Grant Writer

About Room to Grow

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $8.5M and a team of 50+ passionate and dedicated staff members. 

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family. 

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston, New York and Chicago. 

Position Summary

Room to Grow is seeking a Grant Writer to join the External Engagement department, which leads the organization’s fundraising, marketing and communications, and inventory procurement. As we expand our reach in the coming years, securing funding from private and corporate foundations becomes increasingly vital. The Grant Writer will play a crucial role in crafting compelling grant proposals to support our work, identifying funding opportunities, and cultivating relationships with foundation partners. 

The Grant Writer will report directly to the Institutional Giving Manager and will collaborate closely with all members of the team including our program staff and leadership team. Working with others in the External Engagement Department, they will participate in foundation fundraising efforts that are integrated into our overall fundraising strategy and aligned with our organizational goals and priorities. Together, our team aims to expand our network of foundation partners, strengthen existing relationships, and maximize support for our programs and initiatives.

A successful candidate for the Grant Writer position will possess strong research and communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling grant proposals and reports. They will ideally also have a track record of cultivating and stewarding relationships with foundation partners. Additionally, they will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively. 

This is a hybrid role requiring 2-3 days per week in-person at one of our Room to Grow locations in New York, NY or Boston, MA.

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Institutional Giving Manager in developing and executing a strategic plan for institutional giving, including goals and strategies related to prospect research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. 
• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports to secure funding from foundations.
• Manage the grant application process from start to finish, including proposal development, submission, and follow-up.
• Implement targeted prospecting plans to identify and cultivate new funder relationships, leveraging research, data analysis, and industry best practices.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of grant prospects, including deadlines, requirements, and contact information.
• Manage a small portfolio of funders, developing tailored cultivation and solicitation plans to deepen engagement and secure financial support.
• Coordinate with the finance team to manage foundation budgets and financial projections, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with program staff to gather information and data necessary for grant proposals and reports.
• Utilize donor database (Salesforce) to track funder interactions, manage relationships, and analyze fundraising performance metrics to inform decision-making.

Qualifications and Experience

• A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow.
• 3+ years of demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on grant writing and foundation relations.
• Strong grant writing skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports.
• Experience managing foundation prospect pipelines, tracking interactions and progress through the cultivation process.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Knowledge of nonprofit finance and budgeting, with the ability to manage foundation budgets and financial projections effectively.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to persuasively articulate the organization's mission and impact to a variety of audiences through written materials, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.
• Experience with donor management software (Salesforce preferred), database systems, and other fundraising tools to track donor interactions, manage relationships, and generate reports effectively.
• Track record of cultivating and stewarding relationships with foundation representatives, program officers, and decision-makers a plus.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape in New York City (and/or Boston and Chicago) a plus.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, as well as independently with minimal supervision.
• An ability to handle pressure with equanimity and to thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and accountability-focused organization; a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.
• Ability to travel within the US (< 5%). 

Core Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment - Allows a candidate to thrive at Room to Grow and to be highly motivated by the organization’s work and mission. A successful candidate:

• Embodies RtG core values, including integrity, respect, growth, collaboration, community and inclusion
• Articulates an authentic passion for and unwavering belief in RtG’s mission, demonstrating a commitment to and literacy around the issues of equity that undergird the work 
• Navigates ambiguity and pivots with ease; presents as collaborative and flexible with a strong service mentality and ability to navigate a local/national structure
• Models transparency and encourages open dialogue and inclusivity
• Demonstrates a growth mindset; approaches work with a learning orientation, continuously seeking to improve his or her own work and the work of the organization
• Possesses a deep appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to bring people together along lines of difference; is able to model this value in Room to Grow’s internal work by treating our diverse population of families with sensitivity, respect, compassion, and dignity, as well as demonstrating this value with an external presence

Fundraising and External Engagement - Allows a candidate to achieve fundraising goals as well as serve as an effective ambassador and thought leader for Room to Grow, establishing deep relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders. A successful candidate:

• A skilled communicator with the ability to engage and influence a diverse spectrum of individuals, independently driving the cultivation and stewardship of donors and other external partners 
• Executes a holistic strategy to achieve annual revenue targets, and an eagerness to think creatively about exploring alternative ways to diversify revenue
• Is able to initiate, cultivate, and influence key stakeholder groups including board members, current funders, prospects, and policy leaders with effective communication, relationship building, and fostering trust
• Delegates responsibly with an emphasis on growing team members’ expertise while executing effective and powerful special events

Communication - Allows a candidate to represent the organization across a range of internal and external stakeholders and share written and verbal information in a clear and compelling manner. A successful candidate:

• Possesses superior communication skills and is a dynamic storyteller who can represent program participants’ stories in an authentic and compelling fashion
• Articulates complex or challenging messages in a clear and straightforward way with an eye towards the intended audience and an awareness of audiences’ cultural, social, and emotional complexities
• Thinks strategically about communication as an engagement tool, to share the organization’s mission with a consistent voice and message, and implement communication strategies that keep internal and external stakeholders informed and engaged

Relationship Building - Enables a candidate to build deep relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including Room to Grow community members. A successful candidate: 

• Leads on the initiation, cultivation, and maintenance of meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Is an approachable and compelling communicator who can deliver reliable and relevant information to stakeholders with diverse backgrounds 
• Able to prioritize and strategize around communications with various stakeholders

Strategic Thinking - Allows a candidate to synthesize information and extract key findings and trends in order to develop, communicate, and execute strategy. A successful candidate: 

• Links strategic objectives with the financial goals of the organization with a focus on execution
• Applies insight and  experience in developing and implementing multi-year strategic plans, preferably for a multi-site or complex organizations
• A proactive thinker who seeks out opportunities for learning and growth, respectfully and productively questions the status quo, and has a knack for generating innovative, problem-solving ideas
• Demonstrates disciplined, entrepreneurial, and out-of-the-box thinking, with experience developing and adapting strategies in the face of complexity and ambiguity

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to share any required accommodations with elise.spector@roomtogrow.org, who will treat your requests as confidentially as possible.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We view differences between individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset. We celebrate what makes us unique and strive to create an inclusive environment for all. We are focused on fostering a culture of empowerment in an effort to better understand and serve the multifaceted cultures and identities of all of those within the Room to Grow community. At Room to Grow, our DEI efforts focus on uplifting the experiences and perspectives of underrepresented groups and doing the work that draws out the best in all of us.

Room to Grow offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 8+ weeks of paid time off per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA
• 403(b) retirement savings with matching program
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement up to $150 per quarter
• So much more! 

Salary and benefits will be competitive for our field and commensurate with experience. Room to Grow is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.