Expert Grant Writer

Initial engagement: Part-time, with potential to transition to full-time.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced grant writer who can develop compelling, evidence-based grant narratives for institutional donors, foundations, and international organizations. The successful candidate will translate program ideas and technical information into clear, persuasive funding proposals and complete grant application forms accurately. The role covers opportunity assessment, proposal development, application quality control, and submission coordination, working closely with leadership, program teams, and finance staff.

Key Responsibilities

·        Research funding opportunities and assess donor priorities, eligibility criteria, geographic scope, funding limits, and deadlines; recommend opportunities that fit the organization’s mission and capacity.

·        Write and refine concept notes, letters of inquiry, full proposals, executive summaries, and supporting narratives tailored to each donor’s requirements and evaluation criteria.

·        Present a clear case for support, connecting the problem and evidence of need with the proposed approach, target beneficiaries, expected results, organizational capability, and sustainability.

·        Complete grant forms, questionnaires, and online application portals accurately and thoroughly; follow instructions, answer every applicable question, and meet word and character limits.

·        Gather and verify organizational details, registration information, project data, and supporting documents; check consistency across narratives, forms, budgets, and attachments.

·        Work with program and monitoring and evaluation teams to develop objectives, activities, implementation plans, indicators, results frameworks, and risk mitigation measures.

·        Coordinate with finance staff to align proposal budgets, budget narratives, cost assumptions, and funding requests with the proposed activities and donor rules.

·        Manage proposal timelines, document versions, review cycles, and approvals; maintain a checklist of required forms, attachments, signatures, and submission steps.

·        Proofread and review applications for completeness, clarity, accuracy, and compliance; resolve gaps before submission and submit only after the required internal approvals.

·        Maintain a grant pipeline and application records, retain submission confirmations, respond to donor clarification requests, and use feedback to improve future proposals.

·        Build reusable proposal content and organizational profiles while tailoring each application; protect confidential information and use only verified claims and authorized materials.

Required Qualifications

·        At least five years of grant writing or proposal development experience, or an equivalent record of substantial relevant work, including applications to institutional donors or international organizations.

·        Demonstrated ability to write compelling grant narratives in excellent English and convert complex program information into clear, persuasive proposals.

·        Proven accuracy in completing grant application forms and online portals, interpreting detailed instructions, and organizing required supporting documentation.

·        Strong research, editing, financial and numerical literacy, and attention to detail; ability to identify inconsistencies between proposal narratives, budgets, and application responses.

·        Working knowledge of project design, measurable outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, proposal budgets, and donor application requirements.

·        Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PDF forms, online application portals, and collaborative document tools.

·        Ability to work independently, manage competing deadlines, obtain input from multiple contributors, and communicate missing information or delivery risks promptly.

Preferred Experience

·        A portfolio of funded proposals or proposals that advanced through competitive reviews, with a clear explanation of the applicant’s contribution.

·        Experience in nonprofit, humanitarian, or international development settings and with foundations, UN agencies, bilateral donors, or other international funding institutions.

·        Experience with donor due-diligence questionnaires, partnership applications, grant reporting, or grant tracking systems.

Part Time Arrangement and Growth Potential

The role will initially be part-time. Working hours, availability, workload, and compensation will be agreed before the engagement begins, with flexibility to accommodate application deadlines and scheduled reviews. The position may transition to full-time based on performance, workload, funding availability, and organizational needs. Any transition will be mutually agreed; full-time employment is not guaranteed.

Measures of Success

Success will be assessed through the quality and donor alignment of proposals, accuracy and completeness of application forms, adherence to deadlines, effective coordination of inputs, and clear grant pipeline records. Funding results and donor feedback will also inform performance reviews, recognizing that award decisions depend on donor priorities and competition.

Application Requirements

Applicants should provide a CV, two or three relevant writing samples or redacted proposal excerpts, a brief description of their role in each submission and any known outcomes, and their part-time availability and proposed hourly or project rate. Samples must be shared with permission and exclude confidential donor or beneficiary information.