Now Hiring

Grant Writer

Full-time • Sonoma County (West County preferred) • $62,000–$85,000

About This Role

The Grant Writer is a dual-function role. Roughly half your time is dedicated to SSI’s own affordable housing programs — identifying capital, writing proposals, and managing the full grant lifecycle. The other half supports SSI’s free community grant matchmaking service: helping Sonoma County nonprofits access funding from national foundations, federal agencies, and state programs they aren’t currently reaching.

You will be an external-facing representative of SSI — building relationships with program officers, county housing staff, city officials, and nonprofit leaders across West County. This is not a desk job.

SSI Housing Grants (~50%)

  • Identify and pursue funding for SSI’s affordable housing programs: acquisition, rehabilitation, deed-restricted development, and supportive services
  • Lead SSI’s Homekey+ application process with Sonoma County or City of Santa Rosa as lead applicant
  • Maintain a rolling 12-month grant calendar: deadlines, eligibility, reporting, and award status
  • Develop budget narratives in coordination with the Office Manager & Financial Controller
  • Manage all active SSI grant awards: expenditure tracking, interim and final reports, compliance documentation

Community Matchmaking (~50%)

  • Serve as SSI’s primary contact for Sonoma County nonprofits seeking grant writing assistance — a free community service focused on bringing new money into the county
  • Conduct intake with nonprofit partners: assess capacity, program readiness, and funding fit
  • Write and submit proposals and LOIs on behalf of partner nonprofits across human services, housing, youth, workforce, health, and more
  • Collaborate with Sonoma County and City of Santa Rosa staff to unlock joint applications and state/federal funding streams
  • Develop and maintain a shared funder intelligence database accessible to partner nonprofits

Qualifications

Required

  • Sonoma County resident; West County base preferred
  • 2+ years of grant writing with demonstrated award success
  • Excellent writer: clear, precise, persuasive prose under deadline
  • Comfortable representing SSI with city officials, county staff, and foundation program officers
  • Active, practiced user of AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or similar)
  • Mission alignment: genuine commitment to West County communities

Standout Qualifications

  • Direct Homekey or Homekey+ application experience — given serious preference
  • Experience with CA affordable housing programs: HCD, CDBG, HOME, CalHFA, AHP
  • Demonstrable AI-augmented grant writing workflow — describe it in your cover letter
  • Familiarity with Sonoma County nonprofit and funding landscape
  • Experience coordinating multi-party grant applications

Compensation

$62,000 – $85,000

Commensurate with experience. Homekey experience and demonstrated AI workflow command the upper end of range.

Position Details

  • Full-time, exempt • Reports to Luke Monroe, Executive Director
  • Core hours: 9am–3pm PT, Mon–Fri
  • Some remote work available after onboarding
  • $2,500/year professional development budget
  • EIN: 33-4807637 • 501(c)(3) nonprofit

How to Apply

Send a resume, two writing samples (at least one grant proposal or LOI), and a cover letter that addresses: your connection to Sonoma County, which part of this role excites you most, and how you use AI in your grant writing work today. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled.

Apply Now →