Senior Grant Writer

Foundation Communities is a local, home-grown nonprofit based in Austin, Texas, founded around 1990.

What it does:

It provides affordable, decent-quality housing (apartments and duplexes) to low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities in Austin and parts of North Texas. Beyond just housing, it combines “housing plus services.” On-site support includes education (after-school and summer learning programs for kids; adult ESL, job skills, financial literacy), financial stability supports (free tax prep, financial coaching, savings/asset-building), and health and wellness services (nutrition, fitness, integrated physical/mental health, insurance enrollment).

Why it’s distinctive / what makes it effective:

Its “service-enriched housing” model aims not only to give people a roof over their heads but to support long-term stability educational success, financial health, and physical/mental wellness. It prioritizes sustainability: many of its buildings follow green-building practices to reduce utility costs and environmental impact.

Its model has helped thousands of residents over decades the scale and consistency matter.

Impact / Reach:

Foundation Communities owns and operates dozens of communities (many in Austin, some in North Texas), offering housing to thousands of residents.

Their services target vulnerable populations and aim to break cycles of poverty by providing support beyond just housing.

Position Description
:
Foundation Communities seeks a full-time grant writer for a primarily on-site staff position. We need an experienced and competent writer who enjoys being a fundraiser, storyteller, and advocate, plus has the skills necessary—deadline-driven, intellectual flexibility, research capabilities, computer acumen, experience with metrics—to put together complete grants packages for a wide variety of funding sources. This grant writer must be able to connect with our mission, work as part of a team, and enjoy working closely with program staff.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Demonstrated ability to manage grant development activities, from working with program staff and drafting proposals through submitting grants and working with funders post-award
• Author proposals, both independently and in concert with other staff, for foundations, corporations, and governmental agencies
• Identify, research, and develop relationships with prospective institutional donors
• Plan work flow and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Good communicator; works effectively as part of a team, as well as with a variety of staff to develop and present strong proposals
• Maintain calendar systems to track grant application and report deadlines, record contacts and correspondence, and acknowledge gifts
• Maintain donor files and donor database, as well as internal tracking systems
• Assist with additional development-related projects as needed, including grants tracking and reporting

Other

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Serve as liaison with programs; help to establish cross-departmental relationships and identify funding priorities and opportunities; mentor interested staff in grant writing activities
• Provide communications assistance and editing for other Foundation Communities departments

• Minimum of three years’ experience in successful grant writing and securing funding
• Demonstrated ability to manage grant development activities, including networking, deadlines, project management, and successful fundraising
• Ability to represent Grants Team at events throughout the year, both within Foundation Communities and with other organizations and events
• Able to connect with Foundation Communities’ work and mission

Preferred Requirements:

• Strong understanding of evaluation metrics and outcomes measurement preferred
  
  More than five years’ experience in successful grant writing and securing funding preferred

Compensation

$60,000 to 65,000 annual DOE

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

Foundation Communities provides an excellent benefits package including employer paid health benefits, 401(k) investment opportunity, Employee Assistance Program, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.