Grant Writer

OUR IMPACT

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor. By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person has the resources they need to live.

OUR CULTURE

We’re passionate about providing our employees with a supportive work environment and experiences that help them grow. We offer excellent opportunities for individuals with proven strong, creative, results-driven leadership skills and stellar work ethics. We welcome candidates who love working with people of diverse backgrounds and want to make a difference by fostering community care for our neighbors in need.

YOUR IMPACT

Under the direction of the Director of Institutional Partnerships, the Grant Writer supports the Agency's institutional fundraising efforts by developing competitive grant proposals, reports, and stewardship materials that secure and sustain public and private funding. This position manages a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities, conducts prospect research, coordinates proposal development, maintains grants management systems, and collaborates across departments to advance Samaritan House's mission. The Grant Writer plays a key role in supporting a $20M+ institutional funding portfolio through compelling storytelling, strategic project management, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Please note our preferred and in some cases required qualifications for this position:

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree(s) preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible grant writing experience within a nonprofit organization required.
• Demonstrated success securing funding from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Experience developing grant proposals, letters of inquiry, budgets, reports, and other institutional fundraising materials.
• Experience researching funding opportunities, prospect cultivation, and grants management.
• Familiarity with nonprofit programs addressing poverty, food insecurity, housing stability, healthcare access, and economic mobility preferred.
• Experience collaborating with program staff to collect outcomes, performance metrics, budgets, and client impact data.
• Experience utilizing data and storytelling to communicate program effectiveness and community impact.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines.
  • Experience with Salesforce or comparable donor/grants management systems preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• • Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to develop persuasive grant proposals, reports, correspondence, and funding narratives tailored to diverse audiences.
  • Strong editing, proofreading, and research skills with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of institutional fundraising, grant development, proposal strategy, and stewardship best practices.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into compelling written narratives.
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with program staff, leadership, funders, volunteers, Board members, and community partners.
  • Strong technology proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Salesforce or comparable CRM systems, and electronic document management systems.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment while handling sensitive organizational information.
  • Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within cross-functional teams.
  • Resourceful, adaptable, and solutions-oriented with the ability to adjust priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and commitment to Samaritan House's mission and values.
  • Ability to occasionally work evenings or weekends for organizational events or proposal deadlines.
  • Valid California driver's license, proof of insurance, and ability to travel between Samaritan House locations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK

Incumbent must have the physical, visual and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job and respond to emergencies with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates must be able to provide information for and engage the Agency’s Background Check Process. Reference checks are performed prior to commencement of employment.

Activities may include but are not limited to repetitive hand/arm motion, extended periods of standing, sitting, occasional travel, occasional bending, pulling, pushing, reaching, lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds, walking. Incumbent must be able to work in a high stress and fast paced work environment. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment. Protocol for safety and security is a priority.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

1. Grant proposal/LOI development, writing, and reporting for new and existing agency programs and general operations within assigned deadlines. Research and prospecting; cultivation and solicitation; project management.
2. Research potential funding opportunities aligned with Samaritan House’s programs, strategic priorities, and community needs. Coordinate and participate in grant writing and budget proposals for foundations, corporations and government funders.
3. Support grants calendar for new and recurring proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, and other related deadlines.
4. Monitor grant award requirements to ensure timely submission of reports, deliverables, budget modifications, and other funder obligations while supporting organizational compliance.
5. Communicate and coordinate upcoming deadlines with appropriate staff.Communicate issues immediately. Maintain grant records, communications, documentation and reports in Salesforce, and the shared Grants folder, as appropriate.
6. Collaborate with program, finance, and leadership teams to gather program outcomes, financial information, performance metrics, client stories, and organizational data necessary to develop competitive funding proposals and reports.
7. Develop compelling, accurate, and persuasive narratives that effectively communicate organizational impact, program outcomes, and alignment with funder priorities.
8. Coordinate funder requests for site visits with appropriate staff, Board members and/or volunteers. Prepare and brief participants with appropriate information needed for a successful visit.
9. Support the Advancement Department team as needed (e.g., evaluating and editing agency publications and grant related public relations Support Advancement Department initiatives, publications, donor communications, stewardship activities, and special events as assigned.
10. Support stewardship efforts by preparing acknowledgment materials, funder updates, and other communications that strengthen relationships with institutional funders.
11. Identify opportunities to improve grant development processes, templates, workflows, and record management systems to increase efficiency and proposal quality.
12. Attend RFP bidders’ conferences as needed to stay current with funders’ priorities and as required to ensure application eligibility.
13. Coordinate with PR and Communications Specialist regarding funders’ requirements, specifications and contact information concerning appropriate execution of funder recognition and press release distributions.
14. Assist with the coordination of Board supported activities and administration, as needed.
15. Assist other agency activities and special events, as needed.
16. Attend all assigned meetings and trainings, timely, as needed and positively represent Samaritan House in all internal and external venues.
17. Represent Samaritan House both internal and external to the agency as needed in a positive manner.
18. Perform all work within agency policies, procedures, practices.
19. Ensure safe work environments for all and complete all incident reports within 24 hours or immediately.
20. All other duties as assigned.

• Free Medical (Kaiser), extra deductions if opting for HSA or adding dependent(s).
• Free Dental (MetLife), extra deductions if adding dependent(s).
• 403B, qualify for a 4% match after your first year