Part-Time Grant Writer (Contractor)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region (RMHC Philly) is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Part-Time Grant Writer to support our institutional fundraising efforts and help advance our mission of supporting families of seriously ill children.

Reporting to the Director of Institutional Giving, the Grant Writer will play an important role in securing funding from foundation, corporate, and government sources by drafting compelling proposals, stewardship reports, and letters of inquiry. This position will help manage the grant pipeline, maintain strong internal communication with cross-department teams, and ensure timely submissions that reflect the impact and priorities of RMHC Philly.

This part-time position is ideal for a strong writer who thrives in a mission-driven environment, can manage multiple deadlines, and enjoys translating programmatic information into persuasive narratives. While the majority of the role can be remote or hybrid, there will be occasions when the Grant Writer will need to be onsite for Institutional Giving prospect meetings and tours.

Essential Duties:

Grant Writing & Proposal Development

• Draft and edit grant proposals, LOIs, stewardship reports, renewal requests, and supporting materials in collaboration with the Director of Institutional Giving.
• Tailor writing to funder interests and priorities while maintaining the RMHC Philly voice and messaging standards.
• Prepare attachments, budgets, and supplemental materials in partnership with the Finance, Program, and Development teams.
• Conduct background research to strengthen proposal narratives and inform funding strategy.

Grant Calendar & Pipeline Support

• Help maintain an organized calendar of proposal deadlines, renewal dates, and reporting requirements.
• Track submission progress and ensure timely delivery of all materials.
• Assist in identifying new funding opportunities and researching potential foundation and corporate prospects.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of grant activity in Raiser’s Edge NXT (training provided if needed).

Donor Stewardship & Internal Collaboration

• Draft donor-friendly impact reports, stewardship communications, and updates that clearly articulate outcomes, metrics, and family stories.
• Collaborate with Program and Family Services staff to gather qualitative and quantitative information that supports grant proposals and reporting.
• Partner with Finance to ensure consistency between narrative content and budget documents.
• Support internal coordination by preparing outlines, templates, or drafts that help streamline the proposal development process.

Additional Responsibilities

• Uphold donor rights and maintain ethical fundraising practices in alignment with AFP’s Code of Ethics.
• Attend internal check-in meetings with the Director of Institutional Giving (weekly or biweekly).
• Support institutional fundraising initiatives and cross-team projects as assigned.
• Assist in preparation of materials for meetings with funders, site visits, or committee presentations as needed.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will be a strong writer, researcher, and communicator with demonstrated experience drafting compelling grant materials.

• • Bachelor’s degree required
  • 1–3 years of grant writing experience preferred (nonprofit or institutional development)
  • Strong writing, editing, and narrative development skills
  • Ability to translate program information into persuasive proposals
  • Experience supporting multiple deadlines and managing several projects simultaneously
  • Basic understanding of nonprofit budgets preferred (training provided)
  • Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, Salesforce, or other CRMs is a plus but not required
  • Strong alignment with the mission of RMHC Philly

Competencies:

• Relationship Building and Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled in cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with donors, corporate partners, board members, volunteers, and community members across diverse backgrounds.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and convey information clearly and persuasively.
• Planning, Organization, and Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan, prioritize, and execute multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Collaboration and Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, working effectively with cross-functional teams while remaining flexible and solutions-oriented.
• Volunteer Engagement & Management: Experience working with volunteers to support events and development initiatives.
• Technical & Fundraising Software Proficiency: Strongly preferred experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT (or a comparable CRM platform), DonorDrive (or a similar peer-to-peer fundraising tool), and GiveSmart (or an equivalent auction and event management system) to support event logistics, donor engagement, and fundraising efforts.
• Customer Service and Stewardship: Ability to anticipate and exceed stakeholder expectations, ensuring a welcoming and professional experience for donors, sponsors, and guests.
• Empathy and Professional Boundaries: Demonstrate compassion while maintaining professionalism in all interactions.
• Team-Oriented Mindset: Willingness to collaborate, contribute beyond assigned responsibilities, and support the broader RMHC Philly team as needed.
• Independence and Initiative: Self-motivated and capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Continuous Improvement and Growth Mindset: Commitment to ongoing learning, professional development, and process improvement to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Passion and Enthusiasm: High energy and deep passion for RMHC Philly’s mission, bringing dedication and enthusiasm to every aspect of the role.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be willing and able to travel between RMHC Philadelphia locations and other sites using a personal vehicle or alternative transportation.
• The following physical demands are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
• Primarily a moderate sedentary office role, with frequent sitting and computer use.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands for tasks, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, talk, and hear while performing job duties.
• Must be physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 35 pounds.