Development Officer Vs. Grant Writer
Development is a vital part of any nonprofit organization. Grants and individual donations are what keep nonprofit programs up and running in the communities they serve. Persons knowledgeable about cultivating relationships with philanthropists, foundations, corporations and other funding entities are important members of nonprofit staff members. Grant writers and development officers help nonprofits achieve their funding goals.
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Similarities
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Development officers and grant writers are both responsible for identifying potential grants for which a nonprofit organization can apply. They both write grant proposals and perform follow-up with granting organizations after a proposal has been submitted. They both are skilled in written communication, in conveying the needs of the organization, its potential impact among the population it serves, community support for the nonprofit and in general persuasive writing.
Grant Writer
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The grant writer focuses on identifying and writing grant proposals for an organization. The grant writer also initiates and maintains communication with a grant agency to ensure that the nonprofit's mission and work align with those of the grant agency and to clear up any questions about eligibility or requirements of the grant with the grant agency's representative. The grant writer may also be a contract employee, only working with a nonprofit organization long enough to write one or two grants for them. However, he may also be an employee of the nonprofit organization.
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Development Officer
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The development officer is an employee of a nonprofit, and he has a broader set of responsibilities within the organization. In addition to identifying and writing grants, development officers publicly advocate for the organization in an effort to identify potential donors. They build positive relationships with donors and with grant agencies in the public arena to secure more funding for the nonprofit. They may build an entire development system, as is the stated requirement for a development officer position for a small nonprofit in Washington, D.C. in its job advertisement.
Other Development Officer Tasks
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Development officers may also design and build a filing system for the development department, construct and/or maintain a donor database and follow through with donors by acknowledging their gifts or submit grant reports to funders. They may also oversee development staff members and work closely with the executive director to identify and pursue possible avenues of funding.
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