Temporary Grant Writing Assistant

First Book has a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy (medical and religious exemptions permitted). Proof of fully vaccinated status is required before an interview.

About First Book:

First Book (https://firstbook.org/) believes that education offers children the best possible path out of poverty. Reaching 6.5 million children from birth to age 18 annually, First Book has also built the country’s largest and fastest growing network of educators serving kids in need: today First Book reaches 600,000 educators nationwide – and growing every week.

A global leader in social enterprise, First Book harnesses the strategies of the private sector to advance social change. This is a cutting-edge, business-oriented nonprofit social enterprise with an energetic atmosphere. First Book has built a family of social enterprises to serve its network of educators and support children in need, including the First Book Marketplace, The First Book Accelerator, First Book Insights, and a range of other efforts. In fact, since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 250 million books and educational materials to children from low-income families. Because of its record of innovation and impact, First Book has been celebrated globally by such institutions as the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the World Economic Forum, and in case studies at Columbia Business School, Wharton Business School, the Yale School of Management, and the London School of Economics. Finally, Charity Navigator recently awarded First Book its highest rating, including a perfect 100% score for Accountability & Transparency.

About the position:

Are you a skilled grant writer with a passion for advancing educational equity? First Book seeks a detail-oriented, motivated, and mission-driven professional to provide temporary support to the organization’s grant writing function. The Temporary Grant Writing Assistant will play a critical role in advancing First Book’s mission by ensuring the Development team has the resources and support needed to secure and manage grant funding.

Key responsibilities will include drafting and editing grant proposals and letters of inquiry, conducting research to identify new funding opportunities, collaborating with internal teams to collect program data, budget details, and impact stories, monitoring deadlines, and maintaining accurate grant tracking systems to ensure timely submissions, and supporting the preparation of grant reports and communications with current funders.

This is a temporary role, and the individual selected will work a 35-hour-per-week schedule to support the team during this period of increased activity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Draft, edit, and format grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting materials to ensure accuracy, alignment with funder requirements, and consistency with First Book’s mission.
• Conduct thorough research on potential funding sources, including foundations, corporations, and government agencies, to identify opportunities that support educational equity initiatives.
• Gather and organize information from internal teams—including program, finance, and communications staff—to build complete narratives, budgets, and supporting documents for proposals and reports.
• Maintain and update grant calendars, databases, and records to track application deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewal opportunities, ensuring timely and compliant submissions.
• Assist with the preparation of interim and final reports for funders, compiling data, outcomes, and impact stories that highlight First Book’s achievements and results.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Development team, such as preparing attachments, coordinating internal reviews, maintaining organized files, and supporting general fundraising activities.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required:

• A bachelor’s degree is preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered in lieu of formal education.
• A minimum of five (5) years of direct experience in grant writing, prospect research, or nonprofit development is required.
• This position is temporary and will be structured as a 35-hour per week assignment to support grant writing needs during a defined project period.
• Strong writing, editing, and organizational skills, with the ability to develop clear, persuasive proposals from complex programmatic content.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); ability to adapt to new systems as needed.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across teams and departments.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Reasonable accommodation will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to craft compelling, clear, and goal-aligned proposals that reflect programmatic impact and meet funder priorities.
• Precision in writing, formatting, data entry, and file management with a strong ability to meet multiple deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to effectively communicate across departments to gather program information, clarify goals, and synthesize content for funders.
• Maintains confidentiality, demonstrates sound judgment, and represents the organization with integrity in all written and verbal interactions.

Education and/or Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree is preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in grant writing, nonprofit development, or a closely related field is required.
• Prior experience in both the private and social impact sectors is strongly valued; consulting or agency experience is a plus.

All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:

• Hybrid work environment - can work from home and office
• 401K and employer matching contribution
• Transportation benefits

In addition to an hourly wage, First Book will pay commuting costs throughout the duration of the temporary position.

TO APPLY:

Application Instructions

Candidates are invited to submit a resume and a cover letter that details their interest in the position to https://firstbook.bamboohr.com/careers.

Applications submitted through external sites (including Idealist) will not be considered.

If you need assistance applying, please reach out to Tasha McNeill, 202-499-5935 or tmcneill@firstbook.org.

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