Grant Writer

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Grant Writer works closely with the Director of Foundation Relations to identify, secure, and steward restricted and unrestricted private grants for National Louis University (NLU). Reporting to and in partnership with the Director, the Grant Writer researches new foundation and corporate prospects; develops compelling communications and written products tailored to each funder; and maintains the annual proposal and reporting calendar. Additionally, the Grant Writer partners and engages with faculty and colleagues across the institution to assist in proposal development, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies. The ideal candidate will have the confidence and ability to work independently, manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, proactively ask questions and seek guidance as needed, and serve as an internal and external ambassador for the Advancement team and the institution.

Due to the significant amount of writing required in this role, we strongly encourage candidates to include a cover letter expressing their qualifications and interest in the position.

Work with Advancement colleagues and NLU faculty and staff to explore, synthesize, articulate and prioritize ideas for foundation support, and develop written products (narratives, proposals, letters, reports, etc.) that capture and relay need in compelling ways
• Communicate with and respond to foundation program officers as appropriate, and ensure that all proposal and reporting requirements are met. Collaborate with NLU colleagues to develop financial budgets and reports, and ensure that NLU accurately tracks and reports against stated metrics for successful grants
• Manage a portfolio of 20 to 30 foundations and maintain productive relationships with staff at those organizations. Compile prep sheets for meetings with foundation representatives. Create and continually update agendas for monthly fundraising meetings with colleagues in the various colleges and departments across NLU; take notes at the meetings and act on next steps
• Build and maintain the annual grants calendar in Salesforce NPSP; ensure accurate tracking of associated activities, tasks, contacts, and due dates and deliverables
• Conduct foundation and corporation prospect research using online platforms, including Instrumentl, Candid, and others; devise and execute plans to qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward institutional funders
• Provide assistance on departmental team projects as needed

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Liberal Arts, Nonprofit Management, Business or related field.
• A minimum of three years of grants-related experience in higher education or other not-for-profit organization including an understanding of effective and impactful foundation relations strategies and solicitation approaches in developing, writing and submitting grant applications.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills with the ability to assimilate unfamiliar information and communicate its key points compellingly to the target audience.
• Superb organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple, deadline-driven projects simultaneously.
• Experience working in a service-oriented role with both internal and external constituents, and collaborating with staff in a team-oriented department.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and good judgment; ability to work independently and confidently with senior leadership at NLU and in the foundation and/or corporate sector.
• Prior knowledge and familiarity with fundraising databases, such as Salesforce, and with online foundation research tools and grants portals.
• Familiarity with local and national foundations and the Chicago-area philanthropic community.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, especially Word and Excel. Experience working with Grant Management platforms like Instrumentl, Candid, etc. is preferred.
• Comfort with preparing and coordinating budgets
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Handles multiple assignments and priorities yet still fulfills all commitments. Readily accepts new responsibilities and adapts well to changes in procedures. Gives appropriate priorities to various work demands.
• Analytical Thinking: Breaks down problems and issues into sub-components and then assesses the costs, benefits and risks of various options prior to selecting a particular approach.
• Productivity: Meets or exceeds productivity standards that have been established for their organizational level or position. Has successfully combined skills, ability and effort level to ensure that expectations related to results/output are achieved

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range of the grade for this position is $50,453 to $73,157 annually. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Required)
  • Since this position requires a significant amount of writing, a cover letter that describes your qualifications as they relate to this position and what specifically interests you in this role is exceptionally important.
• Current NLU employees, please also submit an Internal Posting Form