Description

The Encore Institute for Social Impact is seeking a Grant Strategist (I or II) to partner with nonprofit organizations on competitive grant proposals and long-term funding strategies. This is a consulting role for a grant professional who enjoys thinking beyond the proposal and helping nonprofit leaders shape strong programs, clear outcomes, and sustainable funding strategies.

This role is not a high-volume grant writing position. Our strategists work directly with nonprofit leaders to develop ideas, design programs, and translate complex information into compelling proposals and funding strategies.

Grant Strategists manage multiple client relationships simultaneously and guide organizations through the full grant-seeking cycle, from research and cultivation through proposal development and reporting.

Core Responsibilities (Grant Strategist I and II)

Strategic Grant Development

• Lead development of competitive grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports
• Conduct and refine funder prospect research
• Collaborate with nonprofit leaders to shape program models, outcomes, and evaluation approaches
• Develop proposal budgets and narratives or review budgets prepared by nonprofit staff
• Ensure submissions are compelling, compliant, and strategically aligned with funder priorities

Client Partnership

• Facilitate conversations with nonprofit leaders to gather key information efficiently
• Translate client input into cohesive proposals and supporting materials
• Guide clients through the grant-seeking lifecycle, from research to submission and post-award reporting
• Contribute to discussions about funding diversification and long-term sustainability

Systems & Quality

• Maintain strong internal tracking and documentation practices
• Contribute to proposal templates and shared knowledge resources
• Uphold Encore’s standards for clarity, quality, and ethics in the grant profession

Additional Responsibilities (Grant Strategist II)

• Lead the development of complex proposals and submissions, including state, federal, and multi-partner applications
• Provide higher-level strategic guidance on funding and program development
• Support nonprofit executives as they plan program expansion and strategic direction
• Mentor earlier-career team members
• Contribute to internal planning, training initiatives, and consulting practice development

These roles (Grant Strategist I and II) require sound professional judgment, independent problem-solving, and the ability to manage complex client work with limited day-to-day supervision.

This is a remote position. Candidates should be comfortable working within U.S. business hours and collaborating regularly with clients and team members across time zones. 

Location

Due to the place-based nature of funder relationships, candidates located in Missouri, Kansas, or the broader Midwest are preferred, though we welcome applicants nationwide.

Requirements

Grant Strategist I

• 2 - 3 years of grant writing experience
• Demonstrated success with foundation and/or local government proposals
• Strong narrative writing and editing skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple program areas (clients) and deadlines
• Ability to edit own and others’ documents for mechanics, persuasiveness, and information architecture
• Willingness to accept and incorporate constructive feedback from all team members
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment
• GPC (Grant Professional Certification) credential strongly preferred; candidates not yet eligible must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining the credential within 12 months of eligibility

Preferred:

• • Experience with logic models or evaluation frameworks
  • Familiarity with nonprofit budgeting
  • Experience in a multi-client, multi-department, or consulting environment

Grant Strategist II

• At least 5 years of grant development experience
• Documented success securing grant awards from complex application processes, including those from state and federal funders
• Experience managing complex proposal development and submissions
• Ability to independently design new programs, complex budgets, and/or evaluation plans
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit finance and compliance
• Proven ability to cultivate and strengthen client partnerships
• Ability to edit own and others’ documents for mechanics, persuasiveness, and information architecture
• Willingness to accept and incorporate constructive feedback from all team members

GPC (Grant Professional Certification) credential strongly preferred; candidates not yet eligible must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining the credential within 12 months of eligibility

Preferred
In addition to the preferred qualifications and experience for the Grant Strategist I:

• • Experience mentoring junior writers
  • Experience in a consulting environment
  • Experience shaping annual and/or multi-year funding strategies beyond a single program or proposal
  • Familiarity with Scrum and/or other Agile project management processes; participation in an Agile project management team is a plus

Core Competencies (Grant Strategist I and II)

• Clear, persuasive writing
• Strategic thinking
• Ability to manage multiple complex deadlines and priorities independently
• Professional communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Systems orientation
• Commitment to mission-driven work

Please see full position description and application instructions here: https://encoreisi.com/careers/