Grant Writer – Government Grants Specialist

Dogs Matter is a unique and innovative 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide the

needed services and support to gain long-term sobriety and stability and provide a healthy

and loving environment for their pet. Dogs Matter is the only non-profit agency in Texas

offering free temporary foster care placement and aftercare support services specifically for

pets of people with addictions receiving substance abuse treatment.

Dogs Matter has become a department of Dallas Pets Alive (DPA). With over 350 volunteers on

more than 10 teams, we have numerous opportunities for you to join our mission.

We're looking for an experienced Grant Writer who specializes in government funding to help

Dogs Matter grow the federal, state, and local grant dollars that support our program. This

role goes beyond writing: it requires someone who can research funding opportunities,

navigate government grant systems and portals independently, and manage the technical and

compliance details that come with public funding. If you have grant writing experience

specifically with government grants and are comfortable learning and working inside portals

like Grants.gov and SAM.gov, we'd love to hear from you.

About Dogs Matter: https://www.dogsmatter2.org/

About Dallas Pets Alive: https://dallaspetsalive.org

Team: Dogs Matter / Fundraising & Development

Location: Remote/virtual, with preference for candidates local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area

Time Commitment: 5–8 hours per week on average; hours will increase around grant and

reporting deadlines

Compensation: This is a Volunteer Position with no monetary compensation.

Reports to: Executive Director

Works with: Executive Leadership, Treasurer/accounting lead, program and operations leads

(for outcomes, statistics, and budget data), and the broader Fundraising & Development

team. Will also have direct contact with government agency program officers and grants

management staff, requiring a professional, detail-accurate communication style.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research and identify federal, state, and local government grant opportunities aligned

with Dogs Matter's mission, using sources such as Grants.gov, state and county human-

services or animal-welfare funding portals, and agency-specific listservs and

databases.

• Monitor open funding opportunities and deadlines on an ongoing basis, and bring

forward well-matched opportunities for Executive Leadership to prioritize.

• Read and interpret Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and RFPs to assess

eligibility, requirements, and competitiveness before committing staff time to an

application.

• Maintain Dogs Matter's required government funding registrations — including SAM.gov

and our Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) — keeping them current and flagging renewals

before they lapse.

• Navigate government grant submission systems (e.g., Grants.gov Workspace, state and

county e-grant portals) to complete required forms and submit applications accurately

and on time.

• Draft, edit, and finalize compelling, technically compliant grant applications,

including narratives, logic models, budgets and budget narratives, timelines, and

letters of support.

• Coordinate with the Executive Director, Treasurer/accounting lead, and program leads

to gather required documentation: budgets, financials, program outcomes and

statistics, board list, organizational policies, and audit materials.

• Track application status, award notifications, and upcoming reporting deadlines in an

organized, shared system.

• Support post-award compliance by assisting with required government progress,

financial, and performance reports on the funder's schedule.

• Maintain organized records of past applications, decisions, and reports to make future

submissions faster and more consistent.

• Flag compliance questions or risks related to government funding requirements to

Executive Leadership before submitting or accepting an award.

• Assist with any other duties needed to help drive Dogs Matter's and Dallas Pets Alive!'s

mission and support our values.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Proven grant writing experience, including hands-on experience researching, applying

for, and/or managing government (federal, state, and/or local) grants specifically —

this is not an entry-level grant writing role.

• Comfortable and confident navigating government grant systems and portals (e.g.,

Grants.gov, SAM.gov, state agency e-grant platforms); must be tech-savvy and able to

learn new systems independently.

• Familiarity with government grant compliance and reporting standards (e.g., federal

Uniform Guidance / 2 CFR 200) is strongly preferred.

• Experience registering or maintaining an organization's SAM.gov profile and Unique

Entity Identifier (UEI) is a plus.

• Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to translate program information into

clear, compelling narratives that meet strict formatting, page-limit, and eligibility

requirements.

• Excellent research skills to proactively identify new government funding opportunities

relevant to our mission.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and deadline-driven, with the ability to manage

multiple applications and reporting deadlines at once.

• Ability to work independently and virtually, with reliable phone, email, and internet

access.

• Must be a high school graduate; related nonprofit, animal welfare, or human/social

services experience preferred.

• Must not have conflicting associations with similar non-profit organizations or

business(es) related to animal welfare.

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

What We Look For in Our Volunteers:

• Commitment to Dogs Matter and Dallas Pets Alive!'s mission and values.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to maintain professional-level

correspondence at all times.

• A motivational, can-do attitude to represent Dogs Matter and Dallas Pets Alive! in a

positive manner to our supporters, funders, and the public.

• A problem-solving mindset to handle and diffuse challenging situations in a

professional manner.

• A love for animals and dedication to the cause of animal welfare.
• Must not have conflicting associations with similar non-profit organizations or

business(es) related to animal welfare.

Our Commitment to You:

Dallas Pets Alive! champions a world where:

• Both ends of the leash are respected and honored. All individuals are treated with

dignity, compassion, and understanding.

• We treat all living beings as they wish to be treated.

DPA is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture that reflects the

uniqueness of the animals and communities we serve. We will lead with positive intent and

foster inclusivity and belonging in all that we do. DPA! has a zero-tolerance discrimination

policy. Unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as

race, gender, age, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

To be considered for this position, please complete our Official Volunteer Application at

https://dallaspetsalive.org/volunteer/volunteer-application/

For general information about volunteering, visit https://dallaspetsalive.org/volunteer/

Dallas Pets Alive! is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture that reflects

the uniqueness of the animals and communities we serve. We are committed to providing

equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation. To request reasonable accommodation,

contact volunteer@dallaspetsalive.org.