Grant Writer
: Job Details :

Saddle Up! was founded 33 years ago and, since that time, has grown to deliver almost 6000 hours a year of equine-assisted programming to children and young adults with disabilities. Saddle Up's mission is to impact the lives of children and young adults with disabilities by providing opportunities to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational and recreational experiences with horses. We bring that mission to life by providing a year-round program on our 34-acre farm near Franklin, TN.

The Saddle Up! Grant Writer will identify, define, and develop funding sources to support existing and planned program activities. The writer will also lead the development, writing, and submission of all grant proposals, reporting to the Development Director. The position will search for available grants and research their requirements to find opportunities that align with Saddle Up!'s mission. Before applying for a grant, the Grant Writer will collaborate with the Development Director to confirm that Saddle Up! is interested in collaborating with a particular foundation or company offering the grant. After the research phase, the Grant Writer will prepare several drafts using persuasive language and facts about Saddle Up! to explain why we should receive funding and how we will apply the funds received to further our mission.

Responsibilities of the Saddle Up! Grant Writer include but are not limited to:

• Track funding needs and grant fundraising strategies for Saddle Up! programs.

• Research prospective grant sources (private and corporate) compatible with Saddle Up! Mission, values, and programs in support of the organization's strategic and program goals, calendaring those prospects into the annual grant strategy.

• Coordinate the development of grant requests by establishing timelines that outline tasks, assignments, and deadlines; meet all deadlines; facilitate timely communications with program leadership; collect grant submission materials from Programs and Finance.

• Draft and edit high-quality, compelling LOIs, grant proposals, grant reports, and acknowledgment letters.

• Research and collect data and study findings to support grant proposals and reports. Particular attention should be paid to checking for completeness against grant instructions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Respond to inquiries from funders and programs strategically and on time-based on guidance from the Development Director

• Reviews, summarizes and tracks data on grant awards received and year-end submissions

• Oversee and track all grant milestones including, but not limited to, proposals in development, proposals submitted to funders, proposals that have been issued or canceled, deliverable deadlines, communication, and awards, in donor tracking software, ensuring that all content is complete and up to date at all times.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, English, professional writing, or a similar major preferred.
• Outstanding grammar and writing skills are essential, in particular writing experience in the non-profit sector.
• Proven track record of successful grant research.
• Exceptional team attitude.
• Familiarity with the Middle Tennessee funding community is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in writing and meeting deadlines is required.
• Exceptional organization skills.
• Professional interpersonal skills.
• Experience with database management such as Salesforce and Grant Station preferred.

WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION:

This position is an non-exempt (hourly) hybrid position that supports flexibility in work hours and location. The Grant Writer will work on site at Saddle Up! when necessary in order to learn about our mission and become a part of our team through involvement in special events and staff meetings. Weekly schedule will vary and be flexible for work at home and work onsite.

It is the policy of Saddle Up! not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.