Description of Organization
For over 33 years, LEAP has worked with children, teenagers, and young adults in New Haven, Connecticut, transforming lives in some of America's most underserved communities. As New Haven's largest youth agency with a growing national presence, we provide academic support, social enrichment, and leadership development through our innovative peer mentorship model. We empower older students (ages 16–24) with training, education, and resources to serve as counselors to younger students (ages 7–15). This approach builds a community with power and purpose while positioning LEAP as a national model for youth development.
Position Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and highly organized Grant Writer to join our mission-driven Development and Communications team. The Grant Writer will support strategic development initiatives that contribute to LEAP's $7M annual operating budget through comprehensive grant development activities. This role will manage a portfolio of 40-60 grants with a goal of securing at least $1.6M annually in a combination of foundation and corporate grants, with additional government grant funds, through prospect research, compelling proposal development, and meticulous grant management. The position leverages both traditional and AI-driven tools to maximize funding success while collaborating across departments to ensure strategic alignment and compelling narratives.
Position Details
This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position requiring exceptional writing skills, analytical thinking, and meticulous attention to detail in a high-stakes funding environment. The role demands strong organizational abilities, deadline management skills, and technological proficiency —including AI tools—to efficiently research and submit strong grant proposals, find new grant opportunities, and manage active grants. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment and excels at translating program impact into persuasive, funder-focused narratives that drive results.
Supervision
Reports to the Director of Development and Communications, with support from the Vice President of Development and Communications.
Key Responsibilities
Research & Prospect Identification
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Research and identify funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies using both traditional resources and AI-powered tools.
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Conduct thorough prospect research, leveraging platforms such as Candid, Grant Station, iWave, and emerging AI research technologies.
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Monitor funding trends and funder priorities to inform and strengthen organizational strategy.
Proposal Writing & Development
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Develop and submit high-quality proposals that align with organizational goals and funder priorities.
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Collaborate with program staff to deeply understand the many components of LEAP’s programs to craft compelling project narratives with clear, measurable outcomes that align with grant goals.
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Work with the finance team on budgetary needs for grant proposals and reports.
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Ability to gather, analyze, and employ quantitative and qualitative program data to demonstrate effectiveness. Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
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Use AI tools strategically for research, drafting, and editing, while ensuring proposals maintain organizational authenticity and voice.
Grant Management & Compliance
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Manage the full lifecycle of grants, from application to reporting, ensuring all deadlines and requirements are met.
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Maintain accurate records and organize tracking systems through CRM (Raiser’s Edge NXT).
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Prepare and submit compliance documentation in a timely manner and provide regular updates to funders.
Relationship Support & Stewardship
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Develop professional correspondence and communications for institutional funders.
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Support relationship-building by preparing research and briefing materials.
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Assist with scheduling, preparation, and follow-up for funder meetings and site visits as well as tracking interactions in CRM.
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree required.
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Strong writing and research background; experience in fundraising or grant writing is a plus but not required. Candidates with backgrounds in journalism, marketing, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
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Demonstrated success in securing funding and/or managing complex projects with multiple deadlines.
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Exceptional writing skills with a portfolio of successful proposals or strong writing samples.
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Proficiency with technology including donor databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred), Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Workspace.
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Experience with AI tools for prospect research, writing support, and data analysis.
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Familiarity with project management platforms (Asana preferred) and time management systems.
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Strong analytical thinking combined with excellent execution skills.
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Excellent organizational and communication abilities.
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Ability to effectively maintain and improve thorough grant tracking and reporting systems.
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Cultural competency and commitment to working effectively in diverse communities.
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High attention to detail and ability to work independently.
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Comfort with learning and adapting quickly to new technologies.
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Experience in youth development, education, or social services is a plus.
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Strong interest in professional growth and expanding skills.
Salary and Benefits
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Salary: $52,000-$56,000, commensurate with experience
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Health, dental, and vision insurance
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Life insurance
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Retirement plan with employer contribution
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Generous PTO, holiday leave, and professional development opportunities
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Flexible hybrid work arrangements
Additional Information
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This is a hybrid role, with at least 2 consistent days per week in our New Haven, CT office and additional in-office days often required for meetings, events, and to gather information about programming.
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Attendance at occasional evening and weekend events is required.
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Reliable transportation is necessary to be able to attend programming at any one of our two community centers and seven school-based sites throughout New Haven.
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Additional information about the organization is available via www.leapforkids.org.
TO APPLY
Send a cover letter and resume through our online application portal by clicking on the Apply button below or going to this link and clicking on the Grant Writer position.
LEAP is an equal opportunity employer.
