Grant Writer for Arts Nonprofit – Hybrid / Success-Based Bonus - Contract to Hire

WHAT CALIFORNIA PERFORMING ARTS AV NEEDS IN A GRANT WRITER / FUNDING PARTNER 1. ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW (CONTEXT MATTERS) California Performing Arts AV (CPAAV) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rooted in the belief that art is a powerful tool for healing, reentry, transformation, and belonging. CPAAV serves:

• Underserved youth
• Adults reentering society after incarceration
• LGBTQ+ individuals
• Community members traditionally excluded from arts access

Programs span:

• Acting and performance training
• Film and theatre production
• Healing workshops (trauma-informed, creative-based)
• Community events and festivals
• Workforce-adjacent creative skill development

CPAAV is a working nonprofit — producing real projects, training real people, and building sustainable creative pathways. ⸻ 2. WHY WE NEED A GRANT WRITER (THE REALITY) CPAAV is in a growth phase, not a startup with no traction and not a fully funded institution. We need a grant writer who understands:

• Early-to-mid-stage nonprofit realities
• Limited cash flow
• High mission clarity
• Strong storytelling assets
• Programs that are already active but underfunded

This role is not for someone who:

• Only wants large retainers
• Only works with institutions that already have million-dollar budgets
• Is uncomfortable with growth-stage ambiguity

This role is for someone who:

• Believes in the mission
• Wants to grow with an organization
• Is open to hybrid compensation
• Sees grants as a long-term ecosystem, not one-off wins

⸻ 3. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES (DETAILED) Grant Research & Strategy

• Identify grants aligned with:
• Arts & culture
• Community development
• Reentry & justice-impacted populations
• Healing, trauma-informed care
• Education & workforce readiness
• Prioritize grants that are realistic for CPAAV’s current stage
• Build a rolling grant calendar (monthly, quarterly, annual)

Proposal Writing

• Write clear, compelling narratives that reflect:
• Lived experience
• Authentic community impact
• Program outcomes without exaggeration
• Adapt language to different funder tones (government vs private foundation)
• Ensure proposals align with CPAAV’s actual capacity

Supporting Materials

• Collaborate on:
• Program descriptions
• Logic models (simple, realistic)
• Budgets and budget narratives
• Organizational background sections
• Help identify gaps in documentation and recommend solutions

Submission & Tracking

• Track:
• Deadlines
• Submissions
• Award notifications
• Rejections and feedback
• Maintain a simple grant tracking system
• Assist with follow-ups when appropriate

⸻ 4. WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT To be very clear, this role is not:

• Commission-only
• High-pressure sales
• A promise of guaranteed funding
• A request to “work for free”

CPAAV respects grant writing as skilled labor. ⸻ 5. COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY (TRANSPARENT & ETHICAL) CPAAV is seeking a hybrid compensation relationship, which may include: Base Compensation One or more of the following:

• Fixed fee per grant
• Modest monthly retainer
• Hourly compensation for defined scopes

This base compensation is paid regardless of outcome. Success-Based Bonus In addition to base pay, CPAAV offers:

• A success-based bonus tied to awarded grants
• Bonus calculated as a percentage of funds awarded
• Bonus paid only after funds are received

This structure:

• Respects professional ethics
• Acknowledges cash-flow realities
• Rewards impact and partnership

Exact terms are discussed and documented in writing. ⸻ 6. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE Required Qualities

• Strong writer and communicator
• Organized and deadline-aware
• Comfortable collaborating with leadership
• Honest about what is and isn’t fundable
• Values integrity over hype

Preferred Experience

• Nonprofit grant writing
• Arts or culture funding
• Community-based organizations
• Justice-impacted or reentry work
• Trauma-informed programs

Mindset Fit This role requires someone who:

• Understands grassroots work
• Is flexible and solutions-oriented
• Sees grants as relationship-building
• Wants to grow alongside the organization

⸻ 7. WORKING RELATIONSHIP

• Remote-friendly
• Contract-based
• Long-term potential
• Clear communication expectations
• Written agreements for protection on both sides

⸻ 8. MEASURES OF SUCCESS Success is not defined solely by awards. We measure success by:

• Quality and alignment of submissions
• Improved grant readiness over time
• Clear strategy and prioritization
• Growth in funding opportunities
• Sustainable systems being built

⸻ 9. VALUES & CULTURE CPAAV values:

• Transparency
• Healing-centered work
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Respect for lived experience

We are not interested in:

• Overpromising
• Inflated metrics
• Exploitative funding practices

⸻ 10. WHO THIS IS PERFECT FOR This role is ideal for:

• An emerging grant writer building a portfolio
• A nonprofit consultant open to hybrid models
• A fundraiser who believes in arts-based healing
• Someone who wants meaning + sustainability, not just transactions

⸻ NEXT STEP If this description resonates, CPAAV is open to conversation, collaboration, and co-creating a funding strategy that supports both the organization and the grant writer fairly. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job