Grant Writer

The Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land protection and creating connections to nature and the outdoors for all people. Over the past five decades, OSI has protected more than 2.3 million at risk, irreplaceable acres of forests, wetlands, and shorelines across the North American Eastern Seaboard.

Due to rapid programmatic and geographic growth, OSI is expanding our development team and seeks a Grant Writer, a new role that will support our essential institutional fundraising communications. Under the supervision of OSI’s Senior Director, Institutional Giving, the Grant Writer will play a crucial role in researching, writing, shaping, and editing persuasive grant proposals, reports, briefings, and other communications to various foundations, corporations, and government entities. This position requires exceptional writing abilities, keen attention to detail, and the capability to effectively communicate our organization's mission and programs to existing and potential funders.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, briefings, emails, decks, updates, and other communications as necessary to cultivate, secure, and steward funding relationships to support specific projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with funders' priorities and guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with program staff to gather essential information and data necessary for grant proposals, reports, briefings, stewardship updates, cultivation outreach, and any other communications.
• Research municipal, state and federal plans, news items and articles, and policy pieces to develop cases for support of OSI’s work.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of grant inquiries, proposals, and reports, adhering to all requirements and guidelines provided by funders.
• Prepare drafts to support all institutional funder communications to portfolios managed by SVP Philanthropy, Senior Director Institutional Giving, and Manager of Institutional Giving.
• Create drafts in advance of deadlines to ensure ample time for internal review by development and program teams (and executive team when needed).
• Conduct research to identify funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies aligned with our organization's mission and programs.
• Copyedit all institutional funder communications;
• Gather relevant program information to support donor-facing members of executive, development, and program teams in preparation for meetings and in the creation of proposals and reports.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with grant management activities, including monitoring grant progress and reporting requirements, as needed.
• Submit proposals, reports and compliance needs in portals, as needed.
• Assist with reporting to and activities for OSI’s External Affairs committee, Board of Trustees, and various committees.
• Serve as a point of contact between the development department, communications department, and program teams.
• Support and assist with other development activities, including mailings and events.
• Special projects as assigned.