Grant Writer

Take Trips MES Wants You! — Grant Writer

Take Trips MES is seeking a highly motivated, mission-driven Grant Writer with a strong background in grant research, proposal development, nonprofit fundraising, and persuasive technical writing.

We are looking for an individual who can identify and pursue public and private funding opportunities that support our initiatives addressing youth recidivism, juvenile justice, violence prevention, community development, and equitable outcomes for underserved communities, particularly youth from communities of color.

What Will You Do?

As a Grant Writer, you will play a critical role in our fund development and institutional fundraising strategy. You will be responsible for researching funding opportunities, developing competitive grant proposals, managing application requirements, and helping secure resources that directly support our programs and the young people we serve.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and identify federal, state, local, corporate, and private foundation grant opportunities aligned with the organization's mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Conduct grant prospect research and assess funding opportunities for eligibility, alignment, competitiveness, and potential award value.
• Develop, write, and edit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), concept papers, applications, and supporting narratives.
• Translate program goals, outcomes, and community impact into persuasive, data-driven funding narratives.
• Coordinate the full grant application process, including timelines, required forms, budgets, attachments, supporting documentation, and submission requirements.
• Collaborate with program staff and leadership to gather program data, impact metrics, organizational information, budgets, and supporting evidence.
• Ensure all proposals are responsive to funder priorities, grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, and submission criteria.
• Maintain an organized grant calendar and funding pipeline, tracking opportunities, deadlines, submissions, awards, and outcomes.
• Support grant reporting and compliance, including progress reports, performance metrics, and funder-required documentation.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with foundations, corporate funders, government agencies, donors, and community partners.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy, juvenile justice, youth development, violence prevention, racial equity, community investment, and nonprofit funding to identify emerging opportunities.
• Contribute to the organization's broader fundraising and development strategy.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in grant writing, grant development, fundraising, or institutional advancement, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated ability to research and identify foundation, corporate, government, and other institutional funding opportunities.
• Strong understanding of the grant lifecycle, from prospect research and proposal development through submission, award management, and reporting.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Strong research, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize data and information from multiple sources.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple proposals, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, compliance, and quality.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with leadership, program staff, and external partners.
• Passion for youth empowerment, social justice, equity, community development, and reducing recidivism.

Why Join Take Trips MES?

Join us in our mission to create a more equitable and just society. Your expertise in grant development and fundraising will help expand programs, strengthen communities, and create meaningful opportunities for marginalized and underserved youth.

Together, we can help reduce recidivism, expand access to opportunity, and drive lasting systemic change.