Grant Writer

Position Summary At Fountain House, we believe in the power of community to transform the lives of individuals with serious mental illness. Every day, thousands of members come to Fountain House to contribute their talents, learn new skills, access opportunities, and form friendships. Members and staff operate successful employment, education, and wellness programs and work as partners to perform all the functions that keep our community going. The Fountain House model has been replicated in more than 300 locations worldwide and currently serves over 100,000 people with mental illness. As originators of this approach, we provide leadership by constantly advancing the practice and leading the conversation around mental health recovery, creating a comprehensive Community System of Care that includes Clubhouses, Care Management, Home and Community‑Based Services, and a large housing program. Role Overview The overall role of the Grant Writer is to work closely with the Director of Institutional Giving to identify, secure, and steward grant and contract opportunities for Fountain House from new public funding opportunities and to strengthen current public funding relationships. The Grant Writer will author concept papers, grant proposals, grant progress reports, and support research prospecting for public and private funding opportunities. The position requires expertise in funding applications related to service innovation, demonstration projects, evaluation, cost‑benefit studies, and research, along with ensuring compliance with funding source requirements. Location and Schedule Minimum 2 days per week on-site (Hell’s Kitchen). During the 3‑month onboarding period, a greater on-site presence may be required. Salary $65,000 – $75,000 per year. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Work closely with the Director to maintain an existing portfolio while researching and responding to new and emerging local funding opportunities that align with Fountain House’s mission and programs. Ensure that the production and submission of all external funder communications (grant proposals, reports, etc.) are of exceptional quality and persuasive to funders. Collaborate internally within the Development team and externally across departments to strategically plan how to approach prospects and opportunities. Analyze and assess qualified prospects to determine which opportunities to pursue, creating a high‑level summary of each RFP for internal stakeholders. Identify, research, and recommend new funding sources and prospects that align with Fountain House’s vision, mission, and strategy. Maintain prospect databases and robust pipelines of new potential funders. Support strategy meetings and implement action items for the Director as they research program offerings and determine proposal concepts. Draft proposals and collaborate across teams to gather and include relevant inputs and data. Assemble all proposal components and ensure compliance with funder parameters and detailed requirements. Meet proposal deadlines by adhering to systems and timelines for all phases of proposal creation. Support grant management activities for secured grants, including documenting and communicating reporting requirements, tracking correspondence, and producing grant progress reports. Collaborate with the Director to create and maintain internal systems, structures, and processes to streamline the Development team’s activities. Perform related duties as assigned. Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures. Administrative Functions Provide support to the Director for the interdepartmental RFP process, including downloading programmatic information and collecting required attachments for submission. Assist with renewals of current grants in coordination with the Development team. Record and track all activity and progress in Salesforce, including prospecting, moves management, pipeline of opportunities, and grant administration. Ensure contract compliance and complete all required grant reporting, including narrative and financial reports, working with program, research, finance, and other staff. Who You Are You are creative, meticulous, and thrive in a collaborative environment. You are solutions‑oriented, resourceful, and initiative‑taker who can work independently and as part of a team. You thrive in changing environments where your innovative ideas and problem‑solving skills can be applied. You believe people with serious mental illness deserve holistic support and the opportunity to define their futures. You can work under pressure, multi‑task, prioritize, organize time, and meet deadlines. You value inclusion, joy, accountability, and creativity, and you’re ready to join a program that embodies all of these. What You Bring Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Two years of experience in fundraising or in a nonprofit setting highly preferred. Strong written communication, presentation, analytical, and content‑creation skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proofreading. Knowledge of RFP processes with impeccable attention to detail. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines in high‑pressure situations. Experience with donor databases such as Salesforce and Microsoft Suite. Excellent research/prospecting skills and experience using online grant databases. Ability to work independently and in a highly collaborative team across multiple programs and departments. Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with trustworthiness and reliability. Why Join Fountain House? Empower marginalized communities and elevate the voices of individuals with lived experience. Innovate in mental health advocacy and join a mission‑driven team at the forefront of mental health reform. Access mentorship, training, and career development opportunities in a rapidly evolving field. Physical Requirements Position resides in a brownstone building and requires ability to ascend and descend stairs, light lifting, sitting, and standing. Extensive computer use, reading, writing, analysis, attention to detail, and concentration. Regular, punctual in‑person attendance at Fountain House’s main headquarters and other business locations. Occasional long hours, including evenings or weekends. When remote work is required, access to phone, email, and video conference, and a dedicated workspace that is free from interruption and secure for confidentiality. Fountain House, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr