Senior Consultant (Grant Writer, Foundation Relations, Institutional Giving)

CNE; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401-k

Flexible PTO

Profit Share

WFH/PD Stipend

Job summary

CIMA Consulting in Charlottesville, Virginia, is hiring a full-time Senior Development Consultant to lead client engagements, craft persuasive grant narratives, and drive fundraising outcomes for nonprofit clients nationwide.

The role combines strategic project management with hands-on writing, client leadership, and team growth. Hybrid schedule with preference for central Virginia-based candidates; remote considered for qualified applicants.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in grant writing and/or development functions, with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience leading a team toward shared deliverables and managing client relationships.
• Proven ability to convert information into compelling written collateral and to work to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide top-tier project management and act as a trusted strategic partner to clients.
• Serve as Client Lead for multiple engagements, managing scope, day-to-day relationships, and delivery.
• Write compelling narratives for letters of inquiry, proposals, and collateral; learn each client’s voice.
• Identify funding opportunities through research, calls, and follow-ups.
• Monitor progress, deadlines, and reporting requirements to meet client goals.
• Support and mentor one or more team members on each engagement to exceed expectations.

Skills

Client-facing project management

Relationship building

Account management

Strong writing

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Excel

Drive

Notion

Job description

CIMA Consulting is a firm in Charlottesville, VA, providing clients with strategic insight and support through institutional fundraising (grant writing) and a range of other deliverables. Our team works on behalf of nonprofit organizations across the country, furthering their organizational capacity via fundraising, business development, and organizational design. Our clients are socially conscious organizations seeking a thoughtful, agile, results-oriented firm to assist them in achieving their mission.

About the Consultant Role

We are currently hiring a full-time senior consultant to contribute immediately to at least two client engagements, in close collaboration with other CIMA consultants.

Responsibilities

• Providing top-tier project management, becoming a trusted strategic partner for our clients’ senior staff.
• Serving as Client Lead for two or more client engagements — leading the client team, managing scope of work implementation, and owning the day-to-day client relationship.
• Writing compelling narratives for letters of inquiry, proposals, and other collateral; working with clients to understand their organization and desired voice.
• Identifying funding opportunities through online research, phone calls, and email follow-up.
• Ensuring CIMA meets goals and client expectations through careful internal tracking of progress, application deadlines, and reporting requirements.
• Managing and supporting growth of one or more CIMA team members on each client engagement, ensuring CIMA exceeds client expectations.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven success in a client-facing project or account management role, including leading a team toward shared deliverables, and/or a track record of relationship building and accountability.
• At least five years’ of experience in grant writing and/or other development functions, a bachelor’s degree, or other equivalent experience in persuasive writing.
• A demonstrated appreciation for or commitment to the nonprofit sector.
• Proven ability to organize and synthesize large amounts of information into compelling written collateral on deadline.
• Experience using standard office software/platforms (Excel, Drive, Notion, etc).
• Skill in organizing and drawing conclusions from data (preferred but not required).

Qualities we consider essential for CIMA team members:

• Extremely organized and self-motivated, able to prioritize multiple deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills (communication and relationship building)
• Willing to collaborate, take direction and ask thoughtful questions, then work independently to complete tasks
• Keen writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, intellectual environment, with the feel of a start-up; willingness to listen, collaborate, and seize opportunities for growth
• Flexibility, dedication, and the ability to laugh at one’s self (and others, but only in a nice way)
• An understanding and appreciation of DEI principles

Our primary office is in Charlottesville, Virginia, but we have a hybrid, flexible-work schedule. While our preference is for team members to be based in central Virginia, qualified candidates wishing to work remotely will be considered.

Depending on experience and qualifications, candidates may be hired at a Consultant, rather than Senior, level.

Working Title: Senior Development Consultant

Salary Range: $75,000-$100,000. NOTE: This pay scale represents the full range of opportunities for salary growth over time at CIMA. New employees will generally be brought in at the lower end of the range unless experience and/or specialized skills warrant higher placement.

Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision, 401-k, Flexible PTO, Profit Share, WFH/PD Stipend

Exemption Status: Exempt

Hybrid Work Available: Yes. Preference for candidates in or around central VA.

Full- time

Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. We ask that your cover letter reflects your own voice and not be generated by AI tools like ChatGPT. We value authenticity and personal insight in your application.

Our goal is to be a company that is representative of the people that we and our nonprofit clients serve. We encourage all interested applicants to apply, including but not limited to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and individuals with disabilities. CIMA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or military status.

CIMA is committed to providing equitable, competitive compensation to its employees. As a for-profit consulting firm, CIMA seeks to provide salaries that are in line with compensation at other comparable for-profit social impact organizations.