Grant Strategist & Writer (Independent Contractor)

Grant Strategist and Writer (Independent Contractor)

Creating Healthier Communities (CHC)
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, or DMV Area (Hybrid - On-site presence required)

Fee Range: $30-40/hour

Potential to transition to full-time: Benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, life, sick and vacation leave, 403(b), potential bonus, and more.

About Creating Healthier Communities

Vision
We envision a world where every person in every community has an opportunity to live their healthiest life.

Mission
We address the barriers to health by partnering with communities and mobilizing nonprofits, businesses, and governments to create bold solutions, trusted programs, and resilient communities.

Our Culture and Values

At Creating Healthier Communities, our work is guided by a shared commitment to impact, innovation, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.

• Impact: We help improve lives and communities.
• Innovation: We meet societal needs and challenges boldly with a growth mindset.
• Integrity: We earn and honor the trust of individuals, partners, donors, and communities.
• Team: We embrace collaboration and believe we achieve more together.
• Inclusion: We value, respect, and embrace diverse perspectives to advance our mission.

Position Summary

The Grant Strategist and Writer advances CHC: Creating Healthier Communities’ mission by identifying, developing, and pursuing institutional funding opportunities that support strategic priorities, community impact initiatives, and long-term organizational sustainability.

The position leads grant research, development, and submission of competitive proposals ranging from $50,000 to $8 million across federal and state agencies, foundations, nonprofit funding organizations, corporate and enterprise partners, and other mission-aligned funding sources. The role maintains a strategic grant pipeline, develops compelling proposals, and helps translate organizational priorities into fundable opportunities.

The Grant Strategist and Writer collaborates closely with executive leadership, program teams, finance staff, the nonprofit partnership team, and other internal and external stakeholders. The role also identifies collaborative and consortium-based funding opportunities that strengthen competitiveness for major grants and expand CHC’s partnerships across the health and community impact ecosystem.

Success in this role requires strong grant research and proposal-development capability, strategic funding insight, exceptional writing and editing skills, and a strong understanding of healthcare, public health, health equity, food security, mental health, longevity and aging, and other issue areas that affect overall human health and community well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, identify, and pursue federal, state, foundation, corporate, and other institutional funding opportunities aligned with CHC’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and submit compelling, competitive grant proposals ranging from $50,000 to $8 million, clearly communicating program objectives, community impact, and measurable outcomes.
• Build and maintain a strategic 12- to 24-month grant pipeline, tracking funding opportunities, proposal deadlines, submissions, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, program teams, finance, and external partners to develop funding strategies and coordinate successful grant submissions.
• Identify and cultivate collaborative and consortium-based funding opportunities to strengthen partnerships and expand organizational impact.
• Manage grant-related documentation, reporting, and compliance requirements throughout the grant lifecycle in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Monitor funding trends and provide strategic recommendations to leadership regarding high-value opportunities, funding priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

Qualifications

Professional Experience

• 5 to 10 years of grant writing and institutional fundraising experience.
• Exceptional written and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in securing six- and seven-figure grants.
• Experience with federal, foundation, and corporate funding proposals.
• Experience in healthcare, public health, nonprofit, or social impact sectors preferred.
• Experience supporting leadership discussions related to funding strategy preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• Preferred fields include public health, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, health policy, or related areas.

Technology

• Experience with tools such as Grants.gov, Foundation Directory Online, GrantStation, Submittable, Fluxx, Foundant, Salesforce, or similar platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data/document management systems.

Additional Information

• Hybrid Work Environment: estimated 3 days onsite in Alexandria, Virginia.
• Travel: Up to 25% for conferences, meetings, and partner engagement.
• May mentor or support others.