Grant Writer Arts Learning

About Us

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland's youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide - on average - over 560,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 150,000 Maryland students annually.

Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by working tirelessly to generate opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.

The Grant Writer plays a key role on the Development Team and is responsible for crafting compelling, well-organized proposals that inspire institutional funders to support Arts for Learning's mission. This role collaborates closely with staff across the organization to gather information, develop strong cases for support, and ensure accurate and timely submission of proposals and reports. The Grant Writer will also cultivate relationships with funders, gaining insight into their priorities and aligning proposals accordingly.

This is a full time, exempt position and reports to the Development Director and may occasionally collaborate with external grant consultants.

Grant Writing & Reporting

• Write, edit, compile, and submit high-quality proposals, LOIs, and reports for foundation, corporate, and government funders.
• Ensure all submissions meet funder requirements, reflect organizational priorities, and align with funder interests.
• Collaborate with staff across departments (Program Teams, Education, Finance, Communications, CEO's Office) to gather necessary budget, data and narrative elements.
• Track deadlines and ensure timely submission of all assigned deliverables.

Funder Engagement

• Support relationship-building with institutional funders by coordinating calls, meetings, and site visits.
• Participate in funder conversations when appropriate.
• Follow up on declined proposals to gain insight and strengthen future submissions.
• Track progress toward institutional fundraising goals and share updates with the Development Director.

Prospect Research

• Research potential new foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Development Director and Chief of Engagement to identify strong prospects and recommend targets for outreach.

Data & Grants Management

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date grant records and files in the organizational database.
• Support the Development Director in maintaining the grants calendar, ensuring accurate timelines for all institutional giving activities.
• Work with the Development Coordinator to ensure consistent documentation and proper tracking of grant activity.

Department & Organization Participation

• Participate in weekly department meetings, supervisor check-ins, and external fundraising events as needed (some evenings may be required).
• Participate in organization-wide meetings, retreats, trainings, and other all-staff activities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, Education, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• Proven ability to write compelling, well-structured content for diverse audiences.
• Experience collaborating across departments to gather information and support organizational processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs/Sheets; familiarity with fundraising databases such as Salesforce, Bloomerang, or similar systems is a plus.

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent reliability in meeting deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and information sources simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to "manage up" and collaborate across teams.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and Community-Centric Fundraising principles; willingness to examine and improve traditional philanthropic practices.
• Adaptive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to respond professionally to unexpected challenges.
• Receptive to feedback, committed to continuous learning, and…