Senior Grant Writer, Principal and Institutional Giving

Natural Resources Defense Council•New York, NY

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org. NRDC is seeking a Senior Grant Writer to work with the Development team in New York, Washington, DC, or Chicago. POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Grant Writer develops effective fundraising materials for a range of current and prospective funders, with a primary focus on foundations and corporations. Many of these funders are highly sophisticated, with deep expertise and extensive networks in the fields of climate, nature, and environmental health. With this audience in mind, the Senior Grant Writer will be responsible for crafting concept notes and proposals, project budgets, narrative and financial reports, as well as other formal and informal written donor communications. The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Requirements

Minimum 4-7 years of experience writing for a high-volume non-profit Development department
Bachelor’s degree
Superior writing skills and demonstrated experience developing proposals for large institutional foundations
Experience working in a complex, fast-paced organization
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Able to work independently to manage, prioritize, and meet a high volume of deadlines
Windows and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce database software proficiency
Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles

Nice To Haves

experience working with international teams and programming a plus

Responsibilities

Support efforts to maintain and grow revenue from institutional donors by writing fundraising materials—including concept notes, letters of intent, proposal narratives, program updates, and narrative grant reports.
Collaborate with U.S. and international program teams, capacity teams, and front-line fundraising strategists, assessing complex information to develop narratives that effectively demonstrate how NRDC’s work aligns with funder priorities and follow relevant guidelines, templates, and forms.
Create project plans and timelines, coordinate and facilitate communication between internal teams to provide input for funder documents.
Compile and integrate complex information about NRDC’s issues and programmatic work, often very technical, reconciling competing inputs from a variety of sources to describe our activities in clear and compelling language.
Develops effective fundraising materials for a range of current and prospective funders, with a primary focus on foundations and corporations.
Leads complex writing assignments from planning through submission, synthesizing technical, financial, and programmatic information; coordinating contributors across related teams.
In partnership with colleagues on the Principal and Institutional Giving Operations team, front-line fundraising strategists, and the finance department, finalize required financial documents for proposal and report submissions, including budgets and expense reports.
As needed, provide copy editing support for fellow writers on the Principal and Institutional Giving Operations team to address errors, ensure clarity, and promote messaging consistency.
As needed, serve as lead writer on select deliverables for Principal Gifts donors during high volume periods.
Actively seek updated information about NRDC and NRDC Action Fund initiatives related to climate, nature, and environmental health in the U.S. and internationally.
Maintain a working knowledge of the interests and expectations of the organization’s institutional funders.
Lead the submissions process to funders, clarifying ambiguous requirements and respecting deadlines.