Grant Writer Associate

The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking a Grant Writer Associate based in Nebraska or Iowa in an existing Center office or remote location. The Grant Writer Associate will research, prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals as part of a team.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about writing and editing and be able to convey a clear message to a diverse group of individuals. You will be comfortable working in a cooperative working environment to make grant applications come alive for the funder.

Who We Are

The Center for Rural Affairs is a dynamic, energetic non-profit organization working to build a better rural future for all. We’ve done this work for 50 years and we do it from rural places with a flexible work environment. Our work creates opportunities for beginning farmers, new business owners, and first-time advocates. The Center’s work is rooted in principles of diversity and inclusion. We believe that a diversity of people and ideas strengthens our work, our workplace, and our communities. We celebrate this diversity and we are committed to advancing practices that create an equitable and inclusive workplace. We take equal opportunity seriously and we welcome and support all applicants and team members. Additional information can be found at www.cfra.org. Check to see if our Mission and Values match yours, and read about our work demonstrating how awesome the Center is!

What You’ll Do

The Grant Writer Associate reports to the Director of Development and Impact and will lead grant proposal development in collaboration with Center staff. The Grant Writer Associate is responsible for the following:

• You will write grant proposals using a blend of technical and creative writing skills.
• You will provide guidance and assistance to program staff in the drafting of proposals and letters of intent in accordance with granting agency requirements.
• You will maintain a library of grant support documents, including past narratives, staff, and funder correspondence, and key Center data that supports grant applications.
• You will take responsibility for meeting high standards of accuracy, effectiveness, timeliness, and completeness.
• You will research statistics, trends, and data for grant proposals.
• You will partner with Center staff to be knowledgeable about their programs and needs.
• You will work with the Grants Manager to allocate and monitor grant tasks, related responsibilities, and deadlines to ensure the timely submission of all grants.
• You will develop and maintain a grant calendar to track the upcoming grant application pipeline.
• You will use Salesforce to track grant proposals, awards, related statistical information, and stewardship activities.
• You will stay up to date with grant funding policies, regulations, procedures, and industry standards.

Who You Are & Keys to Success (the must-haves)

To be successful in this job, you will excel in five areas:

• Relationship-building: You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with team members in the program, across the organization, and with a diverse group of stakeholders. You know how to build alliances with marginalized communities, such as people of color, people with disabilities, low-income families, military veterans, and immigrants, and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.
• Drive to achieve results: You have a track record of accomplishing ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles. You set a high bar and meet it because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to anticipate hurdles and come up with pragmatic solutions. You plan backward and involve stakeholders appropriately.
• Inclusive leadership and management: You approach leadership with a collaborative mindset-mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You seek out those who have the experience to guide, advise, and plan how you approach the work.
• Setting and managing priorities: You have experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to staff, partners, consultants, and volunteers to leverage time and talent for impact.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in addressing disparities, and you consistently amplify community voices to advocate for more equitable policy solutions. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.

If you were here right now, you would be:

• Working with Center staff to write and complete grant applications for their programs.
• Working with the Grants Manager to complete grant management tasks allowing for timely submittal of grant applications.
• Doing the necessary research that relates to the data needed to support grant applications.
• Using the SalesForce software to record all grant activities and documents, track grant proposals, and record stewardship activities.

You have experience with the following:

• You have relevant experience in grant writing, journalism, or other technical and creative writing roles.
• You have demonstrated analytical and persuasive writing skills and superior editing skills, including the ability to convey complex information in a clear manner to a diverse audience.
• You are self-motivated with the ability to set priorities and manage multiple tasks under minimal supervision in an effective and efficient manner.
• You can work effectively with diverse groups of individuals and value differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
• You are able to gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• You are able to work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality.

What Else You Should Know

This is a full-time exempt position based in Nebraska or Iowa in an existing Center office or remote location. This position has a salary range of $46,000-$57,000 with top-notch benefits that have a cash value of $10,000 to $29,500, depending on family status and tenure with the Center. Benefits such as 97% employer-paid family health insurance that includes a contribution to a Health Savings Account, 6% employer matching contribution to a retirement plan, a fantastic Employee Assistance Program, 12 paid holidays plus paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, Friday Summer Hours, and vacation and sick pay.

The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify, is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and takes steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.

How to Apply

If you would like to work for an organization that has a national reputation as one of the top organizations in the country working to make rural communities more vibrant, apply by sending your resume, cover letter, and three professional references by clicking here. In the cover letter, please include how your personal and/or professional experiences have positioned you for success in this role and any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or Racial Equity-related work, skills, or expertise you want us to know about. Let us know how you heard about this position and why you want to work for the Center.