Sr. Grant Writer for Public Funding

Senior Grant Writer for Public Funding

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Location: In-person / CIST Administrative Office / Austin, Texas

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to: Director of Grants

Supervises: May supervise AmeriCorps or VISTA members interns and/or volunteers.

Starting Salary:  $5,833.34/month (contingent on experience)

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Please include a cover letter with your application

About Communities In Schools 

Rooted in community for over 40 years, Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CISCT) is a sophisticated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Austin, Texas. Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national organization that ensures every student has what they need to realize their full potential in school and beyond. At CISCT, our mission is simple: surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. We are a nearly $24 million organization serving tens of thousands of students annually across Central Texas.

Position Summary 

The Senior Grant Writer for Public Funding is a senior writing-forward role responsible for leading pre-award public funding strategy and serving as a primary proposal writer for complex and high-impact government grants. This position works in close partnership with the Director of Grants, who remains a significant contributor to proposal writing, particularly for the organization’s largest and most strategic opportunities.

The Senior Grant Writer for Public Funding brings deep technical expertise in public funding, leads public grant prospecting and research, and drafts and coordinates competitive proposals aligned with CISCT’s strategic priorities. While this role contributes to grant strategy and provides thought leadership in the public funding space, it remains a hands- on, writing-forward position with opportunities for leadership through complex project ownership and cross-functional collaboration. The Senior Grant Writer for Public Funding should bring demonstrated success in securing large-scale grants (over $500,000), including leading end-to-end proposal development. The role requires the ability to manage multiple concurrent grants, address complex organizational needs, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Exceptional time management, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills are critical to success.

Hybrid work options available 

What You’ll Do 

Public Funding Strategy & Prospecting (Pre-Award)

• Lead pre-award public funding prospecting efforts, including federal, state, and local opportunities
• Monitor public funding trends, policy shifts, and procurement pipelines relevant to education, mental health, student supports, and youth development
• Conduct in-depth research to assess opportunity fit, competitiveness, and capacity requirements
• Coordinate with CIS National’s grants team to stay aligned with network-wide public funding strategy, guidance,  and  opportunities
• Participate in RFP workshops, information sessions, and webinars, translating learnings into actionable recommendations
• Advise the Director of Grants on public funding opportunities, feasibility, risks, and strategic alignment

Grant Writing & Proposal Development

• Serve as lead writer and proje