Grant Writer for Daycare and Academy

Senior Grant Writer — Daycare, Academy & Biodiversity Initiative Paragon Institute of Innovation | Western Kentucky Job Type: Contract | Remote (with occasional project-based coordination) Engagement: Project-based, with potential for ongoing retainer Compensation: Negotiable — flat project fee, hourly, or success-based hybrid Organization Type: Private Non-Profit Urgency: Immediate — Active Project in Development About: Paragon Institute of Innovation is a private non-profit organization committed to building transformative community infrastructure in underserved areas of Western Kentucky. Our current flagship initiative combines early childhood education, private academic programming, and ecological stewardship into a single, integrated development — a model we believe can serve as a national template for rural community regeneration. We are seeking a seasoned grant writer who can help us unlock the public funding this project deserves. The Project This is not a routine grant assignment. We are in the process of acquiring, renovating, and constructing a multi-use campus that will house: 1. A Licensed Daycare Facility Full-service early childhood care and education, designed to serve working families in an area with critical childcare shortages. Aligned with federal and state childcare subsidy programs. 2. A Private Non-Profit Academy A K–12 or targeted-grade private academic institution serving students in a region with documented educational gaps and limited access to quality schooling alternatives. 3. A Honey Bee Biodiversity Regenerator An apiary and pollinator habitat restoration project tied to STEM education, environmental science programming, and regional agricultural resilience. This component adds a compelling environmental and rural economic angle to the overall funding narrative. The project site is located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA Zone) in Western Kentucky — a federally and state-recognized designation that significantly strengthens eligibility for a wide range of economic development, education, and rural revitalization grant programs. What We Need We are seeking an experienced grant writer to identify, pursue, and secure $2M–$5M in government grants, subsidies, and program funding across federal, state, and local sources. The scope includes: Federal grant programs: USDA Rural Development, HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Department of Education competitive grants, EPA environmental education grants, HRSA childcare and health-adjacent programs, USDA NRCS conservation grants (for the apiary component), and others State of Kentucky programs: KY Department of Education, KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services, KY Rural Economic Development, Office of Early Childhood, Kentucky Innovation Network, and related agencies TEA Zone & Opportunity Zone funding: Leveraging the site's designation to access economic development incentives, EB-5 adjacent programs, and rural infrastructure grants Foundation and private grants that complement public funding (secondary focus) Full grant cycle management: Opportunity identification → eligibility assessment → proposal writing → submission → reporting requirements planning Qualifications — What We're Looking For This role requires demonstrated, verifiable expertise. We are not looking for someone learning on the job with a $3M+ funding target. The ideal candidate: Must Have: Minimum 5 years of professional grant writing experience, with a proven track record of funded awards Experience specifically with federal grant programs (USDA, HUD, DOE, EPA, or equivalent agencies) Demonstrated success with education, early childhood, rural development, or environmental grants Knowledge of TEA Zone, Opportunity Zone, or rural/underserved community funding designations and how to leverage them in proposals Strong ability to craft compelling, data-backed narratives that connect community need to program outcomes Experience working with non-profit organizations, including understanding of 501(c)(3) compliance requirements in grant applications Exceptional writing, editing, and document management skills Ability to manage multiple simultaneous applications and deadlines Strongly Preferred: Experience with childcare or early education facility funding (Child Care Development Fund, Head Start, state subsidy programs) Familiarity with Kentucky-specific funding landscape or similar rural Appalachian/mid-South state programs Background in environmental education, conservation, or agricultural grants (for the apiary component) Experience with construction, renovation, and facility acquisition grants — not just programmatic grants Established relationships with program officers at relevant agencies (a significant advantage) What Success Looks Like We are a project-driven team. We will measure this engagement's success clearly: Identification of a prioritized pipeline of 10–15 fundable grant opportunities within the first 30 days Submission of 3–5 strong applications within the first 90 days Cumulative funded awards totaling $2M–$5M over the course of the engagement A maintained grants calendar with deadlines, requirements, reporting windows, and renewal schedules We understand grant writing timelines are not instant. We are committed to a long-term working relationship with the right person. We are not looking for a one-application freelancer — we are looking for a strategic funding partner. Compensation Structure We are open to discussing multiple compensation models and will negotiate based on your experience and preferences: Flat project fee per application submitted Hourly retainer with a set monthly cap Hybrid model: Base retainer + success bonus upon award Milestone-based: Phased payments tied to pipeline development, submissions, and awards We will not entertain commission-only arrangements for primary grant writing work, as this conflicts with best practices in the field. However, we are open to structuring a meaningful performance incentive on top of fair base compensation. How to Apply Please submit the following: A brief cover letter (3–5 paragraphs) describing your grant writing background and why this project is a fit for your expertise — specifically mention any experience with rural, education, or facility-construction grants 3 writing samples — ideally funded proposals or excerpts from funded applications (redacted as needed for confidentiality) A summary list of 3–5 grants you have successfully secured, including the agency, amount awarded, and project type Your preferred compensation structure and rate Estimated availability — hours per week you can commit to this project Applications without writing samples will not be reviewed. We need to see evidence of funded work, not just claimed experience. Why This Project Matters Western Kentucky communities have faced decades of economic contraction, educational underinvestment, and rural population decline. This project is a direct, community-rooted response — a permanent piece of infrastructure that will serve children, families, educators, and the local ecosystem for generations. The TEA Zone designation, the multi-sector nature of the project (education + environment + community development), and the non-profit structure create an unusually strong funding profile. With the right grant writer, this project is fundable. We are looking for the person who can prove it.