Senior Researcher & Grant Development Manager (Volunteer)

About This Role:

Condition: Volunteer, unpaid role

Commitment: 10-15 hours a week for at least three months

About Solution Community: We are an international nonprofit pioneering an innovative social platform that enables actionable change. With volunteers from over 70+ countries, we demonstrate the power of global collaboration. Our team members bring experience from some of the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Toyota, Walmart, Meta, and many others, creating a rich tapestry of knowledge and passion. Solution Community is now officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity!

Our Mission: To foster a global community of compassion, uniting individuals and organizations to solve the world’s social problems. We bridge non-profits, businesses, philanthropists, and volunteers, empowering them to create meaningful change for current and future generations.

Our Vision: Imagine a world where every person can thrive, united by collaboration, compassion, and action. At Solution Community, we are turning that vision into reality, driving transformative change that reshapes the future.

Professional Volunteering: At Solution Community, we deliver skills-based service with the same reliability, accountability, and quality expected in a paid professional role. Volunteers are core contributors whose work directly supports our mission of global compassion, collaboration, and action

Position Summary: Solution Community seeks a highly experienced, strategic Senior Researcher & Grant Development Manager to lead research initiatives, identify funding opportunities, develop high-quality grant proposals, and strengthen the organization's resource mobilization efforts.

This role will play a critical part in securing funding that supports Solution Community's mission, strategic priorities, and global impact initiatives. The successful candidate will combine strong research, grant writing, donor engagement, and partnership development expertise to help drive sustainable growth and organizational success.

This position is ideal for an experienced nonprofit professional who understands donor landscapes, funding mechanisms, proposal development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic resource mobilization.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Research & Funding Identification

• Research and identify funding opportunities from foundations, government agencies, multilateral organizations, corporations, and philanthropic donors.

• Maintain and regularly update a grants pipeline and funding calendar.

• Monitor trends within the nonprofit, humanitarian, development, education, technology, and social impact sectors.

• Conduct donor mapping and prospect research to identify high-potential funding partners.

Grant Development & Proposal Writing

• Lead the development of compelling grant proposals, concept notes, letters of inquiry, and funding applications.

• Coordinate proposal development across departments and subject matter experts.

• Ensure proposals align with donor priorities and Solution Community strategic objectives.

• Develop logical frameworks, work plans, budgets, narratives, and supporting documentation.

• Review and edit submissions to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance.

Research & Strategic Analysis

• Conduct research on emerging social, economic, humanitarian, environmental, and technology challenges relevant to Solution Community's mission.

• Develop evidence-based reports, briefing papers, and recommendations to support organizational strategy and fundraising efforts.

• Analyze funding trends and provide insights on future opportunities.

• Support impact measurement frameworks and evidence generation initiatives.

Donor & Partnership Engagement

• Support relationship-building efforts with prospective and existing funding partners.

• Develop donor briefing materials, presentations, and partnership documentation.

• Participate in donor meetings and stakeholder engagement activities when appropriate.

• Contribute to partnership development and resource mobilization strategies.

Grant Management Support

• Track proposal submissions, reporting deadlines, and donor requirements.

• Support compliance with grant conditions and funding agreements.

• Collaborate with program, operations, finance, and leadership teams to gather information for proposals and reports.

• Assist in developing systems and processes that strengthen grant management and organizational fundraising capacity.

Leadership & Capacity Building

• Mentor junior researchers and grant writers where appropriate.

• Establish best practices for research, proposal development, and donor engagement.

• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Provide strategic recommendations to leadership regarding funding opportunities and organizational positioning.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in International Development, Public Policy, Business, Economics, Social Sciences, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, donor relations, business development, resource mobilization, research, or nonprofit program development.

• Demonstrated success developing grant proposals and funding applications.

• Strong research and analytical skills.

• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication abilities.

• Experience working with institutional donors, foundations, government agencies, or international organizations.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

• Experience working in remote, multicultural teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with humanitarian, development, nonprofit, social impact, or international NGO sectors.

• Familiarity with donor agencies such as UN organizations, USAID, FCDO, EU/ECHO, Global Affairs Canada, World Bank, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs.

• Experience developing project budgets and logical frameworks.

• Understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) principles.

• Multilingual capabilities are considered an asset.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking

• Grant Writing Excellence

• Research & Analysis

• Donor Engagement

• Partnership Development

• Resource Mobilization

• Project Management

• Stakeholder Management

• Results Orientation

• Collaboration & Leadership

• Attention to Detail

• Communication & Influencing Skills

What Success Looks Like

Within the first six months, the successful volunteer will:

• Build and maintain a comprehensive funding opportunity pipeline.

• Lead the development of multiple high-quality grant proposals.

• Strengthen donor prospecting and research systems.

• Produce strategic research briefs that support organizational growth.

• Contribute to securing funding and partnership opportunities that advance Solution Community's mission and long-term sustainability.

Why Join Solution Community?

Solution Community brings together talented professionals from around the world to collaborate on innovative solutions to global challenges. As a Senior Researcher & Grant Development Manager, you will directly help expand the organization's impact by securing the resources needed to drive meaningful, lasting change worldwide.