Grants Development Associate

DickersonBakker; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Hunger Alliance in Columbus, OH is seeking a Grants Development Associate to research, develop, write, and submit grant proposals and reports that communicate our mission, impact, and funding needs.

You will identify funders across corporations, private foundations, and family foundations, crafting persuasive narratives aligned to program outcomes and working closely with leadership and staff to gather data, budgets and success stories for compelling proposals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• 2–3 years of grant-writing experience, preferably for a nonprofit.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, persuasive narratives.
• Strong research skills to identify appropriate funding prospects.
• Ability to manage multiple proposals, deadlines, and priorities independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Research and identify grant opportunities from corporations, private foundations, family foundations, and other philanthropic groups.
• Write and coordinate letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and supporting materials.
• Develop customized proposals communicating needs, programs, outcomes, and funding requirements.
• Gather statistics, budgets, success stories, and content from staff for proposals.
• Create persuasive narratives linking hunger programs to outcomes and impact.
• Coordinate submission of grant applications and ensure timely delivery.
• Prepare grant reports, renewal requests, and funder communications.
• Track deliverables, deadlines, and funding requirements.

Skills

Grant writing

Research skills

Written communication

Organization & deadlines

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Foundation Directory Online

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Children’s Hunger Alliance, we believe every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential and thrive. CHA is leading the charge to end childhood hunger in Ohio, providing healthy meals and nutrition education to children right where they are, every day of the year.

Founded in 1970, CHA plays a unique and vital role in Ohio as the largest comprehensive statewide organization focused solely on children’s food security and nutrition education. We meet kids right where they are — in childcare, at school, after school, over weekends, and during the summer. In 2025, we provided 10.1 million meals to 125,000 kids. With nearly 1,600 partner sites across 74 counties, we provide direct service, capacity-building, and education — all aimed at nourishing children’s futures.

We are seeking a talented and mission-driven person to serve as the Grants Development Associate to support our fundraising efforts and expand our ability to secure philanthropic funding for programs addressing childhood hunger.

Position Summary

The Grants Development Associate will be responsible for researching, developing, writing, and submitting compelling grant proposals and reports that communicate the organization's mission, impact, and funding needs.

The Grants Development Associate will identify and pursue funding opportunities from a diverse range of grant-making organizations, including corporations, private foundations, and family foundations. The successful candidate will be an excellent writer and storyteller who can translate program activities and outcomes into persuasive funding proposals while maintaining strong attention to detail, deadlines, and funder requirements.

This position will work closely with organizational leadership and program staff to gather information, develop funding strategies, prepare proposals, and ensure that grant commitments and reporting requirements are fulfilled.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Research & Prospecting

• Research and identify corporations, private foundations, family foundations, and other philanthropic organizations whose funding priorities align with the organization's mission and programs.
• Maintain a pipeline of prospective grant opportunities and track application deadlines, requirements, and funding priorities.
• Evaluate potential funders and recommend opportunities based on organizational fit, eligibility, geographic focus, and likelihood of success.
• Monitor changes in funder priorities and identify emerging funding opportunities related to childhood hunger, food insecurity, nutrition, children and families, education, health, and community well-being.

Grant Proposal Development

• Write and coordinate compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, concept papers, applications, and supporting materials.
• Develop customized proposals that clearly communicate the organization's need, programs, measurable outcomes, community impact, and funding requirements.
• Work with program and leadership staff to collect relevant statistics, program information, budgets, success stories, and other proposal content.
• Develop persuasive narratives that demonstrate the connection between childhood hunger and the organization's programs and services.
• Ensure proposals accurately reflect organizational priorities, program activities, budgets, and anticipated outcomes.
• Coordinate submission of grant applications and ensure all materials are complete and submitted on time.

Grant Reporting & Stewardship

• Prepare timely and compelling grant reports, renewal requests, and other funder communications.
• Track grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, and funding requirements.
• Work with staff to collect program outcomes, participant stories, financial information, and other data needed for reports.
• Support positive relationships with funders through clear, accurate, and compelling communications.
• Maintain organized electronic files and records related to proposals, awards, reports, and funder correspondence.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant course of study
• 2-3 years work experience writing successful grant proposal, preferably for a non-profit organization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling, and persuasive narratives.
• Strong research skills and ability to identify appropriate funding prospects.
• Ability to manage multiple proposals, deadlines, and priorities independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Preferred:

• Experience securing grants from corporations, private foundations, or family foundations.
• Experience working with nonprofits addressing hunger, food insecurity, children and families, education, health, or related social issues.
• Familiarity with grant databases and prospect research tools like Raiser’s Edge and Foundation Directory Online
• Experience developing grant budgets and working with program and financial staff.
• Demonstrated track record of successful grant submissions and awards.

Job Working Condition

• Typical office environment
• Remote eligible for the right Ohio-based candidate
• Flexible work hours may be required infrequently

It is the policy of the Children’s Hunger Alliance to ensure equal employment opportunity in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code 125.11 and all applicable federal regulations and guidelines. Employment discrimination against employees and applicants due to race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, disability, age (40 years old or more), military status, or veteran status is illegal.