Mass Poetry, an arts nonprofit headquartered in Boston’s Seaport, seeks an experienced grantwriter with a passion for poetry to serve as its grant writer. This hourly contract position will begin in early 2026.
About Mass Poetry:
Mass Poetry envisions a world where poetry catalyzes understanding and connection. We harness the power of words to engage diverse communities across our commonwealth. We envision a vibrant, inclusive community that lifts all voices.
Having recently celebrated our 15th anniversary, Mass Poetry serves as an arts-partner-in-residence at GrubStreet’s Center for Creative Writing in Boston’s Seaport District, which opened in 2021. This pioneering initiative features a bookstore, literary stage, workshop space, podcasting studio, cafe, and is now set to become a literary hub for all voices. Our signature programs include the biennial Massachusetts Poetry Festival and SW@MP, our teen spoken word program, and annual Write Here
| Write Now | Speak Loud! Teen spoken word festival. Mass Poetry is also a founding member of the Poetry Coalition-–a national network of more than three dozen poetry organizations, spearheaded by the American Academy of Poets.
About the Grant Writer Position:
Mass Poetry’s contract grant writer will write grants to garner support for Mass Poetry’s programs and operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of securing arts funding for nonprofit organizations. This work can be done remotely.
The Grant Writer’s primary responsibilities will include:
- Oversee process for grant writing and reporting for the nonprofit
- Manage the writing of proposals, supporting documents, and other correspondence
- Assisting to reach or exceed Mass Poetry’s annual grant funding target
- Track grant requests made and budgets of pending requests
- Generate monthly grants report for the executive director
- Prospect for new grant funders using tools like Foundation Center, Philanthropy Massachusetts, and others
- Seek out additional funding opportunities and make recommendations to executive director and development director
- Support Mass Poetry’s efforts in seeking and cultivating new foundation prospects
- Share completed requests with development support staff to be logged in Mass Poetry’s database
- Plan and implement all phases of grant applications
- Generate project budgets, if applicable
- Provide other services as reasonably requested by the executive director
- Provide other services as reasonably requested by the DD.
Qualified candidates should be able to demonstrate experience with:
- Minimum 5 years experience including grant writing, prospecting, reporting, and budgeting
- Excellent writing and communication skills and the ability to tell a story that moves readers to action
- Strong editing and proofreading skills
- Familiarity with the arts and education philanthropic landscape in Greater Boston and Massachusetts
- Familiarity with contemporary poetry and the role it plays in today’s society
- Minimum 2 years general project management experience
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
- Experience creating project budgets and adapting organizational budgets to different formats, as needed
- Ability to work effectively with computers using Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and other software appropriate to position
- Ability to communicate information and organizational needs effectively with Mass Poetry staff and board
- Enthusiastic belief in Mass Poetry’s mission and programs.
SALARY & BENEFITS: This is an hourly contract role. Please share your preferred hourly rate when applying. Please also share an estimate of how many hours a week you would have available as well as an outline of how you prefer to structure work with nonprofit clients.
TO APPLY: The deadline for applications is rolling. Please submit a cover letter, resume, professional writing sample, and 2-3 references via the portal at www.masspoetry.org/get-involved. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible.
Mass Poetry aims to build a diverse, inclusive workplace that lifts all voices. As such, we strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Mass Poetry is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws