Grant Writer

**About Room to Grow**

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $8.5M and a team of 50+ passionate and dedicated staff members.

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family.

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston, New York and Chicago.

**Position Summary**

Room to Grow is seeking a Grant Writer to join the External Engagement department, which leads the organization’s fundraising, marketing and communications, and inventory procurement. As we expand our reach in the coming years, securing funding from private and corporate foundations becomes increasingly vital. The Grant Writer will play a crucial role in crafting compelling grant proposals to support our work, identifying funding opportunities, and cultivating relationships with foundation partners.

The Grant Writer will report directly to the Institutional Giving Manager and will collaborate closely with all members of the team including our program staff and leadership team. Working with others in the External Engagement Department, they will participate in foundation fundraising efforts that are integrated into our overall fundraising strategy and aligned with our organizational goals and priorities. Together, our team aims to expand our network of foundation partners, strengthen existing relationships, and maximize support for our programs and initiatives.

This is a hybrid role requiring 2-3 days per week in-person at one of our Room to Grow locations in New York, NY or Boston, MA.

**Position Responsibilities**

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Support the Institutional Giving Manager in developing and executing a strategic plan for institutional giving, including goals and strategies related to prospect research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports to secure funding from foundations.
- Implement targeted prospecting plans to identify and cultivate new funder relationships, leveraging research, data analysis, and industry best practices.
- Maintain a comprehensive database of grant prospects, including deadlines, requirements, and contact information.
- Manage a small portfolio of funders, developing tailored cultivation and solicitation plans to deepen engagement and secure financial support.
- Coordinate with the finance team to manage foundation budgets and financial projections, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals and organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with program staff to gather information and data necessary for grant proposals and reports.
- Utilize donor database (Salesforce) to track funder interactions, manage relationships, and analyze fundraising performance metrics to inform decision-making.

**Qualifications and Experience**
- A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow.
- 3+ years of demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on grant writing and foundation relations.
- Strong grant writing skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports.
- Experience managing foundation prospect pipelines, tracking interactions and progress through the cultivation process.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
- Knowledge of nonprofit finance and budgeting, with the ability to manage foundation budgets and financial projections effectively.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to persuasively articulate the organization's mission and impact to a variety of audiences through written materials, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.
- Experience with donor management software (Salesforce preferred), database systems, and other fundraising tools to track donor interactions, manage relationships