NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking a Senior Grant Writer to work with the Development team in New York, Chicago, or Washington, DC.

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 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 information about NRDC’s issues and programmatic work, often very technical, from a variety of sources and describe our activities in clear and compelling language.
• 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.
• Lead the submissions process to funders, respecting deadlines and requirements.
• 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.

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.