Grant Writer, Institutional Giving

Summary

Reporting to the VP of Development, the Grant Writer plays a central role in advancing The Cradle’s growth strategy by securing and stewarding foundation, corporate, and government funding. This position owns the grants/institutional pipeline and will be responsible for identifying funding opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

This role is designed for a strong writer and strategic thinker who is passionate about translating program impact into compelling, fundable narratives. The role will work closely with the VP of Development and collaborate across departments with Programs, Finance, and Marketing to build a sustainable and diversified institutional funding base.

To support a collaborative and high-functioning team, this role will also serve as backup support for core development operations during staff absences or peak periods.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, all applicants are requested to submit a cover letter and are required to upload a resume and writing sample. Examples of writing samples are grant proposal excerpts, letter of inquiry or similar documents, where you were the sole or primary author. The document must not be more than 5 pages.

Essential Functions

Grant Management and Institutional Giving (85%)

• Work with the VP of Development to develop and execute annual institutional and corporate revenue goals.
• Lead the full lifecycle of institutional fundraising: prospecting, cultivation, proposal writing, reporting, and renewal, ensuring all submissions align with funder requirements and organizational objectives.
• Manage and grow the pipeline of foundation, corporate, and government funders.
• Write compelling LOIs, proposals, and reports aligned with funder priorities.
• Build and steward relationships with foundation and corporate partners.
• Track grant deliverables and ensure all grant reporting requirements are met, including the development and timely submission of progress and final reports.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of grant proposals, correspondence, funder updates, submission statuses, projected and received funding, and overall outcomes in our CRM and other tracking systems.
• Gather and analyze data, statistics, and trends to enhance the quality and impact of proposals.
• Prepare leadership for funder meetings and briefings.

Strategic Collaboration (10%)

• Partner with program leaders to translate program design into fundable initiatives.
• Support organizational storytelling and messaging for institutional audiences.

Development Operations Support (5%)

• Serve as cross-trained backup for gift processing, reconciliation, CRM maintenance, and reporting during staff absences.
• Support refinement of development dashboards and metrics.

Minimum Requirements

The following requirements are necessary to perform the essential functions of the job:

• Commitment to The Cradle’s mission, values, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethics.
• 5-7+ years of progressive nonprofit development experience, with demonstrated success in institutional giving and proposal writing
• Strong track record of securing 6-7 figure foundation and corporate gifts, including general operating and/or multi-year support.
• Experience developing project budgets and aligning financial narratives with program goals.
• Deep knowledge of Chicagoland human/family services funders, as well as local and national foundation donors, government funding systems, and funding trends.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to various audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge/NXT, Bloomerang, or comparable CRM systems (Preferred)
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat. (Required).
• Flexibility to assist with other projects and duties as needed.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and accountable, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• BA/BS degree in related field, or equivalent experience, consisting of 5-7 years progressive nonprofit development experience.

Working Conditions

• This position requires a flexible schedule and the ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This is a hybrid position based at The Cradle’s headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. A minimum of 2 days in the office is required.

Physical Requirements

Some heavy lifting may be required occasionally.

Additional Requirements

All staff are required to undergo a background check, fingerprinting, and medical exam to meet DCFS requirements.

This position is eligible for our full benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, life insurance, and a 403b retirement plan. In addition, we offer excellent PTO/paid time off benefits, including vacation, sick and personal time, along with paid holidays.