Our Culture
We believe in harnessing the power of diversity to create a culture of belonging where all
individuals are celebrated and valued for their unique ideas, perspectives, and strengths as a
means to achieving personal excellence and organizational success.
Our Values
Lead the Pack: Commit to excellence in all we do
Be the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are: Demonstrate integrity to build trust
Work Together, Wag Together: Achieve shared goals while having fun
Keep our Dogs in a Row: Steward all resources efficiently and effectively
Unleash the Power of Diversity: Foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizational culture
The Purpose of Your Role
As a key member of the development team, the Grant Writer is responsible for developing and
executing strategies to secure operating and program funds from corporations, foundations, and
government entities. This role involves overseeing all aspects of the grant lifecycle, including
research, identification, writing, and responding to funding opportunities. The position requires
leading cross-departmental coordination to ensure seamless integration from project
development through award, implementation, evaluation, and reporting. Additionally, manage
inter-departmental communications regarding priority projects and strategic funding
opportunities. Highly collaborative role, reporting directly to the Director of Philanthropy.
The Skills You Bring
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and eTapestry
• Excellent customer service
• Superior communication and people skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to multitask
• Outstanding time management skills
• Team player
• Desire to learn
• Adaptability
• Love of dogs
The Work You Will Do
The essential functions listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of
work that may be performed; the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude
them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to be completed
by the position:
Grants
● Identify and research potential private and public funding opportunities. Initiate and conduct
meetings with relevant staff to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
● Connect with program officers from foundations, corporations, and government entities to
secure invitations for proposal submissions.
● Craft and submit proposals and supporting documents promptly, collaborating with staff to
create accurate program and project budgets tailored for grant funders.
● Generate revenue for FSD programs and services by submitting well-researched, well-written, and well-documented fundraising proposals on schedule.
● Serve as the main point of contact between program staff and funding agencies or organizations.
● Maintain and adhere to a grant writing calendar, ensuring all deadlines and reporting requirements are met.
● Monitor and manage funding prospects, donors, and lapsed donors using Salesforce and
Instrumentl, and re-engage lapsed funders as needed.
● Collaborate with the finance team on grant invoicing and financial reporting for funders.
● Develop and maintain a system to track grant expenditures, deliverables, and timelines to
ensure all grant requirements are met.
Other
● Stay updated on trends and developments in grants management, grant writing, and
evaluation.
● Ensure the security and confidentiality of all FSD documents and files.
● Participate in continuing education related to grants, mental health, animal-assisted
therapy, veterans, client needs, and dog training.
● Adhere to FSD dog care and training standards
● Assist with dog care, kennel care and cleaning as needed
● Other duties that may be assigned
Supervisory Responsibility
This position supervises is responsible for training, assigning tasks to, and monitoring
volunteers assisting with grants programs.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
This job operates in a professional office environment. Employees will work in close proximity
with all types and breeds of dogs to help socialize dogs in training. The noise level in the office
environment is usually moderate. Occasionally, this job operates in dog kennels and
surrounding areas. The noise level in a dog kennel environment can often be loud. The
location is a non-smoking environment.
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to
finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, keyboards or controls; reach with hands and arms; and
talk or hear. The employee is expected to communicate frequently with others. The employee
is frequently required to stand and bend. The employee is occasionally required to walk;
escort visitors in or around the office; climb or balance; go up or down stairs; and stoop,
kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. This includes the ability to
retrieve and distribute files, written documents or office supplies and ability to retrieve and
replace objects.
The employee must have the ability to bend, stretch, and lift and replace files and books from
drawers and shelves; rapidly use printers, computer equipment, copy machines, and other
general office machines.
This job requires occasional handling dogs in training of up to 100 pounds on and off leash.
Work occasionally requires more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the
position; may require irregular hours to accommodate unforeseen demands outside of regular
hours.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a non-exempt position consisting of 20 hours of work per week. This position has the
flexibility to work remotely part time with some on-site hours required. This position will
require occasional evenings and/or weekends to assist with special events but will primarily be
during business hours.
Travel
Local travel, such as travel to donor and event meetings are expected. Occasional out of state
or in-state travel is required due to donor meetings and out-of-state events.
Required Education, Experience and Competencies
● Bachelor’s degree required
● Three (3) years of proven grant-writing experience, five (5) years preferred
● Proven track record of annual grant and foundation revenue of a minimum of $500,000
● Nonprofit work/volunteer experience
● Knowledge of foundations and funders throughout the State of Colorado
Preferred Education, Experience and Competencies
● Master’s degree in related field
● Certified Fund Raising Executive (CRFE) certification
● Grant writing and management experience
● Proficiency with eTapestry donor database
Required Skills and Competencies
Intellectual Skills
● Ability to collect and research data and analyze diverse information to make
recommendations to management.
● Develop and implement cost savings measures.
● Ability to create and manage operational budgets.
● Ability to display original thinking and creativity and meet challenges with resourcefulness.
● Ability to generate suggestions for improving work and develop innovative approaches and
ideas.
Leadership Skills:
● Exhibit confidence in self and others; inspire and motivate others to perform well;
effectively influence actions and opinions of others.
● Ability to make decisions with sound and accurate judgment; support and explain
reasoning for decisions and include appropriate people in the decision-making process;
make timely decisions.
● Ability to develop strategies to achieve organizational goals; understand organization’s
strengths and weaknesses and adapt strategy to changing conditions.
● Ability to manage change; develop workable implementation plans; communicate change
effectively; build commitment and overcome resistance to change; and support those
affected by change.
Language and Communication Skills:
● Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community members, direct reports,
management, peers, donors, stakeholders and volunteers.
● Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals utilizing
advanced English language skills, including spelling, sentence structure, syntax, grammar,
usage, and the chief aspects of style, such as punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations,
plurals and possessives, and compound words.
● Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a
diverse group of staff and provide information with ordinary courtesy, patience and tact.
● Ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations, listen and get
clarification, and respond well to questions.
● Ability to make presentations comfortably to small and large groups.
Reasoning Ability:
● Ability to solve practical problems and deal in a variety of situations using logic and
reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or
approaches to problems.
● Ability to interpret and to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions
furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
● Ability to maintain a high level of concentration and effort and strain when performing a
high volume of analyses and decision making as well as other essential duties.
Office Skills:
● Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook and typing proficiency.
● Proficiency in database management.
● Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance
instructions, and procedure manuals.
● Ability to work independently, prioritize work and solve problems.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
Must have a valid driver’s license and maintain current vehicle insurance.
Work Authorization
Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Other Duties
Please note 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. Essential
and marginal job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without
notice.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Freedom Service Dogs is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any
term, condition, or privilege of employment. We do not discriminate against applicants,
clients, graduates or employees on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age,
religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status,
physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by state or local law.