Grant Researcher / Grantseeker

OPEN PART-TIME CONTRACT ROLE

Grant Researcher & Writer / Grantseeker

Maryland Access to Justice Commission (A2JC)Powered by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA)

The A2JC is seeking a Grant Writer to research, draft, and submit applications for grants and related funding that can further support the initiatives of the organization and its stakeholders. The work will follow the schedule set forth below and a successful applicant will meet the requirements below.

All grant writers wishing to submit an application will be required to supply their own equipment (e.g. laptop, internet connection, research access) and to adhere to the principals and mission of the organization: the furtherance of access to civil justice.

The submission process for the contract will follow the schedule set forth below.

• Schedule

• Contract Position Posting/Submission Window for Applications: Thursday, May 2, 2024 – Friday, May 24, 2024 (3:00 PM)
• Review Period of Applications & Interviews: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Wednesday, June 19, 2024
• Notification of Approval: Friday, June 21, 2024
• Start of Contract: Monday, July 1, 2024
• Contract and Service Concludes: Term of contract is six months, service concludes on Tuesday, December 31, 2024

• Scope of Services Sought

• Review written materials provided by A2JC and hold exploratory meetings with A2JC staff and key Commissioners to understand A2JC vision, mission and strategic goals.

• Provide thought-partnership and advice to A2JC Executive Director on how A2JC vision, mission and strategic goals can be converted into specific, fundable projects based on Grant Researcher/ Seeker’s expertise in acquiring grant funding.

• Research grant and funding prospects; store information in iMis in an easily accessible and understandable way; and advise on which prospects A2JC should pursue. Note: Grant Researcher/ Seeker must secure permission from A2JC prior to the pursuit of any funds and any grant application and/or funding opportunity must be approved by A2JC.
• Assist in developing new or bolstering existing relationships with foundations and other funders.

• Build upon existing and advise on a 12-month A2JC Funding Action Plan.

• Advise and help A2JC develop a 3-5 year overarching funding strategy that helps achieve A2JC growth in that timeframe.

• Secure and help prepare for meetings with foundations and high-value individuals to build strong funder relationships.

• Write compelling narratives to explain the work of the A2JC to help us tell our story in a bold, fresh and captivating way.

• Develop a calendar of grant proposal deadlines for a 12 month calendar cycle; establish processes for development and grant management; and establish project management plans to meet grant deadlines.

• Work with A2JC staff to interpret guidelines and gather material and information necessary to submit proposals.

• Write and submit at least 5 grant proposals totaling at least $200,000 in funding asks in a timely way, meeting grant deadlines. Funds can be pursued from foundations, corporations, or local, state, federal government entities and/or private individual donors.

• Store all research materials, notes, grant applications and other work-product and Deliverables in iMis and/or MSBA Google Shared Drive and/or ASANA.

• Conduct any grant monitoring and/or reporting should it occur during the Contract term.

• Provide weekly or every other week oral reports on status of grant research and applications.

• Submit detailed invoices on a monthly basis at the end of each month specifying the number of hours worked and broken up into categories of work (ex. Research, Writing, Relationship Building, Strategizing, etc.).

• Requirements

• All research to be done in a hybrid model, with a majority done remotely, with access to office facilities at the following location: The Hub, 3700 O'Donnell St., Baltimore, Maryland.

• All grant submissions to be tracked and managed via ASANA and/or iMis.

• Minimum number of applications and grant values to be submitted during the contract period: 5 applications valuing at least a total of $200,000 in possible awards.

• Sought funds should aim to expand support for the foundations and infrastructure of the civil justice and advocacy space.

• Civil justice is a broad issue and as such, funding opportunities exist in many spaces. Issues potentially targeted for funding include but are not limited to the following defined goals.

GOALS INCLUDE:

• Advocate to increase civil legal aid funding and right to counsel in civil cases in Maryland.
• Build A2J projects with corporations and corporate counsel in MD; the executive branch and executive agencies in MD.
• Build A2J Civil Justice Data Center; A2J Research & Innovation Hub; Communications Hub.
• Build a Modest Means Information & Resources Hub.

• If grants are received, follow-up work may include reporting writing on the grant/s received and additional outputs required by said funding source. This work would fall under a new contract, with terms potentially similar to this contract. Securing this contract is not a guarantee of work for that contract, if posted.

• Minimum Eligibility for Applicants

All applicants must be experienced grant writers with a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in developing and successfully securing grant funding through traditional and nontraditional application models. The successful applicant will have strong writing skills, a strong track record of being awarded funding, strong interpersonal skills, and a self-starting, driven focus on goal achievement.

Preference will be given to applicants based in Maryland and with existing connections with foundations in the region.

The A2JC and the MSBA reserve the right to issue a similar posting for any future grant writing services.

• Compensation/Fee:

Fee is intended to cover at least 5 applications valuing a total of $200,000 in awards. Compensation will be at a rate of $90 per hour, not to exceed a contract total of $18,750 (work approximated at $3,750 per application). If additional hours are anticipated, they should be flagged in the application process and discussed during the interview.

• Support of A2JC and Stakeholders:

The A2JC will provide background information, defined areas for applicable submissions, defined sponsorships, forms and technical information necessary for applications, and access to necessary systems (including Asana and iMis) for grant management and application tracking for use by the successful applicant. The A2JC will obtain additional research, source documents, and other required materials for submissions. The successful applicant will do the research on foundations on behalf of A2JC and engage with A2JC to determine how best to translate A2JC goals into viable applications.

• To Apply:

Submissions will be considered by the executive director of the A2JC and the executive director of the MSBA as well as MSBA staff leadership. Applications will be held in confidence by this committee as will committee considerations. that will detail the applicant’s relevant experience in providing the service described above, and the applicants’ satisfaction of the minimum requirements listed above.

Please also provide a written statement detailing the applicant’s successful procurement of previous grants, the amounts secured, the recipient organizations, and the grant sources.

Applications may be emailed to . The subject line must include the following, in this format:

[A2JC GRANT WRITER APPLICATION] Your Name

Applications must be received by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $90.00 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Baltimore, MD 21224