Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is hiring: Grant Writer in San Jose

Overview

Grant Writer will be an equal partner of the Foundation/Grants Team and responsible for assisting the Foundation Philanthropy Manager to raise an annual revenue goal of nearly $7M in FY26. The role is part of a flexible, supportive work environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. The team is mission-driven and values contributions across roles to meet organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Directly responsible for sustaining and growing Second Harvest’s grants revenue by independently managing an assigned portfolio of funders and prospects.
• Develop and execute strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation and corporate grant makers.
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration to ensure grants align with current initiatives.
• Maintain impeccable written and verbal communication skills and a proven track record of building long-term relationships with funders and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrate strong project management, juggling multiple priorities with high attention to detail.
• Build and maintain relationships with current funders and cultivate new ones throughout the year (e.g., Zoom meetings, in-person tours, newsletters).
• Represent Second Harvest at informational grant meetings and external events as appropriate.
• Maintain integrity of funder records in the donor database (Salesforce) and keep an organized filing system for all grant materials (grants calendar, shared drive folders, Smartsheets).
• Handle sensitive information with integrity and confidentiality.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess The Following Professional Qualifications

• 2-3 years of work experience and a successful track record in grants management.
• Experience managing internal and external relationships.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects with superb accuracy.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, internet research, and willingness to learn new tools.
• Genuine interest in the mission of a food bank.
• Ability to travel locally to meet funders as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Reports To

Foundation Philanthropy Manager

Location

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, 4001 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134

This is a hybrid position. Specifics of work location depend on department need. An employee’s regular remote work site should be within driving distance of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

Hours

Full-Time, Exempt, Professional Level. 40 hours/week, with some evening and weekend work as necessary.

Compensation

$83,481.00 - $98,213.00; salary offer commensurate with skills and experience.

Outstanding and generous health benefits program, 4-5 weeks of Flexible Time Off (vacation and sick), eleven paid holidays, and retirement plan.

EOE

Second Harvest is committed to being an equal opportunity employer which values diversity. All applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be selected based on specific, role-related skills and qualifications.