Department:  Advancement

The Grant Writer is responsible for 1) serving as the lead officer for foundation and corporate giving programs through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; 2) writing, editing, and refining the message to this critical constituency; and 3) planning and implementing strategies for a robust annual and periodic solicitation of foundations. We seek an experienced grant writer to create, lead, and manage all aspects of a fulsome foundation and grants administration.

The Grant Writer serves as the College’s grants manager and primary writer for all funding proposals, and is responsible for building successful relationships with current and prospective corporate, foundation, and government organizations that will result in significant contributions to the College and strengthen scholarly efforts across all academic disciplines. The Grant Writer will manage organizational prospects from research/identification through solicitation/stewardship to advance FSC’s priorities and programs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Provides high-quality grant writing and reporting by writing, reviewing, and editing proposals and letters of inquiry for corporations and foundations following guidelines, parameters, and procedures. Ensures accuracy and completeness of all foundation gift records and reporting, drawing upon campus expertise and high-level written concepts to make a strong case for the College’s grant request. Research and compile pertinent institutional information for projects requiring funding.
2. Designs and maintains a comprehensive program of research to identify prospective foundations, their giving interest, board members, and Florida Southern College relationships. Coordinates as needed with the Data Research Specialist. Assemble a busy grants calendar and solicitation plan to produce a sufficient number and quality of prospects.
3. Serve as project manager, editor, and/or principal writer for a wide variety of print and electronic projects, including funding proposals for corporations, foundations, and other organizations; capital campaign-related promotional materials; and project summaries for a diverse array of fundraising goals.
4. Conduct cultivation and solicitation strategies for new and previously identified foundations, and their executive directors and board members. Works with the Director of Major Gifts and the Director of Stewardship to ensure appropriate involvement from the President, Vice President for Advancement, Vice President for External Relations, Trustees, volunteers, and others, as appropriate.
5. Accompanies College officials on corporate/foundation calls and arrange site visits. Serve as the grant project manager for selected corporate and foundation relationships as assigned. Work with Advancement colleagues to develop relationships with alumni and other advocates in corporate and foundation settings.
6. Ensures timely acknowledgement and appropriate expressions of appreciation of all foundation gifts. Works with the Director of Stewardship to plan stewardship activities.
7. Establishes and maintains personal relationship with foundation staff members.
8. Works with key faculty and staff to conceptualize and prepare successful grant proposals.
9. Maintains thorough and up-to-date knowledge of academic and student life programs as well as college-wide goals and objectives.
10. Maintains established systems to ensure information relevant to donors and prospects is up-to-date and accessible.
11. Uses metrics for measuring success of work and assume responsibility for foundation giving contribution to the annual fund and capital campaign.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:
1. Attends alumni events as host/assistant when necessary.
2. Attends on-campus and off-campus events as needed to assist in cultivation of donors.
3. Maintains portfolio of selected gift prospects.
4. Contributes to the overall success of the Advancement department by performing all other duties as assigned by the Director of Major Gifts.

EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Bachelor’s degree required (master’s degree preferred) with three to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Must possess impeccable communication skills, both verbal and written; exemplify a professional demeanor; a positive attitude; and the knowledge and ability to keep confidences.
3. Knowledge of standard concepts, practices and procedures related to the position, including: expertise in use of English grammar, punctuation, and syntax; familiarity with appropriate business software applications; use of best practices in proposal development; ability to conduct research; understanding of branding and positioning strategies for the institution and for specific projects; ability to "ghost write" for various University administrators, staff, and volunteers; ability to learn subject-specific terminology for use in developing written materials; knowledge of when and how to use various channels of communication.
4. Must be computer literate; possess creative ability; possess strong ability in planning and organization; demonstrate a track record of highly successful solicitations; and have the ability to handle diverse types of work assignments.
5. Knowledge of and/or experience with fundraising for higher education preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
2. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to the typical office environment.
3. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.
4. Occasional participation in evening and/or weekend activities is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
1. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend and lift up to 20 pounds.
2. Position requires working long hours at a computer. Visual acuity and skillful typing required.

Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive United Methodist-affiliated college. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 50 undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio; is a national leader in engaged learning; and boasts 27 NCAA Division II national championships. It is ranked the #1 Best Regional College in Florida and #4 in the region by U.S. News & World Report. It is included in The Princeton Review’s “377 Best Colleges” guide, The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012, and Forbes Magazine’s “America’s Top Colleges” guide. The College is committed to the development of the whole student through vibrant student life programs that prepare graduates to make positive, consequential contributions to society. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Recently ranked for the second consecutive year as the #1 “Most Beautiful Campus” in America by The Princeton Review, listed as one of the nation’s top “Ten College Campuses with the Best Architecture” by Architectural Digest, and recently designated as a National Historic Landmark, FSC is an internationally-recognized place of beauty and excellence and is conveniently located within an hour’s drive of both Orlando and Tampa, Florida.

To apply: 

The College's completed Employment Application and Disclosure must be received before an interest or application for employment will be processed.

Candidates should send a cover letter, resume and FSC employment application to:

HR@flsouthern.edu

OR mail to

Florida Southern College
Attn: Human Resources
111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801

Please click on the "Application and Disclosure" link below, complete, print and submit with your qualifications.

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION INFORMATION

The application is in PDF format and requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a copy of the Acrobat Reader, you may download to it your computer by clicking the Acrobat icon below:

To apply, download the application, fill it out with your computer (press TAB to move between fields), print the file, and send it to the contact information provided with the job posting OR print and fill-in manually to send in with application materials. (The file can only be saved with Acrobat Writer.)   

   APPLICATION and Disclosure

The completed Application and Disclosure must be received before we can fully process the application for employment.