CIMA Consulting: Senior Consultant

(Grant Writer, Foundation Relations, Institutional Giving)

CIMA Consulting is a small firm in Charlottesville, VA, providing clients with strategic insight and support through institutional fundraising (grant writing) and a range of other deliverables. Our team works on behalf of nonprofit organizations across the country, furthering their organizational capacity via fundraising, business development, and organizational design. Candidates with varying levels of experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered equally. 

About the Consultant Role

We are currently hiring a part-time senior consultant to contribute immediately as a grant writer for a national environmental advocacy organization’s climate law program in close collaboration with other CIMA consultants. This position has potential to become full-time for successful candidates. We are also open to 1099 independent contractors.

Primary responsibilities: 

Managing a portfolio of institutional grants for the client’s climate law program. This includes: 

• Providing top-tier client and project management, becoming a trusted strategic partner for our clients’ senior staff.
• Writing compelling narratives for letters of inquiry, proposals, and other collateral; working with clients to understand their organization and desired voice.
• Identifying funding opportunities through online research, phone calls, and email follow-up.
• Ensuring CIMA meets goals and client expectations through careful internal tracking of progress, application deadlines, and reporting requirements.
• Collaborating closely with other members of the client team.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Familiarity with and/or knowledge of nonprofit environmental advocacy strategies, broadly, including litigation, legislation, rulemaking, and grassroots power-building.
• Proven success in a client-facing project or account management role, and/or a track record of relationship building and accountability.
• At least two years’ of experience in grant writing and/or other development functions, a bachelor's degree, or other equivalent experience in persuasive writing.
• Proven ability to organize and synthesize large amounts of information into compelling written collateral on deadline.
• Experience using standard office software/platforms (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, CRMs, etc).

Qualities we consider essential for CIMA team members:

• Extremely organized and self-motivated, able to prioritize multiple deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills (communication and relationship building)
• Willing to collaborate, take direction and ask thoughtful questions, then work independently to complete tasks
• Keen writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, intellectual environment, with the feel of a start-up; willingness to listen, collaborate, and seize opportunities for growth
• Flexibility, dedication, and the ability to laugh at one’s self (and others, but only in a nice way)
• An understanding and appreciation of DEI principles

Our team is primarily based in Charlottesville and surrounding areas, but we have a hybrid, flexible-work schedule. While our preference is for team members to be based in Charlottesville, qualified candidates wishing to work remotely will be considered. 

Position Details: 

Working Title: Senior Development Consultant 

Salary Range: $36.06 - $40.87 / hour

Benefits: 401k, Profit Share, Flexible PTO

Exemption Status: Exempt

Hybrid Work Available: Yes. Preference for candidates in or around central VA. 

Part-time 

Apply on Idealist: https://idealist.org/en/consultant-job/501bcb8ae4ec4db4be0b5c7115aa6875-sr-grant-writer-for-national-environmental-advocacy-organization-cima-consulting-charlottesville 

Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. 

If we sound like the right place for you, we want to hear from you. There is no ‘perfect’ candidate. Everyone brings something different to the team and those differences make us better.

Our goal is to be a company that is representative of the people that we and our nonprofit clients serve. We encourage all interested applicants to apply, including but not limited to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and individuals with disabilities. CIMA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or military status.  

To Apply:

A resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and experience are required for consideration. In your letter, address the aspects of the job description and ideal characteristics that stand out to you. Please send  to apply@cima.consulting . Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. We look forward to hearing from you!