Proposal Writer

DescriptionTITLE: Proposal WriterLOCATION: Chicago, IL preferredREPORTS TO: Senior Director, Proposal WritingDEPARTMENT: Strategy & Operations TYPE: Full Time, Hybrid (two days in-office)Please submit a cover letter.CCS is unable to sponsor work visas for this position, including H-1B. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship.WHO WE ARECCS Fundraising is an international strategic fundraising firm that partners with nonprofits for transformational change. Since 1947, CCS has empowered many of the world's greatest organizations across sectors to advance some of the most important causes in history. We plan, manage, and implement programs and initiatives that achieve fundraising goals and mission impact. CCS provides tailored support to more than 700 nonprofit organizations annually. Headquartered in New York, the firm has over 600 professionals and 18 offices throughout the United States and Europe. Our people are our greatest strength. At CCS, you will join a diverse team of smart, passionate, and resourceful professionals who are driven by purpose and committed to performance.UNDERSTANDING THE ROLEWe are seeking a motivated, deadline-driven Proposal Writer to work with a Chicago-based team. The successful candidate will work closely with our Executive team, managing new leads from ideation to contract and ensuring that all team Executives have the materials and preparation they need to conduct successful business development and sales meetings. A critical component of this role is to produce compelling, consistent, creative, and professional proposals, RFPs, and presentations that differentiate CCS from our competitors. Please note that this is not a sales or lead generating position.Ideal candidates will possess excellent writing, communication, research, and design skills to contribute to the development of sales materials and resources. The candidate is also comfortable working with multiple Executives and other proposal writers and is capable of meeting set deadlines and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced corporate environment. Prior experience with RFPs, proposals, and client relationship management databases are a plus. Experience with research, data visualization, and professional writing is key. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing team in a role that has room to grow and evolve.RESPONSIBILITIESWrite and design customized sales proposals, presentations, and supporting materials in close coordination with the Executive TeamParticipate in sales meetings to understand client needs and inform proposal strategyDevelop tailored content based on the specific needs, scope, and interests of each prospective clientPartner with Team Executives to define key elements of each proposal, including scope of work, pricing, and service structureEstablish and manage internal timelines to guide daily work and ensure on-time delivery of materialsCollaborate with the Executive Team to identify strategic next steps for active leads in the sales pipelineSupport final editing, formatting, and distribution of proposals and other materialsPrint and ship sales materials when needed/requestedDraft and send emails with sales materials on behalf of Executives when needed/requestedComplete research on potential leads and complete other sales materials in advance of sales meetings to ensure Team Executives are prepared in a timely mannerMaintain and update proposal templates; customize templates as needed for specific proposals, decks, one-pagers, etc.Assist other proposal writers in securing client case studies and references for proposalsDraft thank-you and follow-up correspondence for Team ExecutivesWork with team database coordinator and make direct database updates (as applicable) to ensure lead information is up-to-dateLiaise with proposal writers across the team and firm to understand trends and continually enhance materialsParticipate in Proposal Team strategic planning and spearhead assigned strategic projects, as appropriateAdditional tasks as needed to support the sales process, including maintaining organized records of all proposal drafts, final submissions, and supporting documentation for future reference and complianceQUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree required3+ years professional experience with proven writing and project management track recordExceptional ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environmentExcellent writing and visualization skills, with a keen eye for detailThorough proofreading skillsExcellent time management and organizational abilities; capable of independently structuring time and tasks to meet deadlinesDemonstrated resourcefulness and initiative in problem-solving and adapting to changing needsAdvanced knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OutlookCreative presentation design experience - experience with InDesign, Photoshop, Publisher, Canva, and other graphic design programs a plus but not requiredCRM (HubSpot preferred) and SharePoint experience a plus but not requiredComfortable working both independently and collaboratively within a team settingCCS offers competitive benefits, a dynamic training program, resources, career advancement, mentoring, and networking opportunities. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourage a diverse pool of candidates to apply.SALARY RANGE: $60,000 - $80,000The exact salary varies within range based on years of relevant experience and education.Please submit a cover letter.

Created: 2026-04-02