Description

ABOUT THE BRIDGE FAMILY CENTER
Founded in 1969, The Bridge Family Center is one of Connecticut’s most respected nonprofit organizations serving children, teens, young adults, and families across the Greater Hartford region. With an annual budget of over $10 million and a dedicated team of approximately 175 staff members, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care from crisis intervention and counseling to school-based programs and positive youth development serving more than 10,000 children and families each year.

Our mission is to foster the courage and strength in children and families to meet life’s challenges and build fulfilling lives. Our nationally recognized Family Resource Center, three outpatient mental health clinics, youth shelters, Mosaic Parenting Centers, and West Hartford Teen Center represent more than five decades of impact in the communities we serve.

THE OPPORTUNITY
We’re looking for a talented and driven Grant Writer to join our Development team and play a central role in fueling the programs that change lives every day. This is not a behind-the-scenes administrative role, you will be a strategic partner in our mission, translating the powerful stories and outcomes of our work into compelling proposals that secure critical funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporate partners.

If you’re a persuasive writer who thrives under deadline pressure, loves researching new opportunities, and wants your words to directly impact thousands of children and families, this is your role.

WHAT YOU’LL DO
Grant Development & Writing

•        Research and identify new funding opportunities from federal, state, and local government agencies, private foundations, and corporate funders aligned with our core service areas: mental health, early childhood education, school-based services, and positive youth development.
•        Write compelling, well-researched grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and concept papers that articulate program goals, measurable outcomes, and organizational impact.
•        Craft persuasive budget narratives and collaborate with our finance team to build accurate, defensible project budgets.
•        Maintain an active prospecting pipeline of foundation and government funding opportunities at various stages of cultivation.
• Grant Management & Reporting
•        Manage the full grant lifecycle from submission through close-out, ensuring compliance with all funder guidelines and reporting deadlines.
•        Prepare timely, accurate interim and final reports that demonstrate program impact through data and compelling narratives.
•        Maintain organized records of all grant activity, deadlines, and deliverables using grant management software and internal tracking systems.
• Relationship Building & Strategy
•        Cultivate relationships with foundation officers, government contacts, and corporate partners to strengthen our funding prospects.
•        Collaborate with program directors and clinical staff to stay current on service delivery, outcomes, and emerging programmatic needs.
•        Contribute to our overall fundraising strategy by identifying trends in the funding landscape and recommending new revenue opportunities.
• WHY JOIN THE BRIDGE?
         Mission-driven impact — Your work directly supports programs that serve over 10,000 children and families annually.
•        Collaborative, supportive culture — Join a team of 175+ passionate professionals who believe that every child and family has strengths worth building on.
•        55+ years of community trust — Write for an organization with deep roots, a strong reputation, and nationally recognized programs.
•        Professional growth — Work alongside experienced development and program leaders in a role that touches every aspect of the organization.
•        Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, generous paid time off, and professional development support.

Requirements

WHAT YOU BRING
Required:

•        Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
•        At least five years of professional grant writing experience with a proven track record of securing funding from diverse sources.
•        Exceptional writing, editing, and analytical skills — you can synthesize complex information into clear, compelling narratives.
•        Proficiency in grant research databases and grant management tools.
•        Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines with meticulous attention to detail.
•        Experience writing for human services, behavioral health, education, or child welfare sectors.

Preferred:

•        Master’s degree in a related field.
•        Experience with government RFP/RFQ processes and familiarity with Connecticut’s philanthropic landscape.
•        Knowledge of logic models, theories of change, and evidence-based program design.