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Director of Grants
Job Location:
Job Location:
Columbia, SC - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not provided by the employer
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
10 June 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
8 October 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Director of Grants
Department:Advancement
Location:Columbia MO
Location:Columbia MO
Type: Full-time
Pay: $60000
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available for this position
Job Summary:
The Grant Writer is responsible for identifying developing writing and submitting competitive grant proposals in support of Columbia Colleges institutional priorities. This position works closely with the Vice President for Advancement college leadership faculty staff and external partners to secure funding from private foundations corporations government agencies and other grant-making organizations. Experience with NSF and NIH grants is preferred.
The Grant Writer will help translate Columbia Colleges strategic goals academic programs student success initiatives capital needs workforce development priorities and community partnerships into compelling proposals that align with funder interests. This position is responsible for researching funding opportunities coordinating proposal development gathering institutional data drafting narratives developing supporting materials tracking deadlines assisting with grant budgets and supporting reporting and stewardship requirements for awarded grants.
The Grant Writer will help translate Columbia Colleges strategic goals academic programs student success initiatives capital needs workforce development priorities and community partnerships into compelling proposals that align with funder interests. This position is responsible for researching funding opportunities coordinating proposal development gathering institutional data drafting narratives developing supporting materials tracking deadlines assisting with grant budgets and supporting reporting and stewardship requirements for awarded grants.
Essential Functions:
OVERALL
- Perform job duties in accordance with Columbia Colleges vision mission and values.
- Establish and maintain a collegiate creative and productive work environment.
- Support a culture of Advancement and institutional philanthropy.
- Foster strong working relationships with faculty staff administrators community partners and external funders.
- Partner with the Vice President for Advancement and other college leaders to identify grant opportunities that support Columbia College priorities.
- Represent the Advancement Division in a professional collaborative and service-oriented manner.
- Support the Colleges strategic goals through effective written communication project coordination and funder engagement.
GRANT WRITING AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
- Research and identify grant opportunities from private foundations corporations government agencies and other funding sources that align with Columbia Colleges mission and strategic priorities including NSF and NIH grants.
- Develop write edit and submit grant proposals letters of inquiry concept papers applications reports and related funding materials.
- Coordinate the full proposal-development process including gathering information from faculty staff program directors finance staff institutional research and other campus partners.
- Translate programmatic needs institutional priorities student outcomes and community impact into clear persuasive and fundable grant narratives.
- Prepare compelling cases for support for academic programs student scholarships capital projects workforce development initiatives student success programs technology needs community partnerships and other college priorities.
- Work with campus partners to develop project goals measurable objectives timelines outcomes evaluation plans sustainability plans and implementation strategies.
- Assist with the development of grant budgets and budget narratives in partnership with Advancement Finance academic leadership and project directors.
- Ensure proposals are complete accurate well-written properly formatted and submitted by deadlines.
- Maintain a grant calendar that tracks proposal opportunities submission deadlines award notifications reporting deadlines and stewardship requirements.
- Monitor grant-making trends in higher education workforce development healthcare nursing military-connected education online learning student success community engagement and other areas relevant to Columbia College.
- Build and maintain a library of commonly used institutional language data points proposal templates program descriptions boilerplate materials letters of support and funder profiles.
- Prepare briefing materials for college leaders involved in grant cultivation proposal development and funder meetings.
- Coordinate with faculty and staff to ensure grant proposals accurately reflect program goals staffing needs budget realities and institutional capacity.
- Support the development of multi-partner proposals involving community organizations school districts healthcare providers employers government entities and other external partners.
- Assist in preparing presentations talking points and written materials for funder visits site visits and grant-related meetings.
GRANT MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND STEWARDSHIP
- Maintain accurate records of submitted proposals pending requests awarded grants declined proposals reporting requirements and funder communications.
- Work with Advancement Services to ensure grant-related activity is properly documented in the Colleges database system.
- Coordinate with project directors and Finance staff to support timely grant reports updates expenditure documentation and outcome summaries.
- Assist with post-award stewardship by preparing impact reports acknowledgment language success stories and updates for grant funders.
- Track grant deliverables and reporting deadlines to support institutional compliance with funder requirements.
- Help ensure that grant-funded projects are implemented in a manner consistent with proposal commitments approved budgets funder guidelines and college policies.
