Grant Strategist and Writer

Organization: RISE Travel Institute

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Remote (U.S. based, authorized to work/receive payments in the U.S.)

Engagement Type: Independent Contractor

Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours per month under a 12-month contract

Compensation: $30–$45 per hour, commensurate with experience

About RISE Travel Institute

​RISE Travel Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a more just and equitable world through travel education. RISE equips travelers and tourism professionals with the tools, frameworks, and community needed to practice responsible, impactful, sustainable, and ethical travel. Our work includes certificate programs, workshops, podcasts, educational resources, and experiential learning opportunities, all grounded in systems thinking, sustainability, and equity.

Role Summary

​RISE Travel Institute is seeking an experienced Grant Strategist & Writer to support our early-stage fundraising efforts. This role goes beyond grant writing alone. We are looking for a strategic partner who can identify, evaluate, and prioritize funding opportunities, advise on where RISE should focus its limited capacity, and develop strong, mission-aligned grant proposals.

Our ideal candidate brings sound judgment, a strong understanding of the funding landscape, and the ability to say no to low-fit opportunities while focusing energy on grants with the highest likelihood of success.

​Key Responsibilities

Strategic Grant Prospecting & Evaluation

• Research and identify foundation, corporate, and other mission-aligned grants
• Assess funder fit, competitiveness, and return on investment
• Make recommendations based on strategic fit and feasibility
• Build and maintain a prioritized grant prospect pipeline and funding calendar

Grant Writing & Proposal Development

• Lead the development and submission of grant proposals, including narratives, budgets, and supporting materials
• Tailor proposals to funder priorities, guidelines, and evaluation criteria
• Translate mission, programs, and impact into compelling, funder-ready narratives

Planning & Collaboration

• Coordinate with RISE leadership and volunteers to gather program details, outcomes, metrics, and budget information
• Establish and recommend improvements to clear, repeatable grant processes for a growing nonprofit, including templates and systems to strengthen grant development over time

Reporting & Follow-Up (as needed)

• Support grant reporting requirements, including progress and outcome summaries.
• Track submission outcomes and provide insights to refine future grant strategy.

Experience & Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of grant writing and grant strategy experience, preferably with nonprofits
• Demonstrated success securing foundation and/or corporate grants
• Strong ability to evaluate and prioritize grants based on fit and likelihood of success
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills
• Comfort working with budgets and budget narratives
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high-quality work with minimal oversight
• High level of professionalism, reliability, and discretion with sensitive organizational information
• Demonstrated knowledge of nonprofit funding trends, grant compliance requirements, and best practices in grant writing
• Model and promote equity, inclusion, and accessibility in fundraising communications, donor outreach, and supporter engagement efforts
• Proficiency with standard productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Slack, grant databases or tracking tools)
• Ability to advise on grant readiness, funding strategy, or pipeline development

Preferred / Nice to Have​

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or related field
• Subject-matter familiarity aligned with the organization’s mission areas (travel/tourism, education, sustainability, climate, equity, or social impact sectors)
• Experience collaborating remotely with nonprofit leadership and stakeholders
• Experience working with early-stage or resource-constrained nonprofits
• Experience using grant prospecting or tracking tools

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 6 months, success in this role may include:

• A clear, prioritized list of funders aligned with RISE’s strategy and capacity
• Submission of targeted, high-quality grant proposals with strong alignment and clarity
• A manageable grant calendar and internal process supporting ongoing fundraising efforts
• Strategic guidance that helps RISE focus on the most promising funding opportunities

Compensation & Perks

Compensation

• $30–$45 per hour, commensurate with experience and scope of work
• Initial monthly engagement is expected to align with current budget capacity
• Opportunity for increased scope and compensation as funding and organizational needs evolve

Perks:​

• Discounts on RISE experiential journeys, events, and programs
• Complimentary or discounted access to select online courses and educational offerings
• First-hand exposure to emerging trends in sustainable and responsible travel
• Opportunities to connect with global community of sustainability-minded travel professionals
• Meaningful contribution to a growing nonprofit advancing travel education 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the [click apply], submitting the following materials:

• A resume or CV outlining relevant grant writing and nonprofit experience
• A brief cover letter describing relevant grant strategy experience.
• One to two grant writing samples or summaries of funded proposals
• Hourly rate expectations

We review submissions on a rolling basis and will be in touch with next steps within approximately 7 days.

---

☀️ To apply to this role, click the big purple "Apply" button on this page. If the pop-up is a profile or an email draft, send them a message per any requirements above. Otherwise, fill out the attached form.

‼️ If the apply button is not responding to clicks, check that you have pop-ups enabled for this site.

⚠️ Please DO NOT APPLY if you cannot demonstrate relevant experience in the key areas listed above or meet the location requirements. 

🔗 The original poster’s LinkedIn profile is hyperlinked somewhere in this listing. If you can't find any links, you’re likely viewing a scraped or unauthorized copy or there isn't one available for this job.

📢 Note that we are not affiliated with this brand or company. To support us, kindly let the recruiter know you found this job on CaveJobs.

🎉 Got hired through this board? Let us know!