Grant Writer

Description:

Department: City Hall

Reports to: Economic Development Manager

Benefits Summary

Salary range: $67,600.82 - $82,825.60

FLSA Status: Full-time Exempt

Position closes: Midnight, Sunday, March 29, 2026

Position Summary: Under general direction from the Economic Development Manager, responsible for researching, writing and coordinating the grant application process, management of proposals and collaborating with key stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities*: The essential duties and responsibilities listed below are central to the job or are the reason the position exists, and the employee must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. This list is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Research new grant opportunities and maintain an up-to-date grants calendar.
• Write, edit, and submit high-quality, persuasive grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOI), and applications.
• Manage proposal submission processes to ensure timely submission of all required application and reporting materials.
• Develop and maintain relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders, work with key stakeholders to compile financials and data.
• Compile and maintain inventory of existing City grants and grant programs.
• Collaborate proactively with program staff to gather necessary data, statistics, and success stories for proposals. Provide technical assistance to City staff regarding writing, reporting and requirements of grants.
• Develop and maintain positive communication with staff, businesses, developers and investors, state and federal agencies and other local governments and provide timely information on potential grant opportunities through public outreach.
• Develop annual grant strategy.
• Develop grant project budgets in coordination with the finance team.
• Prepare required reports for awarded grants, detailing program outcomes and financial expenditures.
• Develop a multi-year funding strategy and case statements for major projects.
• Manage complex submissions for federal, state, and large foundation grants.
• Cultivate relationships with program officers and foundation contacts.
• Provides excellent customer service to external and internal customers including but not limited to effectively listening and communicating, providing accurate information, offering solutions, assisting in resolution, and ensuring timely follow up as needed.

Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities*: The following duties, although not essential to the position, are important components to the smooth and efficient operation of the Division, Department, and City.

• May be an active member of internal city committees and external community committees.
• Performs other duties and special projects as requested by supervisor.
• May be asked to represent the city at community events.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The essential and non-essential duties listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. The below list is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all knowledge, skills and abilities that are required.

• High proficiency in all areas of Microsoft Office to include Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to effectively communicate.
• Clear, precise and compelling writing skills.
• Strong people skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently with purpose and accuracy.
• In-depth understanding of corporate, private, and government funding sources, as well as current trends in philanthropy.
• Detailed knowledge of the full grant lifecycle, including RFP (Request for Proposals) interpretation, eligibility requirements, and post-award reporting standards.
• Ability to develop and interpret project budgets, ensuring they align with both project needs and funder guidelines.
• Ability to craft clear, compelling, and concise narratives that articulate the need for funding and the impact of the proposed project.
• Ability to locate and assess potential funding opportunities using databases like Foundation Directory Online, Grants.gov, and similar resources.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure proposals are error-free and meet all formatting requirements.
• Translating technical, scientific, or programmatic data into accessible, compelling language for reviewers.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualification(s):

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of successful grant writing or nonprofit fundraising experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.

Licenses/Certifications

• Must have a valid unrestricted Colorado Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one within sixty (60) days of hire, with a driving record acceptable to the City of Cañon City.

Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the listed knowledge, abilities and skills may be substituted.

Preferred Qualification(s):

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of successful grant writing experience in a municipal setting.

Education

• Master’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.

Licenses/Certifications

• Certified Grant Writer (CGW) or Grant Professional Certified (GPC).

Physical Activities:

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee will travel within the City of Cañon City and Fremont County

• Majority of work time will be indoors with low noise levels.
• Physical demands of job require some lifting; pulling; carrying and pushing of objects –approximately 15 pounds.
• Frequent bending, simple grasping, finger/manual dexterity, standing, walking, twisting upper body, stooping, and hearing.
• Occasional climbing on stairs.
• Communicates verbally with City staff, outside agencies and the public in one-on-one settings, group settings and over the telephone.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and see, using close and medium range vision.
• The work is mostly sedentary with periods of light physical activity and is performed in office surroundings.
• Frequent use of computer keyboard and other common accounting/office devices.
• The work requires the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.
• Lifting, pulling, and/or pushing of items (seldom in excess of 30 pounds) is infrequent. The employee is occasionally required to travel to various locations in and around Cañon City and the state of Colorado.

Additional Information

• This position will typically work Monday – Friday but will flex to working weekends and evenings based on seasonal, organizational or event needs.
• This position will be required to attend occasional City Council meetings and/or other meetings and events after normal work hours.
• Occasionally required to travel to various locations in and around Cañon City and the state of Colorado.
• Frequent extension of workday to meet deadlines.

Additional Notification:

This position may be subject to a pre-employment drug test prior to hire, or reasonable suspicion testing after hire. The City of Cañon City, as a recipient of federal grant funds, maintains a strict drug-free workplace policy. The use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs while on company property or performing job duties is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Although Marijuana and its derivatives, in some cases, are considered legal in the state of Colorado, they are still considered a Schedule I controlled substance under the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act (FDFWA), which makes their use, possession, or distribution illegal by City of Cañon City employees.