Grant Writer (2026)

My experience as a Grant Writer with the Community Enrichment Fitness Network gave me the opportunity to take active role in the organisation’s funding and development efforts. Throughout my co-op, I researched grant, sponsorship, and partnership opportunities related to senior wellness, preventive health, healthy aging, workforce development, and community programming. I evaluated prospective funders based on their eligibility requirements, priorities, deadlines and alignment with CEFN’s mission, and then developed proposals tailored to each organisation.

My work included proposals and applications involving the Philadelphia Activities Fund, Leon H. Sullivan Pathways to Impact, Barclays, Urban Awareness, PNC Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, PA Health & Wellness, and the Hospital of Pennsylvania, along with several other funding opportunities. Developing these proposals required more than completing applications. I created project budgets, defined measurable outcomes, strengthened program descriptions, connected funding requests to specific community needs, organised supporting documentation, and developed reusable proposal language and standardised materials that CEFN can continue using for future applications.

I also helped manage the funding pipeline by tracking submissions, monitoring application statuses, following up on open opportunities, and identifying new prospects. One of the most significant results of my co-op was securing a $6,000 contribution from PA Health & Wellness. The proposal positioned CEFN’s work around senior health, preventive wellness, and community impact and resulted in confirmed financial support for the organization. I also expanded CEFN’s outreach into banking, healthcare, retail, and local-business partnerships and helped secure event support, including 25 boxed lunches from Chick-fil-A City Ave and raffle gift cards from Leo’s Apparel, ACME, and Weaver’s Way.

I regularly communicated with the CEFN team, participated in meetings and professional-development activities, and took initiative in identifying new resources and opportunities that could support the organisation’s long-term growth. My time at CEFN gave me practical experience with the full grant-development process, from researching a potential funder through proposal development, submission, follow-up, and relationship building. I am grateful to Sherry Hill and the CEFN team for trusting me with meaningful responsibilities and giving me the opportunity to contribute directly to the organization’s work with older adults in the Philadelphia community.

Former Grant Writer (Fall/Winter 2025-2026)

My co-op experience as a grant writer with CEFN was both valuable and educational. I gained hands-on experience researching funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, and adapting written materials to meet varying requirements. This role strengthened my research, writing, and time management skills, especially in a tight-knit team . I also developed a deeper understanding of how nonprofit organizations secure funding and the importance of clear communication, accuracy, and attention to detail in the grant writing process. Overall, this experience contributed significantly to my professional growth and provided meaningful insight into nonprofit operations and funding strategy.

Former Grant Writer (Spring/Summer 2024-2025)

I truly could not have asked for a better first co-op experience or introduction to grant writing. CEFN was a life-changing experience. When I first started the role, I was incredibly overwhelmed as I had never worked in this kind of environment before, but I quickly began to love this internship and CEFN as a whole. I learned invaluable skills about communication and the significance of forming professional relationships. Sherry Hill is an incredible boss as she cares deeply for every member of her team and is willing to help make her team’s jobs as gratifying as possible. Whether one wants to pursue a personal project or needs assistance with their work, Sherry will always offer guidance from either herself or her business partners. Our daily morning meetings created a sense of unity and made me feel incredibly connected to my coworkers even though the position was remote. Often Sherry encouraged our team to attend webinars reflective of our jobs. These webinars educated me on the significance of creating relationships with organizations within grant writing. Regardless of if I pursue grant writing in the future, the transferable skills I learned from working at the Community Enrichment Fitness Network will help me succeed in any professional setting. 

Former Grant Writer (Fall/Winter 2023-2024)

CEFN provided me with a window into the operation of a non-profit organization. I was primarily involved in fundraising and learned so much about grant writing through instructional materials and webinars that I was encouraged to attend during the workday. I also learned a lot about sponsorship and often communicated with CEFN’s sponsors, vendors, and board members. This position allowed me to gain confidence in a professional setting and I began to feel progressively more comfortable reaching out.

During my co-op, I was also able to assist with event planning, board development, and volunteer recruitment. Getting to work in so many different areas kept the position interesting and allowed me to gain a variety of soft skills that will be very useful in the future. These include leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration. I worked closely with CEFN’s executive director and a board governance consultant to help recruit members for the Board of Directors, set up and attended board meetings, and gave feedback on CEFN’s updated bylaws. I wrote newsletters and recruited volunteers for CEFN’s senior galas.

The diverse skill set I was able to acquire and the experiences I had during my time at CEFN allowed me to immerse myself in this co-op fully. I was able to take advantage of multiple opportunities and fulfill several different roles and responsibilities that have made me a more well-rounded candidate for future employment.

Former Grant Writer (Spring/Summer 2021-2022)

Working at CEFN really just made my life so much easier. Because while CEFN has responsibilities, obligations and tasks, it never felt as if Ms. Hill was in my face telling me to “get it done now”. For that I am thankful. But to move along, I think my work performance was very high while working at CEFN.

Lastly, I think my other biggest strength has been the energy i bring to the day and to the events. I absolutely loved being at the Gala back in my first week of working with CEFN, and i hope that my energy was seen on that day My strong suit, I have learned, is public speaking. Throughout this year i have given a plethora of detailed presentations and I am very proud of that fact. I am most proud of all the presentations i gave on the book “Fundraising is”. It was an amazing read that really gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about life through the book and fundraising.

Former Grant Writer (Spring/Summer 2020-2021)

I have spent on co-op at the Community Enrichment Fitness Network has been an invaluable experience during which I have seen significant growth in my personal and professional development. As the grant writer, I have picked up and strengthened skills that expand beyond the bounds of my position. For starters, in this role I have furthered my grant writing experience by submitting applications from the public, institutional, and private sectors. Moreover, I have worked on my communication skills by persistently contacting professionals via phone and email to make various inquiries with the intent of garnering funding for CEFN. Beyond grant writing, I have learned about efficient marketing, event planning, and accounting skills by co-working with the other students in my cohort.