Senior Grant Writer

About the Organization

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986. CHIRLA is a California leader with national impact, composed of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA organizes and serves individuals, institutions, and coalitions to build power, transform public opinions, and change policies to achieve full human, civil, and labor rights. Guided by power, love, and vision of our community, CHIRLA embraces and drives progressive social change.

About the Role

The Senior Grant Writer will work under the guidance of the Deputy Director of Development and the Director of Development. This role involves managing and overseeing the grant writing portfolio for new and existing programs, contributing to CHIRLA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan by expanding and diversifying its portfolio of grants and contracts. The Senior Grant Writer will lead a team of grant writers in researching potential funding sources to support CHIRLA’s fundraising goals strategically, maintain grant and contract records, strengthen and implement grant systems and procedures, and assist with other development and fundraising activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop an in-depth knowledge of CHIRLA’s mission, strategic plan, programs, and initiatives and effectively convey this information to current and prospective funders through grant proposals and reports.
• Increase and diversify CHIRLA’s portfolio of grants and contracts by leading weekly and monthly strategic prospecting meetings to identify and review new prospect opportunities and assign grant opportunities to grant writers.
• Confirm eligibility for new grants and contract opportunities.
• Lead and support grant writer(s) to achieve fundraising goals of CHIRLA’s general programs budget, CHIRLA Action Fund general programs budget, Capital Campaign, and Data Center project.
• Write and package accurate and compelling grant proposals and reports in collaboration with program and administrative staff, in accord with grant and contract submission deadlines.
• Maintain up-to-date and well-organized grant records in both electronic and hard copy file formats in collaboration with Grant Writers and Development Coordinator.
• Work with the Deputy Director of Development and Director of Development to grow relationships with funding prospects for opportunities to strategically support the organization.
• Strengthen and implement grant and contract systems and procedures to ensure timely fulfillment of deadlines, including providing enough time for internal review before submission.
• Engage and build collaborative, positive, effective relationships with funders, community partners, and internal staff and departments.
• Assist with the full range of fund development and related activities as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related fields.
• At least five years of grant writing experience.
• Strong writing skills and grant experience for private and public funders.
• Experience working with and/or overseeing grant writers.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, in a fast-paced environment, and be flexible when last-minute priorities arise.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Suite or other software utilized by CHIRLA.
• Knowledge and understanding of the philanthropy sector, local, state, and federal funding systems.
• Strong organizational skills as well as the ability to work and problem-solve under pressure.
• Highly organized with the ability to work independently and multi-task.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity and inclusiveness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Previous experience supervising grant writers.
• Experience collaborating with the philanthropy sector in the local geographic area.
• Ability to work in a team as well as lead a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to successfully relate to community residents.
• Experience in social justice work and/or immigrant rights.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, manage time effectively, and take tasks with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work effectively with people of diverse social, faith, economic, and racial/ethnic backgrounds.
• Commitment to social justice, and experience working with and in diverse low-income communities and communities of color.
• Familiarity with the Los Angeles, Southern California, and Californian philanthropic sector.
• Experience with immigrant community issues, C4 status, social justice, and policy and advocacy work.

Benefits

• Annual paid vacation.
• Additional paid holiday leave in December.
• Employer contributions to retirement account after six months of employment.
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Pay

$80,000 -- $86,000.

This position reports to the Deputy Director of Development and is full-time, exempt/salary.