Company Description
CATALINA CREW FOUNDATION IS SEEKING AN EXPERIENCED GRANT WRITER
Immediate Position Available
Catalina Crew Foundation is seeking an experienced, highly motivated grant writer to join our team immediately. We are looking for someone who can identify funding opportunities, develop strong grant proposals, manage application deadlines, and help secure the resources needed to expand our maritime, environmental, educational, and community programs throughout Southern California.
ABOUT CATALINA CREW FOUNDATION
Catalina Crew Foundation is a Marina del Rey based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to the ocean, creating maritime career pathways, protecting Southern California’s waterways, and providing meaningful experiences for underserved families, young people, neurodivergent individuals, veterans, first responders, and members of our community.
GRANT FUNDING PRIORITIES
Our grant writer will help us pursue local, state, federal, corporate, private foundation, and philanthropic funding in the following areas:
Maritime Trade School and Workforce Development
Funding to establish a maritime trade school offering hands on education, certifications, apprenticeships, and career pathways in marine mechanics, electrical systems, fiberglass repair, boatbuilding, vessel maintenance, marina operations, commercial diving, captaining, and other skilled maritime trades. Programs will focus on young adults, underserved communities, veterans, career changers, and individuals who may thrive through hands on learning.
Youth Ocean Education and Water Access
Grants supporting boating experiences, marine education, environmental programs, water safety training, field trips, and hands on ocean activities for young people who may not otherwise have access to the water.
Programs for Neurodivergent and Underserved Individuals
Funding for inclusive boating, fishing, ocean recreation, marine education, and workforce programs designed for neurodivergent participants and individuals from underserved communities.
Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal
Funding to identify, remove, dismantle, and responsibly dispose of abandoned and derelict vessels that create environmental, navigational, public safety, and financial problems for local marinas and waterways.
Vessel Recycling and Environmental Innovation
Grants supporting the development of responsible fiberglass boat recycling programs. Our goal is to keep vessel materials out of landfills and explore ways to repurpose fiberglass and other recovered materials into useful products and potential building materials.
Coastal and Marine Environmental Protection
Funding for harbor cleanups, marine debris removal, pollution prevention, water quality programs, habitat protection, environmental education, and community based stewardship of Southern California’s coastline and waterways.
Maritime Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Grants for boating safety education, emergency response training, rescue equipment, life jackets, communications systems, vessel safety inspections, and public education programs that help make our waterways safer.
Veteran and First Responder Programs
Funding for boating experiences, fishing trips, ocean based wellness programs, maritime career training, and community recognition events for veterans, active duty service members, first responders, and their families.
Family and Community Access Programs
Funding to provide underserved families with memorable community experiences, including boating excursions, ocean education, sporting events, and Catalina Crew Foundation’s First Time Family Football Outings at SoFi Stadium.
Sustainable Maritime Transportation
Funding supporting cleaner and more accessible maritime transportation, including electric vessels, alternative propulsion, lower emission marine technology, sustainable ferry service, and improved public access between Marina del Rey, Catalina Island, and other coastal communities.
Capital Improvements, Equipment, and Facilities
Grants for vessels, classrooms, training equipment, safety gear, transportation, waterfront facilities, vessel recycling infrastructure, workshop space, educational technology, and other capital needs required to expand our programs.
Community Revitalization and Economic Development
Funding supporting maritime job creation, waterfront activation, small business growth, tourism, vocational education, and the long term revitalization of Marina del Rey and surrounding coastal communities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The grant writer will:
• Research and identify qualified grant opportunities
• Develop compelling letters of inquiry and full grant proposals
• Create reusable narratives describing our mission and programs
• Build grant budgets in coordination with our leadership team
• Maintain a calendar of application and reporting deadlines
• Organize supporting documents and application materials
• Submit applications accurately and on time
• Track awards, reporting requirements, and funding outcomes
• Help develop relationships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and philanthropic partners
• Assist with sponsorship proposals and other fundraising opportunities
IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for someone with:
• Proven experience writing successful nonprofit grant applications
• Strong research, writing, budgeting, and organizational skills
• Experience with government, foundation, and corporate grants
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines independently
• An understanding of nonprofit compliance and grant reporting
• Experience in workforce development, environmental protection, youth programming, education, maritime initiatives, veterans’ services, or community development is highly desirable
• A genuine interest in helping build programs that create measurable, long term community impact
This is an immediate position. Contract, part time, project based, and performance based arrangements may be considered depending on experience and availability.
To apply, please submit your résumé, examples of previously funded grants, success rate or funding history, availability, compensation expectations, and a brief explanation of why you would like to work with Catalina Crew Foundation.
