Boulder Mushroom | Contract Position

Location: Boulder, Colorado / Remote
Position Type: Independent Contractor | Project-Based
Compensation: $25–$35/hour, depending on experience and qualifications; project-based fees may also be considered

About Boulder Mushroom

Boulder Mushroom is an ecologically focused company using mycology to support healthier soils, forests, watersheds, and resilient ecosystems.

Our work brings together mycology, soil health, ecological restoration, forestry, and innovative approaches to woody biomass management. We work with public agencies, land managers, conservation organizations, and other partners to develop practical solutions that turn woody biomass and other ecological challenges into opportunities for restoration and improved ecosystem health.

Position Overview

Boulder Mushroom is seeking an experienced Project-Based Grant Writer to help identify, develop, and pursue funding opportunities that support our growing portfolio of ecological restoration, soil health, forestry, watershed, and woody biomass management projects.

This position is ideal for a grant writer who can work independently, identify strong funding opportunities, and translate technically complex environmental work into compelling proposals for foundations, government agencies, nonprofits, and other funding partners.

The Grant Writer will work closely with Boulder Mushroom's leadership team to understand project goals, gather technical information, develop proposal narratives, and submit competitive funding applications.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Research & Opportunity Development

• Research and identify relevant local, state, federal, foundation, and other grant opportunities.
• Evaluate funding opportunities for alignment with Boulder Mushroom's programs, projects, and organizational goals.
• Maintain a grant opportunity and submission calendar.
• Recommend strategic funding opportunities based on project priorities, eligibility, timelines, and likelihood of success.

Grant Proposal Development

• Develop compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, applications, and supporting materials.
• Translate technical concepts related to mycology, soil health, ecological restoration, forestry, watershed health, and woody biomass management into clear, accessible funding narratives.
• Develop project descriptions, goals, objectives, work plans, outcomes, budgets, timelines, and evaluation approaches.
• Coordinate with Boulder Mushroom staff to gather required technical, financial, and organizational information.
• Ensure proposals meet funder requirements, guidelines, and deadlines.
• Edit and strengthen existing proposal materials as needed.

Grant Management & Reporting

• Assist with grant reporting and closeout requirements for awarded projects.
• Maintain organized records of applications, deadlines, submissions, and funder communications.
• Develop reusable organizational language, project descriptions, and supporting materials to streamline future applications.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is:

• A grant writer with a demonstrated history of successful grant development.
• An excellent writer and editor with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple deadlines.
• Able to understand and communicate complex technical or scientific concepts to nontechnical audiences.
• Familiar with environmental, conservation, restoration, agriculture, forestry, watershed, soil health, or related funding programs.
• Experienced with government and/or foundation grant applications.
• Skilled at researching funding opportunities and determining organizational fit.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with technical staff and organizational leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional grant-writing experience.
• Demonstrated success securing competitive grant funding.
• Experience with USDA, NRCS, USFS, state conservation programs, watershed programs, or environmental foundations.
• Familiarity with Colorado environmental and conservation funding opportunities.
• Experience working with small businesses, nonprofits, conservation organizations, environmental consulting firms, or mission-driven organizations.
• Knowledge of ecological restoration, soil health, forestry, watershed management, agriculture, or mycology is highly desirable.

Compensation

This is a project-based independent contractor position. Compensation will be determined based on the scope, complexity, and anticipated time required for each project.

Possible compensation structures may include:

• Hourly compensation for grant research, development, and writing
• Flat project fee for individual grant applications
• Negotiated project fee for larger or multi-stage funding applications

Compensation will be agreed upon before work begins on each project.

A successful initial engagement may lead to additional grant-writing and funding-development projects.

Initial Scope

The initial engagement may include:

• Review of Boulder Mushroom's current programs and funding priorities.
• Identification and prioritization of potential funding opportunities.
• Development of a grant opportunity calendar.
• Preparation of one or more priority grant applications.
• Development of reusable organizational and project language for future proposals.

The initial project will allow both Boulder Mushroom and the contractor to determine whether an ongoing working relationship is a good fit.