Grant Research & Development Specialist

The Dissentient Initiative is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit focused on early intervention, mental health support, public safety resilience, and community-based prevention efforts. We are seeking a Grant Research & Development Specialist to help identify, qualify, and advance funding opportunities that align with our mission and programs.

Responsibilities

• Research foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities nationwide
• Identify funding prospects that align with our programs and strategic priorities
• Evaluate grant eligibility, funding history, award size, and competitiveness
• Develop prospect lists and funding pipelines for leadership review
• Track deadlines, application requirements, and reporting obligations
• Assist with outreach to foundations and funding organizations when appropriate
• Gather and organize funder intelligence, contact information, and application materials
• Collaborate with the grant writing team to prioritize high-value opportunities
• Maintain accurate records of prospects, submissions, and funding outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience researching grants, fundraising opportunities, or nonprofit development
• Strong investigative, analytical, and organizational skills
• Ability to assess whether funding opportunities are a strong mission fit
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with foundation databases, grant portals, or nonprofit research tools preferred
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently
• Interest in mental health, public safety, community resilience, or prevention-focused initiatives
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with federal grant research and funding opportunity databases
• Background in nonprofit development, philanthropy, public policy, or fundraising
• Experience building grant pipelines and prospect qualification systems

What You Gain

• Direct involvement in helping scale a growing national nonprofit
• Opportunity to influence funding strategy and organizational growth
• Experience working with nonprofit leadership on mission-critical initiatives
• Portfolio-building experience in grant development and fundraising research
• A meaningful opportunity to support programs focused on early intervention, mental health, and public safety resilience

About The Dissentient Initiative

The Dissentient Initiative is dedicated to strengthening communities through early intervention, mental health support, threat prevention, and public safety resilience. We work to identify emerging challenges before they become crises and connect individuals and communities with resources that promote long-term safety, stability, and well-being.

Location: Remote (United States)

Type: Volunteer / Part-Time (depending on engagement structure)