Volunteer Grant Writing Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Join the NVFS Family: The Grants Administration team is looking to hire a skilled, organized, and collaborative Government Grant Writer to develop compelling proposals that secure funding for NVFS programs and services. This role offers the opportunity to use your writing, research, and project management skills to help generate critical funding that advances NVFS’s mission and strengthens the communities we serve.

Benefits and Compensation: We want you to be well, have work/life flexibility, grow your career with us, and have the resources and support you need. Check out our comprehensive benefit offerings here in support of various dimensions of your wellbeing. 

This position has a starting salary in the high 60s to low 70s.

In this role, you will:  

• Develop a strong understanding of NVFS programs, client barriers and needs, and broader human services and systemic issues impacting the communities served by actively engaging in internal program planning and grants team meetings.
• Research, identify, and evaluate prospective funding opportunities, including attending pre-application webinars and conferences and synthesize key information for grants and program teams.
• Manage tracking of prospective funders utilizing the team’s grants workflow tracking system.
• Communicate funding opportunities to the Director of Institutional Grants and recommend grants to pursue based on eligibility, alignment, and competitiveness.

Writing:

• Research and analyze local and regional community needs data for use in grant proposals.
• Manage the full grant proposal process, collaborating with grants, program, and finance teams to develop, write, compile, and submit grant applications in a timely and efficient manner.
• Create application checklists based on Requests for Proposals/Notice of Funding Opportunities and establish timelines, clearly communicating roles and responsibilities to relevant staff across the organization.
• Author and manage proposal content, ensuring the submission of complete, accurate, and high-quality grant applications.
• Responsible for completing and/or compiling all application components, which may include letters of intent/inquiry, full proposal narratives, budget narratives, and other requirements as specified by the funder.

Management:

• Maintain grant files from initial review through closeout using the agency’s grant management database, including uploading documents, applying established naming conventions, and regularly updating grant/project information based on internal and external communications.

• Facilitate the internal review process for award documents by program, finance, administration, and executive staff prior to signature.

Other:

• Conduct peer review of other Grant Writer’s proposals and provide clear, constructive feedback to help improve the quality and competitiveness of submissions.
• Participate in regular supervision with the Director of Institutional Grants and provide updates on progress and priorities.
• Support the Development and Communications department with events and activities, as needed.
• Enter data for record keeping and reporting to meet relevant guidelines.

Your Background: We understand that you may obtain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences.

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Nonprofit Studies, Marketing, or related field preferred
• Minimum three (3) years experience writing, compiling, and submitting government grant proposals, preferably for human services, housing and homelessness, behavioral health, victims’ services, family services, and/or related programs
• Experience developing grant proposals for federal, state, and/or local government funding sources; familiarity with funding from agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, or Virginia agencies such as the Department of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Social Services, and Department of Housing and Community Development, preferred
• Demonstrated project management experience, including the ability to independently manage complex, multi-step project from initiation through completion while coordinating multiple stakeholders and deliverables
• Excellent writing, editing, and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple programs and departments with diverse staff at all levels to effectively gather information and move projects forward
• Proven ability to research, analyze, and systematically compile information from a variety of sources into clear, cohesive materials with strong attention to detail, including translating data and program information into compelling narratives
• Ability to interpret federal, state, and local government laws and regulations in relation to grant requirements
• Familiarity with GrantNavigator and/or Monday.com a plus, but not required
• Oral and written fluency in English; additional language skills always welcome
• Digital and technical proficiency, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

Additional Requirements: 

• Successful completion of background checks upon hire.
• May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours.

• Work is done primarily in an office and remote environment, but some travel to community locations, agency office sites and meetings may be required.