Professional Summary

​Grant writer and researcher focused on food security, health equity, and community services, with a secondary background in children's education and cultural institutions. Brings 20+ years of experience across TV news writing/producing, advertising copywriting, and nonprofit communications to grant research, proposal writing, and funder communications, combining a journalist's research discipline with a copywriter's storytelling instincts.

Skills

• Grant Writing: Foundation, Capacity-Building, Program, Capital Improvement/Infrastructure, and General/Unrestricted Grants

• Grant Research & Proposal Writing, Nonprofit Development, Funder Relations

• Research, Multimedia Scripting, News Writing, Copywriting, Storytelling

• Project flow and management, keeping projects moving smoothly through multiple stages and keeping stakeholders updated

• Design and Art Direction; Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro); Video Editing (Avid, Adobe Premiere)

Professional Experience

Founder, John Grabowski Writing Solutions      2019 – Present
Grant Research & Proposal Writing (pro bono, via Catchafire) | 2025 – Present

• Completed grant research and proposal writing engagements for close to a dozen nonprofits nationwide through Catchafire, a skills-based volunteering platform, spanning food security, health services, children's education, immigrant services, and community development.

• Organizations include United Way of Southwest Virginia, Multicultural Center of Marin, Blazing Stars Montessori School, and Delaware Shakespeare Festival, among others.

KidNuz.org — “A Newscast All Their Own”      2023 – Present

• Write weekly scripts for a weekly nonpartisan children's news podcast reaching students ages 8–13 in schools across the U.S. and abroad, collaborating with anchors and educators to deliver balanced coverage designed to foster news literacy.

Freelance Writer / Content Producer      2019 – 2025

• Grew Peninsula Symphony Orchestra's reach among younger audiences by securing new venues, sponsors, and gala events; developed multi-channel campaigns (print, billboards, blogs, social) that took social engagement from dozens to 1,000+ interactions per post.

• Content writer for Brass Ideas Advertising; grew the client's social engagement from a few dozen likes and shares to roughly a thousand per post.

KGO-TV, KRON-TV & S.F. Bay Area Media Outlets      2002 – 2009
News Writer / Producer / Promo Producer

• Worked on multiple Emmy Award-winning prime-time newscasts; generated story ideas, conducted interviews, and scripted 20–40 stories per shift, consistently meeting deadlines.

• Self-editing most of my stories in Avid, reducing video editor workload.

• Wrote and produced daily promotional teases highlighting the evening's developing stories.

Wolfe/Doyle Advertising (San Francisco)      2000 – 2002
Copywriter

• Created dozens of campaigns in internet, broadcast, software and consumer packaged goods categories.

• Revised work based on focus group feedback.

• Was responsible for winning half a dozen new business pitches and then maintaining the voice of the campaigns.

• Produced accurate, deadline-driven copy under shifting priorities for multiple projects simultaneously, switching from packaged goods to B2B to tech.

• Met with clients to hear feedback and to address concerns and meet challenges.

KTVU, KPIX, KRON   |   1995 – 1999

 News Writer

• Wrote anchor copy across every daily broadcast: morning, mid-day, evening, late night and weekend newscasts. Supervised and assisted journalists in the field with information, video, phone interviews, and other materials.

Education

• Temple University: BA Communications (Honors Program)

• Temple University: Master's in Journalism Program (did not complete; Accepted job offer instead)

• Digital Design Courses: Academy of Art, Skyline College, Cañada College

• CA Dept. of Real Estate—Real Estate Salesperson's License DRE # 01757502

Also

Author of two novels and a short story collection (Millennium); a third novel is coming in Q4 2026.​​