Grants Specialist
Employment Type: Non Exempt (Hourly)
Wage: $29.00 - $34.00 per hour
Department: Philanthropy
Reports To: Director of Institutional Giving
Position Location: California – Oakland, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, Fresno
Work Schedule:
Four-Day Work Week: Two (2) days in office, two (2) days remote. However, there may be certain circumstances, like pressing deadlines or peak business periods, where it becomes necessary for the organization to temporarily switch to a five-day work week. This is one position, posted in five different locations. The selected candidate can be based in our Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Riverside or Fresno office. Why This Role, Why NowMission-driven fundraising starts with a story. Funders give when they can see themselves in the work: the communities it serves, the problems it solves, and the change it makes possible. The best grant writers bring donors into that story through proposals and reports that are clear, compelling, and true to the mission. The Grants Specialist is a key member of the Philanthropy Team and plays a vital role in diversifying and expanding our organization's revenue streams. This role supports the development of compelling funding proposals that reflect our work, programs, and values, and uses sharp research to find where a funder's priorities and our mission align. Behind every strong proposal is careful coordination, so the Grants Specialist also keeps grant records, timelines, and reporting deliverables accurate and on track. If you are a skilled writer and curious researcher who wants your work to fuel real change, we want to hear from you.
What Makes This Role Distinctive:
Four-day work week for most of the year, with five-day weeks during peak periods.
A writing-centered role that covers our full institutional portfolio, from legislative campaigns to youth leadership to regional organizing.
Close collaboration with the VP of Philanthropy and the institutional giving team on the monthly messaging that shapes funder conversations.
Work that matters: every proposal you write fuels voter organizing, candidate training, and bold climate policy.
Comprehensive benefits package, including health, vision and dental coverage, 401(k) with employer match, 12 days PTO, 12 holidays, a year-end office closure between Christmas and New Year, and additional benefits that support employee well-being and work-life balance.
Position Summary:
As a key member of the Philanthropy Team, the Grants Specialist helps EnviroVoters and the Ed Fund secure and renew institutional grants by writing strong proposals and reports, researching new prospects, and coordinating the internal information and processes that keep our grants program running. This role works closely with the institutional giving team, the development associate, program staff, and the VP of Philanthropy.
Key Priorities:- Write compelling proposals and reports (50%)Draft and edit letters of inquiry, grant proposals, reports, and supporting materials for institutional funders, meeting all deadlines on the grant calendar.
- Turn program updates into clear, persuasive narratives about our campaigns, policy wins, organizing, and community impact.
- Write monthly pitch priorities talking points with support from the VP of Philanthropy, giving fundraisers current, consistent messaging for funder conversations.
- Maintain and grow a shared language library of program descriptions, impact data, and boilerplate so the team can write efficiently and consistently.
- Apply C3 and C4 distinctions accurately in all funder-facing materials.
- Prospect and expand the funding pipeline (20%)Research and qualify new institutional funding opportunities aligned with EnviroVoters' and the Ed Fund's priorities, using tools such as Instrumentl.
- Prepare prospect profiles and research briefs to inform cultivation strategy and outreach.
- Monitor funder guidelines, priorities, and deadline changes, and flag relevant opportunities to the team.
- Coordinate grants administration (25%)Process grants with the development associate, including recording awards, payments, and documentation in Raiser's Edge NXT and SharePoint.
- Maintain the institutional grant calendar of proposals, reports, and deliverables.
- Manage the monthly program reporting form: gather updates from program staff, follow up on gaps, and organize the information for use in reports and pitches.
- Coordinate internal reviews, collect budgets and attachments, and submit applications through funder portals.
- General administration (5%)Participate in team meetings, trainings, and HR processes, and pursue professional growth in grant writing and fundraising.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- What We Need From YouWe are looking for a strong writer and organized collaborator with experience in institutional fundraising and a genuine commitment to climate and racial justice. Specifically:
- Two or more years of grant writing or related fundraising experience in a nonprofit environment.
- Persuasive writing skills and the ability to turn complex policy and advocacy work into compelling cases for support; writing samples required.
- Ability to research, analyze, and synthesize information to identify and qualify funding opportunities.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple proposals, reports, and deadlines at once.
- Comfort gathering information from colleagues across departments and following up to get what is needed.
- Exceptional attention to detail, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Raiser's Edge or a similar CRM preferred.
- Passion for environmental protection, racial justice, and meaningful social change.
Additional Strengths We Welcome:
Familiarity with Community Centric Fundraising principles.
Experience with Instrumental, Asana, or similar prospecting and project management tools.
Knowledge of C3/C4 fundraising distinctions.
Background in environmental science, political science, communications, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field.
What Else You Should Know:
California Environmental Voters and the California Environmental Voters Education Fund are committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. California Environmental Voters and the California Environmental Voters Education Fund have a deep commitment to equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. We invite and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from groups traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversifying our organization. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact HR@envirovoters.org.
