Experienced Grant Writer for Tribal / Native Health & Social Services

We are a small, early-stage social impact startup building NunaHub – a simple community platform that helps tribal governments and Native-serving programs organize:

Community calendars (events, cultural activities, youth programs)

Resource navigation (benefits, housing help, social services, mental health)

Light telehealth / tele-services (connecting residents to trusted providers)

We work primarily with Alaska Native and Arizona tribal / Native-serving organizations (tribal governments, urban Indian health centers, social service and youth programs).

We are looking for an experienced grant writer (contract / 1099) with real experience working with tribal / Native-serving organizations.

We have a limited budget but very focused scope for an initial Phase 1. We care a lot about fit and efficiency, and we want someone who can be honest about what is realistic within a fixed budget.

Phase 1 – small but serious test project

Phase 1 budget: USD $2,000–$2,500 total

Expected hours: roughly 40–60 hours at $35–45/hour

Deliverable 1 – Grant map & simple calendar (≈10–15 hours)

Review our current work and pilot ideas in Alaska and Arizona.

Identify 15–20 high-fit funding opportunities for the next 6–12 months, focusing on:

Tribal / Native-serving foundations and community foundations

Health, behavioral health, suicide prevention, youth, social services

Telehealth, digital inclusion, community wellness

Organize this into a simple grant tracker / calendar (Google Sheet / Excel) with:

Funder name, link, focus, funding range

Eligibility (tribe/nonprofit/fiscal sponsor, etc.)

Deadlines and your quick fit rating (high / medium / low)

Deliverable 2 – Two priority proposals (≈25–35 hours total)

Work with us and our tribal partners to select 2 top-priority opportunities from the list.

Help shape clear project concepts (goals, activities, timeline, basic budget).

Prepare for each opportunity:

A detailed proposal outline, and

A strong first draft of the narrative (we will support with local context, data, and letters of support).

Deliverable 3 – Buffer for revisions / third opportunity (≈5–10 hours)

Time reserved for:

Revisions based on our feedback or funder requirements, and/or

A short concept note / letter of inquiry for a third opportunity, if time allows.

We will handle final submission, signatures, and internal approvals. Your job is to get us to clear, well-structured, culturally respectful drafts and a practical roadmap.

Most work can be done remotely and asynchronously, with occasional Zoom calls for alignment.

Required experience

Please apply only if you meet most of these:

3+ years of grant writing with a focus on at least one of:

Tribal governments / councils

Tribal health organizations or urban Indian health centers

Native-serving nonprofits (social services, youth, education, housing, behavioral health)

A proven record of successful grants (foundation / community foundation / government):

You do not need to share confidential documents, but you can describe funder + topic + approx. size.

Comfortable writing about:

Behavioral health, suicide prevention, youth programs,

Community wellness, social services, housing support, or digital inclusion / telehealth.

Strong written English – clear, concise, and not full of buzzwords.

Able to work as a 1099 contractor / freelancer, manage your own time, and respect a fixed Phase 1 budget.

Nice to have

Direct experience with Alaska Native organizations (tribes, consortia, foundations, housing authorities, health organizations).

Experience with Arizona tribes or Native-serving organizations (e.g., Salt River, Gila River, Navajo, Hopi, urban Indian centers).

Familiarity with:

Indian Health Service (IHS)

SAMHSA, HRSA, CDC, or similar federal grants

Community broadband, digital equity, or telehealth initiatives.

Budget & future work

This is a contract / 1099 role, not full-time employment.

Phase 1 budget cap: USD $2,000–$2,500 total, including your fees.

If we both feel it is a good fit and we see strong progress, there may be future project-based work (e.g., additional proposals, or a small monthly retainer for ongoing grant work).

We understand that no one can guarantee a grant award, but we are specifically seeking someone who:

Has a realistic sense of hit rates, and

Can help us focus on opportunities where we have a meaningful chance given our size and stage.

How to apply

When you submit your proposal, please include:

A short intro about your experience with tribal / Native-serving organizations.

2–3 examples of grants you have worked on (funder + general topic + approximate size + whether they were funded).

Your hourly rate and a proposed breakdown of hours for Phase 1, for example:

X hours for grant map + calendar

Y hours for two priority proposals

Z hours for revisions / concept note

Any relevant writing samples (you may redact sensitive information).

We are a very small, mission-driven team, trying to build something that actually works for Native communities. If you are experienced in this space and can work smartly within a fixed budget, we would love to start a conversation.

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