Funding Research and Grant Proposal Volunteer (Remote, world-wide, W1-02-US)

About Crew Scaler

Crew Scaler is a U.S. tax-exempt nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)). The U.S. IRS certified us, and we are committed to U.S. rigorous standards for certified non-profit organizations. Our board brings ~66+ years of U.S. Government & Military Experience and ~20+ years total Private Sector Experience with Apple, IBM, Tesla, and Synact. Our founder runs an AI Upskilling program for the U.S. Government, and we presented at NIST on Security Considerations for Multi-agent AI Systems. We help students, displaced workers, practitioners, and small organizations build useful AI capability with clear safeguards through open learning resources, applied research, small peer learning groups, and partnerships, including other AI research results and award-winning applications. We are exploring opportunities in Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, and will launch only where demand, funding, local capacity, and learner protections are credible.

About the opportunity

Crew Scaler is seeking a Funding Research and Grant Proposal Volunteer to find realistic grants and prepare accurate proposals that can pay for learner seats, tools, assessment, and complete pilots.

You will join a small funding team. One volunteer may focus on prospect research and the other on writing, based on experience. Crew Scaler will provide program materials, budget assumptions, prior writing, and an approval contact. You will not be expected to invent outcomes, submit without approval, or guarantee awards.

You will receive a written scope, a 45-minute orientation, templates or examples, and a named Crew Scaler contact. Most work is asynchronous. We use short meetings and written progress notes so volunteers in different time zones can contribute. We will not add major duties without discussing the time and scope with you first.

What you will do

• Research foundations, corporate giving programs, bilateral/multilateral development grants, and public opportunities that fit AI education, workforce development, responsible technology, or international learning
• Build a modular grant asset library based on core organizational assets and verify eligibility, limits, allowable costs, and tax-exempt requirements
• Maintain a shared pipeline with fit, restrictions, funder compliance/reporting duties, evidence needed, and next action
• Prepare concise funder profiles, letters of inquiry, application drafts, and reusable evidence language
• Complete at least 2 submission-ready concept applications, ensuring all formal grant proposals receive explicit CEO approval prior to submission.

What you will complete

By the end of the initial term, the expected outputs are a verified funding pipeline and at least 2 submission-ready funding concepts or applications when suitable calls exist. The normal collaboration pattern is one 30-minute check-in every 2 weeks and deadline-based collaboration. If evidence, approvals, or partner timing blocks an output, you will document the blocker and complete the parts within the volunteer team's control.

What you bring

• Strong research and plain-language writing skills
• Careful attention to eligibility rules, source links, deadlines, and version control
• Ability to work from evidence and say when an opportunity is not a fit
• Reliable availability for one brief check-in every 2 weeks

Helpful, but not required:

• Grant, proposal, nonprofit development, research, technical writing, or public-sector application experience
• Familiarity with education, workforce, technology, or international funding

What you can learn and build

• Option to specialize in either Prospect Research (qualifying grants) or Proposal Writing (drafting narrative components) based on candidate background
• Practice turning a program model, evidence, and budget into a funder-ready case
• Build redacted proposal samples or a prospect-research work sample for your portfolio when funder rules allow
• Receive direct executive editorial feedback on fit, clarity, evidence, and plain-language technical writing

Support and boundaries

This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity. It does not promise employment, compensation, certification, academic credit, immigration benefits, or future paid work. After successful service, Crew Scaler can confirm your hours and completed outputs, provide public credit with your consent, and consider a reference based on work we directly observed.

How to apply

Include the requested screening answer and a resume, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or short work sample only where relevant. We review on a rolling basis and aim to reply within 7 days. The next step is a 20- to 30-minute conversation, followed by references or a work sample only when the role's access or professional duties justify them. Questions: volunteer@crewscaler.org. Learn more at https://crewscaler.org.