Senior Grant Writer

Position Title:
Senior Grant Writer

Classification: Exempt, Full-Time

Reports To: Director of Behavioral Health & Education

Location: TURN Center - 4444 S. Evans, Chicago, IL

About Bright Star Community Outreach:

Over the course of our proud seventeen-year history, Bright Star Community Outreach (BSCO) has made significant contributions to the renewal of Chicago’s most vulnerable communities as a 501C3 nonprofit organization. Driven by our hope for change in this city and the families that call it home, Bright Star’s presence has been marked by effective programming, social development, and advocacy, particularly in the greater Bronzeville community of Chicago’s South Side.

Led by founder and CEO, Pastor Chris Harris, Sr., who grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood where we are currently located, our strategy includes developing impactful community development initiatives aimed at facing our largest societal challenges: violence in our communities, poor economic opportunities, inadequate mental health services, affordable housing, and education. These efforts are designed to strengthen local families and communities, as well as leverage our key partnerships with organizations and businesses that share our passion for seeing renewal in Chicago.

Bright Star Community Outreach (BSCO) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-driven Senior Grant Writer to lead the organization's grant writing efforts and secure institutional funding from foundations, corporations, healthcare systems, and government agencies.

Working closely with the Director of Development, Executive Director, Finance Department, Program Directors, and the Data & Evaluation Team, the Senior Grant Writer will research funding opportunities, write compelling grant proposals, coordinate proposal submissions, and prepare grant reports that effectively communicate BSCO's impact and measurable outcomes.

This position plays a critical role in advancing the organization's mission by securing institutional funding that supports strategic priorities and organizational sustainability. The successful candidate will maintain an active grants pipeline, develop competitive proposals, and produce 40-60 high-quality grant submissions annually
, while consistently identifying funding opportunities that generate a significant return on the organization's investment. Candidates should have a documented history of securing at least $2-5 million in cumulative grant funding over their career.

• Research and identify foundation, corporate, healthcare, local, state, and federal funding opportunities that align with BSCO's mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive grants calendar outlining proposal deadlines, reporting requirements, and funding opportunities.
• Continuously identify new funding prospects to diversify and strengthen BSCO's institutional funding portfolio.
• Monitor emerging philanthropic and government funding trends.

• Research, write, edit, and submit competitive grant proposals, letters of inquiry, concept papers, sponsorship requests, and renewal applications.
• Develop compelling, data-driven narratives that clearly communicate community need, organizational capacity, measurable outcomes, sustainability, and impact.
• Produce 40-60 high-quality grant submissions annually
  , ensuring each proposal meets the highest standards of quality and competitiveness.
• Collaborate with program leadership, finance staff, and the Data & Evaluation Team to gather program information, budgets, outcomes, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure all grant applications are complete, accurate, and submitted on or before established deadlines.

Provide grant writing support across all BSCO departments, including:

• Behavioral Health
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Community Engagement
• Health & Wellness
• Violence Prevention
• Organizational Development

Collaborate with department leaders to develop funding strategies that support program expansion and organizational priorities.

• Participate in strategic planning discussions related to institutional funding opportunities.
• Assist in developing proposal templates, grant resource libraries, and standardized organizational language.
• Maintain current organizational statistics, impact statements, and supporting materials for future proposals.
• Support special funding initiatives as assigned by the Director of Development.

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Journalism, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible grant writing experience.
• Demonstrated success securing funding from private foundations, corporate foundations, healthcare systems, and local, state, and federal government agencies.
• Proven experience writing successful six-figure and…