Grants Strategist — Housing & Community Impact

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County NC; Timberlyne (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in North Carolina is seeking a Grants Specialist to join the Development Department and support the organization’s growing grants program. This hands-on role will help secure funding for affordable homeownership initiatives across the community.

The Grants Specialist will manage grant research, proposal development, submissions, and reporting, collaborating with the Major Gifts Manager and cross-functional teams to translate Habitat’s work into compelling

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, nonprofit management, public policy, or related field.
• 1–3 years of professional experience (internships or relevant coursework considered).
• Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel).
• Ability to learn new systems and processes quickly.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and manage the grants calendar, including deadlines, submissions, and reporting requirements.
• Prepare and submit grant applications, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Track grant requirements and maintain organized records of proposals, reports, and funder communications.
• Support the preparation of grant reports, including collecting data and drafting content.
• Draft grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports using templates and guidance from the Major Gifts Manager.
• Collaborate with program and development staff to gather program information, outcomes, and budgets.
• Assist in translating Habitat’s work into clear, compelling narratives for funders.
• Partner with the Communications Manager to refine messaging and storytelling.
• Conduct research to identify potential foundation and corporate grant opportunities.
• Maintain a pipeline of prospective funders and track opportunities in the CRM.
• Monitor deadlines and eligibility requirements for new funding opportunities.
• Attend funder meetings and calls to determine eligibility and meet foundation staff.
• Assist with maintaining relationships with foundation and institutional funders through timely communication and follow‑up.
• Support the preparation of stewardship materials, updates, and impact reports.
• Track funder engagement and requirements to ensure strong stewardship practices.
• Work closely with the Development Associate to track grant revenue, reporting requirements, and data accuracy.
• Collaborate with program staff to collect data, success stories, and outcomes.
• Support alignment between grants, events, corporate partnerships, and major gifts efforts.
• Provide administrative support for data entry, donor stewardship, event logistics, and other development team duties as necessary.

Skills

Strong writing and editing

Organizational skills

MS Office (Word, Excel)

Learn new systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications/nonprofit management/public policy

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT)

Job description

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in North Carolina is seeking a Grants Specialist to join the Development Department and support the organization’s growing grants program. This hands-on role will help secure funding for affordable homeownership initiatives across the community.

The Grants Specialist will manage grant research, proposal development, submissions, and reporting, collaborating with the Major Gifts Manager and cross-functional teams to translate Habitat’s work into compelling