Grant Writer

Second Harvest Food Bank•Nashville, TN

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is seeking a full-time Grant Writer to join their External Affairs Department. For nearly 50 years, Second Harvest has been dedicated to nourishing and empowering their neighbors through sustainable solutions to food insecurity, serving 46 counties via a network of over 600 partners. The Grant Writer will be responsible for developing, submitting, and stewarding compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, impact updates, and progress reports. This role involves working with various funders, including corporate, foundation, civic, and government sources, with a focus on corporate philanthropy. The Grant Writer will collaborate with internal teams to shape fundable opportunities, communicate impact, support funder relationships, and contribute to the organization's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging commitments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required, preferred fields include Business, Sales, Fundraising, Communications or Marketing.
2+ years of related experience and/or training.
Exceptional written communication skills with an emphasis on clarity, technical accuracy, and persuasive storytelling.
Ability to give and use constructive feedback from peer-editing to improve the final product.
Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to incorporate feedback effectively.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and strong data analysis skills.
Experience working with grant management platforms such as Instrumentl, Raiser’s Edge/NXT, and Salesforce.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to interpret and develop budgets and analyze statistical data.
Demonstrated success working cross-functionally with diverse teams.
Current driver’s license with copy of current auto insurance and acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) results required.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with AI tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

Write, submit, and steward grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and related funding requests in accordance with funder guidelines, incorporating input from program, finance, corporate engagement, and leadership staff.
Draft and submit timely reports, stewardship updates, and impact summaries for corporate and non-corporate funders, ensuring accuracy and inclusion of all required supporting documentation.
Maintain a strong understanding of hunger-related issues in Middle and West Tennessee and remain well-informed on the organization’s programs and services.
Identify, qualify, and research new funding opportunities, including corporate foundations, community investment programs, private and family foundations, civic organizations, government sources, and other institutional funders.
Partner with internal teams to translate program priorities, measurable outcomes, volunteer engagement opportunities, and community impact into compelling funding opportunities and proposals.
Review and provide feedback on grant proposals, sponsorship narratives, and funder-facing materials developed by other team members.
Engage with funders, including corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility contacts, to build, sustain, and expand positive relationships and respond promptly to information requests.
Organize and maintain detailed records of grant prospects, proposals, reports, communications, relationship notes, deadlines, and funding history using the organization’s grant management system.
Attend relevant philanthropy, community engagement, chamber, and funder networking opportunities to stay informed on giving trends and best practices, including those related to corporate giving.
Manage multiple grant deadlines while coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure complete, accurate, and timely submissions.
Support the ongoing maintenance and optimization of the grants calendar, including prospect tracking, application timelines, reporting deadlines, stewardship touchpoints, and compliance requirements across corporate and non-corporate opportunities.
Perform additional duties as assigned.