Grant Writer (Part Time)

The Jewish Graduate Student Initiative; United States; On-site; USD 34,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

The Jewish Grad Organization (JGO) is seeking a strategic Freelance Grant Writer & Researcher to expand our philanthropic funding. The role covers the full-cycle grant process, from 990s research to crafting compelling proposals, with an expected 10-20 hours per week as a contracted, part-time engagement.

You will identify funders, develop LOIs and grant applications, manage donor communications, and collaborate with leadership to articulate our impact on Jewish graduate students across campuses.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in grant writing, with success in the Jewish philanthropic sector.
• Familiarity with major foundations supporting Jewish life and understanding of the Family Office landscape.
• Ability to write persuasively for donors and board members.

Responsibilities

• Strategic research: identify and vet potential funding partners including Jewish family offices, private foundations, regional Federations, and corporate sponsors.
• Proposal development: write and submit LOIs, grant applications, and sponsorship decks for JGO’s programming and speaker series.
• Pipeline management: build and maintain a structured grant calendar to track deadlines, submissions, and reporting requirements.
• Donor stewardship: assist in creating impact reports that demonstrate JGO’s value to our campus network.
• Messaging: refine the case for support highlighting our unique role in the professional/graduate student space.

Skills

Grant writing

Research

Proposal development

Donor communications

Job description

Grant Writer & Philanthropic Researcher

Part-Time, Contract

About JGO

The Jewish Grad Organization (JGO) is a dynamic organization dedicated to enriching the experience of Jewish graduate students on over 150+ campuses. We provide support through Jewish programming, funding initiatives, and access to speakers across various professions and specialties. By fostering a vibrant community for post-graduate students, we ensure the next generation of Jewish professionals remains connected and inspired.

Position Summary

We are looking for a strategic and highly organized Freelance Grant Writer & Researcher to expand our funding portfolio during a period of significant growth. In this role, you will act as a bridge between JGO’s expansive campus impact and the philanthropic community. You will be responsible for the "full-cycle" grant process: from digging into 990s to find obscure family offices to crafting sophisticated proposals that articulate why graduate-level engagement is a critical investment for the Jewish future. We anticipate this job being approximately 10-20 hours of work per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Research: Identify and vet potential funding partners, including Jewish family offices, private foundations, regional Federations, and corporate sponsors.
• Proposal Development: Write and submit compelling LOIs, grant applications, and sponsorship decks for JGO’s programming and professional speaker series.
• Pipeline Management: Build and maintain a systematic "Grant Calendar" to track deadlines, submissions, and reporting requirements.
• Donor Stewardship: Assist in the creation of impact reports that demonstrate JGO’s value to our 150+ campus network.
• Messaging: Work with leadership to refine our "case for support," specifically highlighting our unique role in the professional/graduate student space.

Required Qualifications

• Track Record: 3+ years of experience in grant writing, with specific success in the Jewish philanthropic sector.
• Knowledge Base: Familiarity with the major foundations supporting Jewish life and an understanding of the "Family Office" landscape.
• Strong Voice: Ability to write persuasively for a sophisticated audience of donors and board members.
• Niche Expertise: An understanding of the graduate/young professional demographic is a significant plus.

Submission Requirements

Please submit a brief cover letter or summary of your most significant "win" in the Jewish non-profit space.

1. Two writing samples (preferably a successful grant proposal and an LOI).
2. Your fee structure (Hourly rate or monthly retainer).