Freelance Grant Writing Consultant
A small nonprofit fundraising agency seeks a seasoned grant writer reviewer on a consistent freelance basis. This is a remote position, but you must be based in the U.S.
ABOUT US
The Sharper Group manages foundation and corporate (NOT federal) grant-seeking programs for a portfolio of 9-12 clients at a time, and about 50-60 total deadlines per month, with a primary but not exclusive focus on youth-centric initiatives. It’s a casual environment, but everyone works hard to maintain the impeccable quality of product that we are known for. Our distributed team includes a project manager, other grant writers, an assistant grant writer, and researchers.
We all work within a highly organized system that makes processes clear and efficient. Because of this, we rarely, if ever, need to have meetings. (Hooray!) We all have our strengths and love to learn from each other. Egos never get in the way of changing tack or doing things differently when the result is a better product. We love creativity and fresh takes to shake things up when they start to feel stale. Our contractors tend to stay with us for a long time, and we pride ourselves on their positive feedback regarding our working environment and ethos.
ABOUT YOU
By far the most critical aspect we are seeking is a neurotic-level attention to detail. Of no less importance is skill with argumentation specific to the grants world, i.e., a critical eye that understands what would be persuasive, where evidence is needed, how an idea would be most compellingly articulated, how to build a clear, logical flow of information, etc.
You are a seasoned pro who knows grants inside and out, you know what funders are looking for and what they’re really asking, and you know how to say it. Your editing skills are also on point – you feel extremely confident taking a rough draft and polishing it into an A+. You’re not averse to using AI tools here and there to help cut down on some of the minutiae and speed up editing, but you never use them as a crutch.
Ideally, we are looking for a reliable, trusting, long-term relationship (sounds like dating, doesn’t it?) with someone who wants to work collaboratively with a team. Client communication is not required; for the most part, you’ll get to work on your own without constant interruption. This role has a great deal of room for growth if desired.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Reviewing/revising proposals and report drafts for content, style, language, and conformity to the funder’s guidelines — meticulously ensuring all the figurative boxes are checked, the information presented is correct and up-to-date, and errors are eliminated. Our policy is that every document has two sets of eyes on it, regardless of the drafter.
- Using your grantsmanship skills, judgment, and writing/editing skills to elevate proposals and report drafts from “completely adequate/fine” to “excellent”
- Acting as final approval for documents
- Independently preparing LOIs, proposals, and reports
You Have:
- 10-20+ years experience in foundation and corporate grant writing
- Specific editorial experience in grants or other settings is highly desirable – please call this out if you have it
- Deeply neurotic-level eye for detail and meticulous ability to ensure every grant requirement is met
- Experience in being the final approval/set of eyes for major proposals of at least six figures
- Track record of building clear, logical, fully supported arguments
- Availability approx. 10-20 hours per week (pretty flexible), at least some of which is during business hours for collaborative, back-and-forth communication via Slack and ClickUp
- Strong composition skills and ability to strike different tones for different clients
- Enough familiarity with nonprofit finance to interpret standard financial reports/attachments and identify major problems (e.g., an unexplained deficit)
- Unimpeachable grammar, syntax, etc. Must be able to serve as a proofreader as well!
- Ability to take initiative to find information and solve problems independently
- Ability to follow in-house style guide
- Ability to juggle a variety of projects for multiple clients at a time
- Strong organizational ability, comfort with keeping track of many files at a time, and ability to adhere to an in-house organizational system
Government grant experience is not required, but it could be a benefit. GPC is not required but welcomed.
Tools we use: G-Suite including Google Drive, Slack, ClickUp
To apply for this role, send a resume, along with a cover letter and two writing samples of previous grants — deidentified is fine. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please do not submit applications via the website or LinkedIn.
Compensation will be based on experience and demonstrated command of the role. We have listed the range of $55-$75 to reflect a mid-career role up to a senior position, with the higher range reserved for candidates with exceptional experience and qualifications. As an independent contractor, we invite you to quote us your rate.
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $55.00 – $75.00 per hour
Expected hours: 10 – 20 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Experience:
- grant writing: 6 years (Required)
Work Location: Remote