Senior Grant Writer, Principal and Institutional Giving

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).   

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions: 

• 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.  

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned. 

Minimum Education & Experience:  

• Minimum 4-7 years of experience writing for a high-volume non-profit Development department 
• Bachelor’s degree required 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Superior writing skills and demonstrated experience developing proposals for large institutional foundations; experience working with international teams and programming a plus 
• 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 
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices for team meetings and retreats 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 

Frequently: Hand draw illustrations for advocacy materials 

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $103,500 to $115,000.  

Perks & Benefits 

Not only do we care about taking care of our planet, we care about taking care of you. When you join our team, we invest in your total well-being. Here is a small glimpse on how we plan to support you: 

• Time to Unplug & Recharge: Enjoy a generous time-off policy, highlighted by a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week to reset for the new year. 

• Family – First: Generous family leave policy beyond federal requirements for all NRDCers 

• For your Future: Matching 403b whether you contribute or not 

• Hybrid Policy: The freedom to balance your time around your needs that means, 8 days per month in-office. In-office day requirements can be met with off-site work events such as retreats, conferences, and other work-related travel. 

• Well – being: Premium Comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.