proposals and reports, conducting prospect research, and supporting the stewardship of institutional donors.

The Grant Writer is responsible for researching, writing, and managing a high volume of grant applications, letters of inquiry, reports, and supporting materials that effectively communicate VFC's mission, programs, outcomes, and funding needs. This position works closely with program, finance, and leadership staff to gather information, develop project budgets, and ensure that proposals and reports accurately reflect organizational priorities and impact.

In addition to grant writing and grants management, the Grant Writer is responsible for maintaining accurate funding records and donor engagement activities in Raiser's Edge, monitoring proposal and reporting deadlines, and identifying new institutional funding opportunities that align with VFC's strategic goals. The Grant Writer utilizes technology and emerging tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to support prospect research, funding opportunity identification, proposal development, reporting, and workflow efficiency while ensuring accuracy, quality, originality, and adherence to organizational standards.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to advancing opportunities for children and youth in foster care. This employee must be prepared to handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of professionalism and discretion and is expected to contribute as a collaborative, engaged, and mission-focused member of the VFC team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Grant Writing Duties

Write compelling, accurate, and persuasive grant proposals, letters of inquiry, applications, and reports that align with funder requirements and effectively communicate Voices for Children's mission, programs, impact, and funding needs.

Assume responsibility for managing grant proposal and reporting deadlines, ensuring the timely completion and submission of all required materials.

Collaborate with program, finance, operations, and leadership staff to gather information, develop project budgets, and accurately represent organizational priorities, outcomes, and funding needs.

Review and interpret foundation, corporate, and government funding guidelines, grant contracts, and reporting requirements to support compliance and successful grant management.

Research and analyze donor interests, funding priorities, giving trends, and relevant issues related to child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and youth development.

Identify, evaluate, and recommend prospective funding opportunities through research tools, databases, and other sources, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategic goals.

Utilize technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support prospect research, funding opportunity identification, proposal development, reporting, and workflow efficiency while maintaining accuracy, originality, confidentiality, and adherence to organizational standards.

Philanthropy Administration & Support

1. Maintain and monitor the institutional giving calendar, ensuring that proposal, reporting, stewardship, and cultivation deadlines are met.
2. Record and maintain accurate grant-related information, donor interactions, and institutional giving activities in Raiser's Edge NXT and other organizational systems.
3. Organize and maintain grant files, proposals, reports, award letters, correspondence, supporting documentation, and resource materials for ongoing stewardship and future use.
4. Assist with grant tracking, revenue forecasting, and pipeline management activities as assigned.
5. Support stewardship efforts by preparing funder updates, acknowledgment letters, impact reports, and other donor communications.

Other Duties

Assist with all special events/fundraising events as a member of the Philanthropy team.

Serve on Voices for Children committees as requested by the Institutional Giving Manager and/or leadership team.

Act as a liaison to agency and community committees as determined by the Institutional Giving Manager and/or Philanthropy team.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Institutional Giving Manager and/or leadership team.

Continually work to further the Mission and Vision of Voices for Children.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated ability to write compelling and persuasive proposals, reports, and other communications tailored to donor interests, funding priorities, and organizational needs.
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and maintain exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, synthesize complex content, and present it in a clear and compelling manner.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Experience using fundraising, donor management, CRM, or database systems to maintain accurate records and track activities.
• Experience utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support research, content development, grant writing, project management, fundraising activities, or process improvement while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, sound judgment, and content quality.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
• Access to reliable transportation to attend meetings, events, and other work-related activities as needed. A valid California driver's license and proof of automobile insurance are required if a personal vehicle is used during the course of work.
• Must meet all screening requirements as set forth in California Rules of Court, Rule 5.655.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional additional hours as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
• Two or more years of grant writing, institutional giving, fundraising, development, communications, or related professional experience.
• Experience preparing successful grant proposals and reports for foundations, corporations, and government funders.
• Experience using Raiser's Edge NXT or similar constituent relationship management (CRM) software.
• Familiarity with grant research tools such as Foundation Directory Online, Instrumentl, GrantStation, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising principles and institutional giving strategies.
• Certification, coursework, or formal education in fundraising, grant writing, nonprofit management, or philanthropic studies.
• Experience working in a nonprofit organization, preferably in human services, child welfare, education, youth development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in leveraging technology, data, and AI-enabled tools to improve fundraising effectiveness and operational efficiency.

The person who is offered the position will undergo a background check, including a DMV record review, FBI and DOJ fingerprinting, and a check of the Child Abuse Central Index.

Our hiring process includes an initial phone interview and at least 2-3 in-person interviews with current VFC staff.

EEO STATEMENT

Voices for Children (VFC) is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive organization whose staff and volunteers value, represent, and serve individuals of diverse backgrounds, identities, cultures, and abilities. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

We embrace the guiding principle that all children should be safe, have a permanent home, and have an opportunity to thrive. Inclusivity and equity are essential components of the advocacy for and protection of the children and families we serve. In order to provide high quality advocacy and serve the best of interests of children, we are similarly committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We celebrate and value our differences and are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment.