Grants Writer

Join Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) and become part of an energetic resource development team who works with advocates that provide a wide-range of legal services aimed to address issues that disproportionately impact the poor. Services include litigation, providing training and technical assistance, and community education.  

 

Under the direction of the Vice President, Development & Marketing, the Grants Writer works to leverage public and private funding opportunities to support free civil legal services for vulnerable individuals and families residing in LA County through prospecting and proposal writing. 

 

             

Position: 

 

Grants Writer (Government Focus) 

       

 

Availability: 

   

 

Availability is Immediate.   

 

       

Salary: 

 

   

Salary starts at $70,000-80,000- commensurate with experience. Excellent Benefits which include: choice of medical, dental, vision; life and disability insurance plans; flexible spending account (FSA)125 plan; 403(b) employer contribution upon passage of probation, bilingual pay supplement, sick and vacation pay, and 14 employer-paid holidays.  

 

       

Duties and Responsibilities: 

   

In collaboration with and under the direction of the President & CEO: 

 

• Research and assess funding opportunities to support provision of civil legal services in all areas that most impact low income people including affordable housing and eviction defense, access to public benefits, support for domestic violence victims, access to healthcare, worker and consumer rights, and employment and training. 

• Partner with advocates to learn about programs and emerging needs and be able to translate into a strong written narrative. 

• Write and submit letters of inquiry, concept papers and grant proposals to federal, state, and city/county government agencies, seeking to support NLSLA’s legal advocacy priorities.  This position will interface with NLSLA’s Development team but will focus on grants specific to local, state, and federal governments. Work with private foundations will be limited to program specific work as the Development team is laser focused on raising general operating support.  

• Familiarity with database systems to track grant applications and progress. 

• Work with NLSLA Development and Fiscal Staff to develop materials and budgets for proposals.   

• Assist in capital campaign to raise funds for NLSLA's new Pacoima Office. 

       

 

 

Qualifications: 

   

 

• Undergraduate degree in journalism, English, related field, or comparable work experience.  

• Certification or continuing education in grant writing, proposal development and/or fundraising preferred. 

• At least three years of professional experience in grant writing/fundraising with an emphasis on government grants 

• Excellent writing, research, organizational and oral skills. 

• Demonstrated record of developing successful grant proposals with an emphasis on government agencies. 

• Self-directed.  

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a team. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, Outlook. 

• Knowledge of and familiarity of grant research using and other fundraising sourcing resources. 

• Fluency in written and spoken English. 

• Strong attention to detail 

• COVID-19 vaccination is required, which is a condition of employment.  Reasonable accommodations will be considered.  

 

       

About NLSLA: 

   

Founded in 1965 as part of our nation’s War on Poverty, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) is now one of the largest and most prominent public interest law firms in California. NLSLA provides free assistance to more than 115,000 low-income residents of Los Angeles County each year. The NLSLA staff of 180, including 80 attorneys, specialize in areas of the law that disproportionately impact low-income people, including affordable housing and eviction defense, access to public benefits, support for domestic violence victims, access to healthcare, worker and consumer rights, services for justice-involved adults and youth, education rights, clean slate initiatives, and employment and training. 

Through a combination of individual representation, high impact litigation, and public policy advocacy, NLSLA’s advocacy combats the immediate and long-parting effects of poverty and expands access to health, opportunity, and justice.  NLSLA serves all of Los Angeles County with a special emphasis on the poverty communities of the San Fernando, San Gabriel, Pomona, and Antelope Valleys, as well as the central county cities of Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena. In addition, NLSLA advocates are co-located in courthouses in Van Nuys, Lancaster, Chatsworth, Pomona, Pasadena, and Downtown LA; Hospitals and health centers in Sylmar, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and El Monte; and with social services providers in the Antelope Valley.