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

Inside Philanthropy; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401-k

Flexible PTO

Profit Share

WFH/PD Stipend

Job summary

CIMA Consulting, headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks a Senior Development Consultant to contribute immediately to multiple client engagements, leading grant-writing and development activities for nonprofit clients nationwide.

The role emphasizes client leadership, strategic storytelling, rigorous account management, mentoring team members, and ensuring deadlines are met with high-quality collateral, while maintaining a strong commitment to DEI and collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Proven success in a client-facing project or account management role.
• At least five years’ experience in grant writing or development.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in persuasive writing.
• Commitment to the nonprofit sector.
• Ability to organize large amounts of information into compelling written collateral on deadline.

Responsibilities

• Providing top-tier project management and becoming a trusted strategic partner for our clients’ senior staff.
• Serving as Client Lead for two or more client engagements — leading the client team and managing the day-to-day client relationship.
• Writing compelling narratives for letters of inquiry, proposals, and other collateral.
• Identifying funding opportunities through online research, phone calls, and email follow-up.
• Ensuring internal tracking of progress, deadlines, and reporting requirements.
• Managing and supporting growth of one or more team members on each client engagement.

Skills

Client management

Leadership

Persuasive writing

Data synthesis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Excel

Drive

Notion

Job description

CIMA Consulting partners with nonprofits, foundations, and social impact leaders to advance causes that matter. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, we work with organizations nationwide to design customized, collaborative solutions that strengthen strategy, fundraising, operations, and infrastructure, helping our clients deepen their impact and build long-term sustainability. Our clients are socially conscious organizations seeking a thoughtful, agile, results-oriented firm to help them achieve their mission.

About the Senior 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 include:

• Providing top-tier project management and 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’ 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 oneself (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.

Position Details

Working Title: Senior Development Consultant

Salary Range: $75,000-$87,500

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

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.