Grants & Development Specialist

ROME GROUP; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 41,328 - 48,216; Part time

Job summary

Rustic Roots Sanctuary is seeking a part-time Grants & Development Specialist to manage our grant pipeline, lead strategic grant writing (corporate, foundation, and federal), and ensure compliance. This role focuses on project management, strict deadline ownership, and submitting complete materials well before deadlines.

Familiarity with Grants.gov Workspace and federal portals is essential, as is the ability to build detailed budget justifications.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in nonprofit grant writing with success securing government/foundation funding.
• Direct experience navigating Grants.gov Workspace or similar federal portals.
• Structured workflow with strict deadlines.
• Ability to interpret federal funding guidelines and build budget justifications.

Responsibilities

• Write, format, and assemble grant applications for corporate, foundation, and government opportunities (including federal grants).
• Manage internal milestones to ensure narratives, budgets, and documents are ready 3–4 days before deadlines.
• Submit accurate, timely reports via Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SAM.gov, and regional funder systems.
• Assist with donor campaigns and maintain tracking calendars for donor/grant records.

Skills

Grant writing

Grants.gov

Time management

Budgeting

Job description

Grants & Development Specialist (Part-Time)

Position Type: Part-Time (20-25 Hours/Week)

Hours/Schedule: Flexible, but requires set availability during standard core business hours for team check‑ins.

Compensation: $30‑$35/ hour (Depending on Experience)

About Us

Rustic Roots Sanctuary envisions a world where every community is nourished body, mind, and spirit through equitable access to fresh, locally grown food, regenerative land stewardship, and holistic healing. What began in 2020 as a 6.64‑acre nonprofit farm has evolved into a sacred 16‑acre sustainable micro‑hub in Spanish Lake. Driven by purpose and intention, we cultivate a model that mentors and empowers growers, expands food sovereignty, and heals trauma through a deep connection with nature.

Today, Rustic Roots proudly fosters youth leadership in agriculture, sponsors a dedicated produce program for seniors and young families, and hosts the Spanish Lake Farmer’s Market alongside a wide array of holistically restorative community events. As we look to the future, we are actively expanding our micro‑food hub with plans to launch The Fresh Picked Farm Stop in 2027—a small neighborhood grocery store designed to serve as a vital, permanent asset for our community.

Position Summary

We are seeking an organized, proactive, and portal‑proficient Grants & Development Specialist to manage our grant pipeline and institutional fundraising on a part‑time basis. This role is focused heavily on project management, strategic grant writing (corporate, foundation, and federal), and ensuring compliance. The ideal candidate takes complete ownership of deadlines, establishing clear internal workflows so that complex grant materials are completely finalized and submitted well ahead of the wire.

Key Responsibilities

Grants Management & Submission (70%)

• Proposal Development: Write, format, and assemble high‑quality grant applications, letters of intent, and concept papers for corporate, foundation, and government opportunities (including federal grants like SAMHSA).
• Pipeline & Timeline Management: Establish clear internal milestones for program staff to ensure all narrative pieces, budgets, and agreements are compiled, reviewed, and finalized 3 to 4 days before the official deadline.
• Portal Execution: Independently manage and execute error‑free electronic submissions via Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SAM.gov, and regional foundation systems.
• Reporting: Monitor grant cycles and submit accurate, timely progress and data reports to current funders.

Donor Fundraising Support (30%)

• Campaign Execution: Assist with the coordination of annual giving appeals, digital fundraising campaigns, and donor communications.
• Database Coordination: Maintain tracking calendars and update donor/grant records within our database.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 3+ years of professional nonprofit grant writing experience, with a proven track record of securing government and foundation funding.
• Technical Mastery: Direct, hands‑on experience navigating Grants.gov Workspace or similar federal portals. Comfortable managing complex attachments and clearing validation errors independently.
• Disciplined Time Management: Highly structured workflow; strictly avoids last‑minute deadline scrambles.
• Financial Literacy: Ability to interpret federal funding guidelines and build detailed, formula‑driven budget justifications.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter highlighting your federal grant experience, and a redacted 2‑3‑page grant writing sample to [e-mail] with the subject line “Part‑Time Grants Specialist Application.”