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Grant writer resume example

A resume for a grant writer with seven years of experience who now manages a grants program. Development directors hire grant writers on track record, so this resume leads with dollars awarded and win rate and lists the biggest awards by funder type and size.

Grant writer resume example, page 1 of 1Esther KalinowskiGrant Writer and Grants Manager, GPCesther.kalinowski@example.com · (215) 555-0139 · Philadelphia, PA · linkedin.com/in/estherkalinowskiSUMMARYGrant writer with seven years raising money for health and human services nonprofits, from familyfoundations to federal agencies. I have written or led 140+ proposals with a 46% win rate and $11.6million awarded, including two federal awards over $1 million. Grant Professional Certified (GPC).EXPERIENCEGrants ManagerMar 2022 – PresentSchuylkill Community Health · Philadelphia, PA–Write and manage 30 to 35 proposals a year to foundations, corporations and city, state and federalfunders for a $24 million community health nonprofit.–Secured $7.2 million since 2022, including a 4-year, $2.1 million SAMHSA grant for adolescentbehavioral health and a $1.3 million state contract.–Built a grants calendar and pipeline in Salesforce that tracks 90 deadlines a year; on-time reports wentfrom about 70% to 100%.–Prepare budgets and budget justifications with finance and keep awards compliant with 2 CFR 200;no grant findings in 2 single audits.–Coach program managers on logic models and evaluation plans, so proposals are built on data theyalready collect.Development AssociateAug 2019 – Feb 2022Germantown Youth Services · Philadelphia, PA–Wrote 50+ foundation proposals and reports with a 52% success rate, raising $1.4 million.–Researched 200 prospects in Candid’s Foundation Directory and opened relationships with 12 newfunders.–Drafted the annual report and donor appeals that brought in $180,000 a year from individuals.SELECTED AWARDS–$2.1 million over 4 years, SAMHSA, adolescent behavioral health services (2024).–$1.3 million over 2 years, Pennsylvania state contract, community health worker program (2023).–$650,000 over 3 years, regional health foundation, school-based clinic expansion (2023).–$250,000, corporate foundation, mobile dental van (2022).EDUCATIONB.A. in English2015 – 2019Temple University · Philadelphia, PACERTIFICATIONSGrant Professional Certified (GPC)2024Grant Professionals Certification InstituteSKILLSProposal writing · Federal grants (Grants.gov, SAM.gov) · Foundation research (Candid, Instrumentl) ·Budgets and justifications · Logic models · Evaluation plans · Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) ·Grant reporting · Salesforce · Raiser’s Edge · Editing · Deadline management
Grant writerUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • Track record: dollars awarded, number of proposals and win rate. Be honest about how you count them.
  • Funder types: foundations, corporations, government (city, state, federal). Federal experience is valued and harder to find.
  • Size of awards: the largest grants you wrote or led, and multi-year awards.
  • Compliance and reporting: budgets, reports, audits and federal rules. Funders renew organizations that report well.
  • Writing and research: clear narratives, prospect research and the ability to turn program data into a case for support.

Writing the summary

State your years, funder types and the causes you write for, then your totals: proposals, win rate and dollars awarded. Mention federal experience and GPC if you have them.

The summary in this example

Grant writer with seven years raising money for health and human services nonprofits, from family foundations to federal agencies. I have written or led 140+ proposals with a 46% win rate and $11.6 million awarded, including two federal awards over $1 million. Grant Professional Certified (GPC).

Freelance or consulting grant writer

Freelance grant writer with five years serving 25 small and mid-sized nonprofits in arts, education and environment. I research prospects, write proposals and reports, and train staff to keep relationships going, with $3.8 million raised for clients.

Writer or teacher moving into grant writing

Former high school English teacher who has written 15 grant proposals for my school and a local literacy nonprofit, winning 9 for a total of $210,000. Completed a grant writing certificate in 2025 and looking for a first full-time grant writer role.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Wrote a 5-year, $3.4 million federal proposal in 6 weeks, coordinating 4 partner agencies and an outside evaluator.
  • Raised the foundation win rate from 31% to 55% in 2 years by dropping poor-fit prospects and building relationships before applying.
  • Renewed 18 of 20 multi-year grants by submitting strong reports and inviting funders to site visits.
  • Built a library of 40 reusable proposal sections that cut first-draft time by about half.
  • Researched and qualified 75 new prospects a year, adding 9 new funders in 2025.
  • Managed post-award reporting for 45 active grants worth $8 million.
  • Led a capital campaign proposal to a state agency that funded $1.5 million of a new clinic.
  • Trained 12 program staff to collect outcome data for grant reports, closing gaps flagged by 3 funders.
  • Wrote and edited 25 letters of inquiry a year, with 60% invited to full proposals.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Grant and proposal writing
  • Prospect research (Candid, Instrumentl, GrantStation)
  • Federal applications (Grants.gov, SAM.gov, agency portals)
  • Program budgets and budget narratives
  • Logic models and evaluation plans
  • Post-award reporting and compliance
  • Donor databases (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Bloomerang)
  • Editing and plain-language writing

Soft skills

  • Meeting hard deadlines
  • Interviewing program staff
  • Persuasion grounded in evidence
  • Relationship-building with funders

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Grant Professional Certified (GPC): the main credential for grant professionals; it requires experience and an exam.
  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE): for those moving toward broader development or leadership roles.
  • Grant writing certificates from universities or associations help most when you are new to the field.

Length and format

One page for most grant writers; two if you add a full list of major awards. A short “Selected awards” section with amount, years, funder type and purpose shows your range quickly. A minimal, text-first template suits a writing role.

Common mistakes

  • Claiming totals you cannot explain. Say whether you wrote, co-wrote or led each proposal.
  • Naming funders or amounts that are confidential. Describe the funder type instead.
  • Leaving out reporting and compliance, which funders care about as much as the proposal.
  • A resume with typos. For a writing job, one mistake can end the review.
  • Listing causes you care about instead of the grants you won for them.

Questions and answers

How do I calculate my grant win rate?

Divide proposals funded by proposals decided (leave out ones still pending), for a clear period. Count only proposals you wrote or led, and be ready to explain your method in an interview.

Should I attach writing samples?

Have two or three ready (a narrative section, a letter of inquiry, a report) with confidential details removed. Many employers ask for them, and some set a writing test.

Can I list grants written as a volunteer or for a school?

Yes. Grants won for a school, a church or a volunteer group are real evidence, especially early on. Give the amounts and the funder types.

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