Write Your Resume Like a Winning Grant Proposal
A strong grant writer resume follows the same principles as a well-crafted grant application. It needs to be clear, persuasive, and backed by results. Just like compelling grant proposals convince funders to invest in an organization, your resume must show hiring managers why you are the best candidate for a grant writer position.
1. Research the Organization
Before you write a grant proposal, you research potential funding opportunities to align your request with a funder’s priorities. The same approach applies to your resume. Employers want candidates who understand their mission, funding needs, and grant writing challenges.
To tailor your resume effectively:
- Analyze the job description to identify key writing skills, required experience, and preferred tools such as grant management software.
- Research the organization's past grant funding successes to understand what types of grant applications they focus on. If they specialize in foundation grants, for example, your resume should highlight your experience in that area.
- Look into the types of funders they work with, including government agencies, corporate sponsors, and private foundations. If you have experience writing successful grant applications for similar funders, make sure to emphasize that.
- Understand their programs to showcase relevant experience. If you have secured funding for educational programs, community projects, or health initiatives, mention that to align with their focus areas.
2. Start Strong with a Resume Summary
Hiring managers do not have time to read between the lines. Your resume summary needs to make it clear within seconds that you have the right skills and experience for the role. This section should be a concise, high-impact introduction that highlights your expertise in grant writing, proposal development, and securing funding.
Example of a strong resume summary:This summary immediately tells employers what you bring to the table. If you hold a Grant Professionals Certification, are a Certified Grant Writer, or have experience as a Certified Fund Raising Executive, include that to establish credibility.
3. Highlight Experience That Proves You Can Secure Funding
Your experience section should not just list job responsibilities. It needs to prove that your grant writing efforts have had a measurable impact. Employers want to see specific examples of grant applications you have written and how they contributed to an organization’s success.
When listing your experience, focus on:
- Securing funding: Instead of saying "Wrote grant proposals", quantify your results. A stronger statement would be "Developed and submitted proposals that secured $750,000 in new funding for youth programs."
- Managing the grant application process: If you have experience coordinating grant submissions, tracking grant deadlines, or using grant management software, include that.
- Building relationships with funders: Many employers want grant writers who can interact with funding sources and strengthen donor relations. If you have secured multi-year funding or expanded an organization’s funder network, highlight those achievements.
- Collaborating with internal teams: Grant writing is not a solo effort. Many grant writers work closely with program managers, finance teams, and leadership to develop funding strategies. Show how you have contributed to securing and managing grants.
If you are applying for a senior grant writer role, emphasize leadership experience. If you are a junior grant writer, showcase volunteer work, internships, or freelance grant writing projects.
4. Showcase Key Skills
A strong grant writing resume should demonstrate a mix of persuasive writing skills, research abilities, and technical knowledge. Instead of simply listing these in a "Skills" section, integrate them throughout your experience. This makes it clear that you actively use these skills in real-world settings.
Essential skills for a grant writer resume:
- Research & Prospecting
- Donor & Funder Relations
- Budgeting
- Persuasive writing skills
- Proposal writing experience
- Strategic planning
- Grant reporting
- Project management
- Grant management software proficiency
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
If you are experienced in proposal development for government agencies, educational institutions, or large nonprofit organizations, highlight that expertise to increase your appeal.
5. Add Education, Certifications, and Professional Development
While a degree in English, Communications, or Nonprofit Management is helpful, employers also value certifications and ongoing professional development. Certifications demonstrate expertise in grant strategy, proposal writing, and comprehensive grant management systems.
Key certifications to include:
- Grant Professionals Certification(GPC)
- Certified Grant Writer (CGW)
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
If you have completed training in advanced grant proposal writing, grant research, or funding strategies, list that under professional development. Membership in organizations like the American Grant Writers Association also strengthens your credibility.
6. Proofread Like Your Career Depends on It
Attention to detail is essential in grant writing. A single typo in a grant proposal can cost an organization significant funding, and the same applies to your resume. Errors make you look careless, which is the last thing hiring managers want in a grant writer job.
Before submitting your resume:
- Run it through Grammarly or use the built-in spelling tools in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Have a trusted colleague review it, fresh eyes catch mistakes you might overlook.
- Ensure formatting is clean and consistent, especially if using a grant writer resume template.
Common Grant Writer Resume Mistakes
1. Listing Responsibilities Instead of Achievements
A weak resume says:A strong resume proves impact:2. Ignoring Keywords from the Job Description
Many resumes get filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS) before a human sees them.
3. Failing to Show Knowledge of Funders and Grant Strategy
A vague resume says:A stronger version:4. Using a Generic Resume for Every Application
Just like you tailor each grant proposal to a funder, your resume should reflect the employer’s needs.
5. Neglecting Certifications and Professional Development
If you hold a Grant Professionals Certification (GPC) or have taken courses in advanced grant proposal writing, showcase them.
6. Overlooking Formatting and Proofreading
Errors and poor formatting make you look careless, a deal-breaker for grant writing jobs.
Grant Writer Resume Example
Below is a grant writer resume example that puts everything together, showing how to structure each section while integrating key skills and measurable achievements.
Grant Writer Resume Sample
Rachel Donovan
rachel.donovan@email.com | (415) 555-0198 | San Francisco, CA | linkedin.com/in/racheldonovan
Resume Summary
Results-driven grant writer with $6.2M+ in secured funding for nonprofits and education programs. Skilled in proposal development, grant research, and strategic planning. Certified (GPC) with expertise in grant management software, funding sources, and collaboration with program managers and leadership to develop winning applications.Professional Experience
Senior Grant Writer
Bay Area Community Impact Fund | San Francisco, CA | 2019–Present
- Developed and submitted successful grant proposals that secured over $4.1 million in funding for housing assistance and workforce development programs.
- Conducted grant research to identify new funding opportunities, expanding the organization’s funder base by 35% within two years.
- Managed a portfolio of over 30 active grants, ensuring compliance with funder guidelines and overseeing grant reporting requirements.
- Led training sessions for junior grant writers, reducing proposal development time by 20% through process improvements and best practices.
Grant Writer & Development Associate
HopeBridge Youth Services | Oakland, CA | 2015–2019
- Wrote and submitted compelling grant proposals that secured over $2.1 million from foundation grants, government agencies, and corporate sponsors.
- Developed a comprehensive grant strategy, increasing the organization’s annual funding by 25%.
- Partnered with program managers to craft detailed proposals that aligned with funder priorities, leading to a 60% increase in awarded grant applications.
- Implemented a comprehensive grant management system, streamlining grant submissions and tracking grant deadlines efficiently.
Key Skills
- Proposal writing & persuasive writing skills
- Strategic planning for foundation grants & government funding opportunities
- Grant management software (Fluxx, Foundant, GrantHub)
- Grant reporting & compliance tracking
- Donor & funder relations
- Project management & collaboration with program managers
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Certifications & Professional Development
- Grant Professionals Certification (GPC), Grant Professionals Association
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Advanced Grant Proposal Writing, American Grant Writers Association
- Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Fundraising, Stanford Center on Philanthropy
Education
Master of Public Administration (MPA), Nonprofit Management
University of Southern California, 2013
Bachelor of Arts in English & Communications
University of Oregon, 2010
Affiliations
- Member, American Grant Writers Association
- Member, Grant Professionals Association
- Speaker, National Fundraising Conference (2023)
Conclusion
A grant writer resume is your own personal proposal, and just like any successful grant application, it needs to be clear, compelling, and results-driven. Focus on measurable impact, tailor it to the employer, and proofread like funding depends on it, because your next job just might. Now go land that role and start securing funding for causes that matter.
