Senior Grant Writer: Drive Operating Support & Impact

Communities In Schools; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks paid time off

Generous 403b retirement plan

Ten paid holidays

Health care premiums paid 90%

Summer schedule and winter break

Employer-paid income replacement

Job summary

Communities In Schools (CIS) National Office is seeking an experienced Grant Writer to identify, write, submit and manage proposals to private foundations, corporate foundations, and public sources. The role focuses on general operating support and restricted grants to sustain CIS’s mission and long-term impact.

You will work with leadership across teams, manage complex submissions, and travel up to 15% while collaborating in a virtual environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a related field or communications
• 6–8 years of grant writing or institutional fundraising experience
• Track record of securing unrestricted general operating support at six-figure level and above
• Experience in K‑12 education and/or economic mobility sectors
• Strong writing, research, and data analysis skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced nonprofit environment
• Familiarity with donor management software (e.g., Salesforce) and prospect research tools

Responsibilities

• Draft Letters of Inquiry, concept notes, and full proposals articulating CIS’s mission and impact
• Customize proposals to funder priorities with emphasis on unrestricted support
• Develop strong cases for general operating and restricted funding
• Ensure submissions are accurate, compliant, and delivered on time
• Lead cross-functional proposal processes independently
• Research institutional funders prioritizing general operating support
• Maintain a 12–18 month grants calendar of deadlines and renewals
• Collaborate with leadership to prioritize opportunities by mission and funding potential
• Balance unrestricted revenue with targeted restricted funding
• Collaborate with leadership to gather data and create compelling financial narratives
• Support communications with program updates for newsletters and social media
• Translate program and financial information into funder-facing messaging
• Ensure 100% on-time reporting and funder compliance
• Prepare interim and final reports and maintain organized grant files

Skills

Grant writing

Proposal development

Research skills

Communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Salesforce

Foundation Directory

Wealth Engine

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

MS Office 365

Job description

Communities In Schools (CIS) National Office is seeking an experienced Grant Writer to identify, write, submit and manage proposals to private foundations, corporate foundations, and public sources. The role focuses on general operating support and restricted grants to sustain CIS’s mission and long-term impact.

You will work with leadership across teams, manage complex submissions, and travel up to 15% while collaborating in a virtual environment.