Grant Writer

GiGi’s Playhouse Inc.’s was founded in 2003 and our missionis to change the way the world views Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.

All Programs are free and are therapeutic in nature. Each program is designed to work on specific skill development, including speech and language, socialization and fine and gross motor skills. GiGi’s Playhouse has 36locations across North America and growing.

The Grant Writer at the GiGi’s Playhouse National Office is responsible for generating grant funding, with specific quarterly grant-funding goals. To do so, this individual must confidently optimize research, writing and relationship-building efforts. The grant writer builds and maintains relationships with existing and potential grantors (especially non-governmental sources), collaborates with the broader national office team to identify funding needs, writes regional and national grants, and ensures proper documentation and follow-up on all grants received.

As a member of the national office, the Grant Writer also supports the development efforts of the Playhouse network by providing tools, resources and periodic trainings and is expected to be the leading example of grant management for the network.

Essential Job Functions:

• Research and identify opportunities for growing grant-funding
  • Research philanthropic foundations, corporate foundations and other grantors to find funding opportunities that are best matched with the needs of the organization, with a target of $10,000+.
  • Collaborate with internal programs, operational and marketing teams to identify funding needs to ensure we are seeking funding for the most pressing needs of the organization.
• Write Grants
  • Prepare all grant-related documents including letters of inquiry, program and project based cases for support, grant applications and budgets.
  • Maintain timelines to ensure timely preparation and submission.
  • Effectively convey GiGi’s Playhouse value proposition, mission and priorities.
  • Build and maintain a clearly defined pipeline/funnel with specific strategies and weekly targets for calls, visits, RFP’s and expected value of grants written.
  • Ensure donor database (Salesforce) is continually up to date with contacts and grant pipeline, including various stages of the lifecycle.
• Build and maintain relationships with grantors
  • Nurture relationships with current and past grantors to develop stronger commitment and ongoing campaign support.
  • Maintain consistent account contact and creatively explore and introduce additional opportunities, as appropriate (i.e. volunteerism, affinity groups, sponsor ships, etc.).
  • Ensure all grant-related data is collected, summarized and shared with funders as needed, including mid-grant progress and year-end reports.
  • Fulfill additional grant-related writing projects (e.g. special correspondence with grantors, such as thank you letters and holiday cards).
• Provide grant-related tools and resources to locations across the GiGi’s Playhouse network
  • Support the GiGi’s Playhouse network by providing grant templates, language and resources on shared server to ensure all are using the most current and effective grant language.
  • Participate in a monthly grants & fundraising call with the entire Playhouse network, leading a grand-specific call at least once a quarter
  • Conduct or facilitate 2-3 sessions at the GiGi’s Playhouse National Conference lasting approximately one hour eac

• Teamwork:
  Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team…