Grant Writer

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee; Tennessee; On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plan (403b) with employer 3

Paid time off (34+ days)

Job summary

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is seeking a Grant Writer to develop, submit, and steward compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and impact reports aligned with funder priorities and the organization's mission.

The role collaborates with philanthropy, corporate engagement, program, finance, marketing, and leadership teams to translate programs into fundable opportunities, communicate measurable impact, and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; fields include Business, Sales, Fundraising, Communications or Marketing.
• 2+ years of related grant-writing experience.
• Exceptional written communication skills with an emphasis on clarity and persuasive storytelling.
• Experience with grant management platforms such as Instrumentl, Raiser's Edge/NXT, and Salesforce.

Responsibilities

• Write, submit, and steward grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and related funding requests in accordance with funder guidelines, incorporating input from program, finance, corporate engagement, and leadership staff.
• Draft and submit timely reports, stewardship updates, and impact summaries for corporate and non-corporate funders, ensuring accuracy and inclusion of all required supporting documentation.
• Maintain a strong understanding of hunger-related issues in Middle and West Tennessee and remain well-informed on the organization’s programs and services.
• Identify, qualify, and research new funding opportunities, including corporate foundations, community investment programs, private and family foundations, civic organizations, government sources, and other institutional funders.
• Partner with internal teams to translate program priorities, measurable outcomes, volunteer engagement opportunities, and community impact into compelling funding opportunities and proposals.
• Review and provide feedback on grant proposals, sponsorship narratives, and funder-facing materials developed by other team members.
• Engage with funders, including corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility contacts, to build, sustain, and expand positive relationships and respond promptly to information requests.
• Organize and maintain detailed records of grant prospects, proposals, reports, communications, relationship notes, deadlines, and funding history using the organization’s grant management system.
• Attend relevant philanthropy, community engagement, chamber, and funder networking opportunities to stay informed on giving trends and best practices, including those related to corporate giving.
• Manage multiple grant deadlines while coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure complete, accurate, and timely submissions.
• Support the ongoing maintenance and optimization of the grants calendar, including prospect tracking, application timelines, reporting deadlines, stewardship touchpoints, and compliance requirements across corporate and non-corporate opportunities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Feedback

Cross-functional teamwork

Organizational skills

Budget analysis

AI tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Instrumentl

Raiser's Edge/NXT

Salesforce

Job description

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

The Grant Writer is responsible for developing, submitting, and stewarding compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, impact updates, and progress reports that align funder priorities with the organization's mission and program needs. The role includes work with a range of funding opportunities, including corporate, foundation, civic, government, and other institutional funders, with particular attention to corporate philanthropy opportunities as they arise.

The Grant Writer works closely with philanthropy, corporate engagement, program, finance, marketing, and leadership staff to shape fundable opportunities, communicate measurable impact, support funder relationships, and contribute to the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Job Responsibilities

• Write, submit, and steward grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and related funding requests in accordance with funder guidelines, incorporating input from program, finance, corporate engagement, and leadership staff.
• Draft and submit timely reports, stewardship updates, and impact summaries for corporate and non-corporate funders, ensuring accuracy and inclusion of all required supporting documentation.
• Maintain a strong understanding of hunger-related issues in Middle and West Tennessee and remain well-informed on the organization’s programs and services.
• Identify, qualify, and research new funding opportunities, including corporate foundations, community investment programs, private and family foundations, civic organizations, government sources, and other institutional funders.
• Partner with internal teams to translate program priorities, measurable outcomes, volunteer engagement opportunities, and community impact into compelling funding opportunities and proposals.
• Review and provide feedback on grant proposals, sponsorship narratives, and funder-facing materials developed by other team members.
• Engage with funders, including corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility contacts, to build, sustain, and expand positive relationships and respond promptly to information requests.
• Organize and maintain detailed records of grant prospects, proposals, reports, communications, relationship notes, deadlines, and funding history using the organization’s grant management system.
• Attend relevant philanthropy, community engagement, chamber, and funder networking opportunities to stay informed on giving trends and best practices, including those related to corporate giving.
• Manage multiple grant deadlines while coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure complete, accurate, and timely submissions.
• Support the ongoing maintenance and optimization of the grants calendar, including prospect tracking, application timelines, reporting deadlines, stewardship touchpoints, and compliance requirements across corporate and non-corporate opportunities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree required, preferred fields include Business, Sales, Fundraising, Communications or Marketing.

Experience: 2+ years of related experience required

Skills & Capabilities:

• Exceptional written communication skills with an emphasis on clarity, technical accuracy, and persuasive storytelling.
• Ability to give and use constructive feedback from peer-editing to improve the final product.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to incorporate feedback effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and strong data analysis skills.
• Experience working with grant management platforms such as Instrumentl, Raiser's Edge/NXT, and Salesforce.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and develop budgets and analyze statistical data.
• Demonstrated success working cross-functionally with diverse teams.
• Proficiency with AI tools is a plus.

Allowable Substitutions:

At the organization's discretion, a combination of education, experience, and/or training may be considered in lieu of the stated requirements.

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits : Second Harvest is proud to offer rich and affordable total compensation packages. Full-time employment includes 34+ days off, medical (employee-only is 100% employer paid), dental, vision, 403b retirement (up to 3% match, 5% base, length of service vesting), disability insurance (short and long term) and long-term care insurance.

• Service Area: Social / Human Services
• Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.