Grants Writer

Position Title:

Grants Writer

Campus:

East Peoria Campus

Employment Type:

Management, StaffFull time

Department:

Corporate and Community Ed

Start Date:

09/11/2026

Job Description:

Summary:

The Grants Writer Serves as principal writer for federal, state, and private grants to enhance the programs, services and mission of Illinois Central College. Pre-award, the Grants Writer monitors grant opportunities, coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to develop the project concept, write compelling proposals, and compile all application components for submission. Post-award, the Grants Writer contributes to grant management hand off, tracking, and reporting. 

Compensation for the Grant Writer will be $58,244.00 to $65,624.00 annually.

Essential Functions:

This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist with the development, preparation, and submission of federal, state, and private grant/contract applications. Manage timelines and the overall progression of submission to ensure the on-time completion/submission of high quality, competitive, responsive, and compliant proposal applications. Prepare and compile all components of each grant submission to ensure that the proposal is formatted, organized, and submitted in accordance with granting agency requirements. 

• Work directly with organizational leaders and other key stakeholders across the college to create grant proposals that align with the college mission, institutional priorities, and plans and aspirations for capacity building and improvement of student success outcomes. Develop a deep understanding of institutional programs and services to improve proposal integrity and quality.

• Provide information on funding opportunities to External Funding Manager, and pursue priority grant opportunities at the direction of the manager. Develop detailed knowledge of grant requirements outlined in Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), or Requests for Application (RFAs). Review grant requirements and address issues prior to proposal development and submission. Track and follow up on the status of pending applications.

• Conduct relevant research, work with the Office Institutional Research, and use existing institutional materials to inform proposal narratives. Integrate data storytelling and data visualization techniques to demonstrate an evidence-based line of logic.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to establish a project concept and project goals that align with the priorities of both ICC and the funder. Lead stakeholders in the collaborative development of a logic model and identify performance measures and target outcomes.

• Prepare grant budgets and budget justifications based on the project aims and funders’ technical content requirements.

• Continuously develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of federal rules and regulations and sponsor terms and conditions. Maintain detailed, up-to-date records of grant submissions and supporting documentation. Utilize standardized resources and tools such as budget templates, standardized checklists tailored to the sponsor/mechanism, standardized filing system using shared drives, updated information on resources and facilities. Prepare summary reports of application submissions and outcomes.

• Facilitate opportunities for funded collaboration among institutional partners and community organizations. Understand the goals and funding priorities of the sponsor, evaluate program content and requirements of the funding opportunity, develop a proposal strategy and course of action. Determine proposal concepts by identifying and refining opportunities and needs. Coordinate overall strategy with partners and stakeholders.

• Post-award, compile data and prepare grant project reports at the direction of the External Funding Manager. Additionally, assist with broad reporting duties as directed by the External Funding Manager and Cabinet Leadership.

• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Bachelor's Degree.

• One year of professional experience in a writing-intensive role.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Strong background in research and creative project proposal development.

• Demonstrated talent for persuasive writing with knowledge of effective grant writing techniques, including visual presentation of data and the use of data to tell a story.

• Must be team-oriented with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse groups of individuals to investigate, obtain and/or provide information, clarify situations, identify and resolve problems, and ensure cooperation among individuals.

• Ability to network and build rapport and trust with faculty and administrators from diverse academic fields/student service units as well as physical locations.

• Demonstrated resourcefulness, ability to work independently, attention to detail, time management, and timely completion of high-quality deliverables.

• Ability to interpret Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree

• 3-5 years of professional grant writing experience, with a proven record of funded proposals from private, state and/or federal sponsors.

• Experience working in higher education or in an organization that funds grants for higher education institutions.

• Professional research proposal preparation experience; experience with reviewing, understanding, and interpreting federal and non-federal sponsor regulations including proposal budget development, complex proposal submissions, interpretation of solicitation language and compliance requirements of the federal government, college, foundations and non-profits, and other external funding agencies.

• Budget development experience.

Illinois Central College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, order of protection status, use of VESSA rights, genetic information, military or veteran status (including discharge status), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Illinois Central College offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees, including:

• paid time off;

• 11 paid holidays;  2 floating holidays

• medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance;

• tuition waivers for employee, spouse and dependent children;

• on-site childcare center;

• 403(b) retirement plans; and

• State University Retirement System pension plan.

To learn more about full-time health care benefits at ICC.