- Support internal communication regarding grant awards project expectations and reporting responsibilities.
- Maintain confidentiality and accuracy when working with institutional data student information financial information and donor/funder records.
- Adhere to the highest ethical standards in all grant-seeking proposal-writing reporting and stewardship activities.
ADVANCEMENT AND CAMPUS PARTNERSHIP
- Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement to prioritize grant opportunities based on institutional need funder alignment potential impact and likelihood of success.
- Collaborate with academic affairs student affairs finance institutional research athletics marketing and other departments as needed to develop strong grant proposals.
- Support Advancements broader fundraising goals by identifying grant opportunities that complement individual corporate foundation and planned giving strategies.
- Participate in prospect strategy discussions involving foundations corporations and institutional funders.
- Help prepare college leaders faculty and staff for funder conversations site visits and proposal presentations.
- Maintain professional relationships with foundation contacts corporate giving officers public grant administrators and other funding representatives as appropriate.
- Support a campus-wide understanding of grant opportunities proposal timelines and funder expectations.
OTHER
- Follow established division-wide standard operating procedures including review and approval processes before submission or distribution of external materials.
- Submit timely and accurate reports project updates and expense reports as required.
- Support the Colleges fundraising and stewardship goals in day-to-day work and communication efforts.
- Work in partnership with the Vice President for Advancement to manage grant-related priorities within the Advancement Divisions annual budget.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Skills Core Competencies and Professional Experience
- Ability to fluently read write and understand the English language.
- Exceptional writing editing proofreading and storytelling skills.
- Ability to develop clear persuasive and well-organized grant proposals for a variety of funders.
- Strong research skills and ability to identify funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
- Ability to synthesize complex information from multiple sources into compelling written materials.
- Strong project-management skills including the ability to manage multiple deadlines proposals and reporting requirements at the same time.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in preparing proposals budgets reports and supporting documents.
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty staff administrators finance personnel institutional research staff and external partners.
- Ability to gather interpret and present institutional data program outcomes community needs and student impact information.
- Understanding of grant proposal development funder research grant calendars reporting requirements and stewardship practices.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment with limited supervision.
- Excellent communication interpersonal customer service and organizational skills with all constituents.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office products database systems web-based grant portals and related technology.
- Ability to use online funder databases government grant portals and other research tools.
- Ability to prepare for lead and effectively follow up on meetings.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive institutional financial donor and student information with discretion.
- Ability to work under deadline pressure while maintaining a high level of quality and professionalism.
- Ability to negotiate agreeable solutions while maintaining positive working relationships.
- Strategic polished and professional communication style.
- Decorum and respect for authority protocol and institutional review processes.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience writing grants in a higher education nonprofit healthcare workforce development public agency or foundation-related setting.
- Experience developing proposals for private foundations corporations state agencies federal agencies or public-private partnerships.
- Experience working with faculty academic leaders finance staff and program directors on grant proposals.
- Experience preparing grant budgets logic models evaluation plans or outcome reports.
- Familiarity with advancement sponsored programs institutional research or grant compliance functions in higher education.
POSITION REPORTS TO
- Vice President Advancement Division
REQUIRED LEVEL OF EDUCATION
- Bachelors degree required.
- Masters degree preferred.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
- Occasional travel may be required for funder meetings conferences site visits or grant-related events.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop kneel or crawl. The employee must lift carry and move a minimum of pounds on an occasional basis. Must be able to type on a computer keyboard and use a computer monitor on a frequent and regular basis.
Work Conditions:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is rarely exposed to outside weather conditions; however possible exposure to hazards and physical risks to personal safety may occur while operating certain equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually mild.
This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive of every duty and responsibility required by the employee in the position.
The offer of employment and assignment to duties is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check. The information may include but is not limited to academic residential achievement performance attendance disciplinary employment history credit history driving history and criminal history of public record.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Columbia College is an equal opportunity employer.
Columbia College is committed to creating an inclusive employee experience for all regardless of race color national origin gender religion sexual orientation age or disability. The college maintains a safe place for open discourse and overall fosters a sense of community that welcomes everyone.
In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act) the Department of Campus Safety for Columbia College has provided the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and crime statistics for the main campus and venues nationwide.
Columbia College is required to distribute this information to all current and prospective employees and students. Please follow the link below for the full report or contact Human Resources at for a printed copy.
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