How to Find a Grant Writer for Your Non-Profit
DISCLAIMER: BLUE HEART DOES NOT OFFER GRANT WRITING SERVICES NOR DO WE SUGGEST GRANT WRITERS
How to Find a Grant Writer for Your Non-Profit Without Breaking the Bank!
Grants provide a much-needed source of funding for non-profit organizations. They may come from government agencies or private sources, but let me tell you, the competition is fierce!
If you want your non-profit to receive grants, you’ll need a grant writer. Grant writing is a specialized form of writing and having someone experienced on your team is necessary if you want to get the funds you need.
What is a Grant Writer?
A grant writer is someone who researches, writes, and submits proposals to institutions that provide grants. To do the job effectively, an experienced grant writer must:
- Scour lists of grants and identify those which align with the organization’s goals and objectives, while eliminating those that aren’t a good match.
- Craft a grant proposal that uses clear, concise language to persuade the grantor that the organization applying for the grant is a worthy recipient of funds.
- Respond to funder’s questions about the grant proposal and develop relationships with prospective donors.
Grant proposals may be very involved, including a cover letter, proposal, and supporting documentation per the grant’s requirements. The proposal itself must do a good job of providing information about the applicant organization’s past, present, and future activities and how the grant money would be used.
Some grant writers are employees of non-profit organizations while others work as freelancers.
How to Find a Grant Writer | What to Look for
Being a grant writer requires a specific set of skills and many of them are not directly related to writing. Here are some of the qualities to look for when you hire a grant writer.
A good grant writer must have the drive to find grant programs that might be worth pursuing.
Affinity for Data. While persuasive writing is essential in a grant proposal, data is just as important. Being able to work with data and use it in the right way to support the grant proposal and illustrate the writer’s points.
Research Skills. An effective grant writer must be able to scour internal documents and external resources to find the information needed to write an effective proposal.
Detail Oriented. Grants are awarded to the applicants who do the best job of tying their needs to the goals and objectives of the grant’s specifications. A writer who attends to every detail has the best possible chance of winning a grant.
Writing Skills. A grant writer must have a strong grasp of the English language, an ability to write persuasively, and the ability to understand the linguistic needs of each grant proposal based on the requirements.
People Skills. To write an effective grant proposal, a grant writer must be able to work effectively with people inside the organization they work for to gather information to support the application. They must also be able to communicate clearly with the grantor and answer questions as needed, establishing rapport and building a connection.
An experienced grant writer is likely to have these skills already. Writing skills are the priority because they take time to develop, where other skills may be taught more quickly.
How to Find a Grant Writer | What’s The Cost?
Hiring a grant writer means hiring someone with a unique set of skills whose job performance can make or break an organization’s ability to get funding.
That said, the amount that grant writers make can vary depending upon their years of experience and the budget of the organization hiring them.
According to Salary.com, most grant writers earn between $30 and $38 per hour, with the average at $34 per hour as of February 26, 2020. A very experienced grant writer might earn as much as $100 per hour.
A grant writer who has other job responsibilities in addition to grant writing might earn more than the average. However, many non-profit organizations have limited budgets and may either ask an existing employee to write grants or hire someone on an as-needed basis.
How to Find a Grant Writer | How to Become a One
Have you played around with the idea of become a grant writer? Here’s some steps to look out for.
Grant writing is a specialized job, but it is possible to learn how to do it. The person who will be best able to acquire the skills needed will be someone who already has a facility with the English language. It’s important to be able to write with a formal tone, but also, to be able to vary it with persuasive and emotional storytelling when necessary.
There isn’t a single, set path to become a grant writer. Some people go to school knowing that they want to write grants, while others find work writing grants by other routes.
If you do want to pursue a degree, there are some schools that offer degrees in Grant Writing, including Emory and the University of Colorado. Other options include courses of study that emphasize writing, such as Journalism or Technical Writing. You may also want to consider professional certification programs that require less time than a college degree but teach the skills necessary to become a grant writer.
From there, you should try your hand at writing a grant. It’s best to start with small, local grants. As an inexperienced grant writer, you will need to set your rates low at first to prove you can do a good job. Each grant you write should become part of your professional portfolio, which you can use to demonstrate your ability as a grant writer.
The final step is to build relationships with non-profit organizations in your area. If you already work for a non-profit, you can volunteer to help with grant writing or to add grand writing to your job description. If not, attending local charity events can be a good way to meet the people who hire grant writers and let them get to know you.
Conclusion
Grant writing is a skilled job that requires a specialized set of skills that include writing ability, researching, and attention to detail. While donors provide needed funds to many non-profit organizations, grant writing is often the cornerstone of funding – and hiring the right grant writer is essential to a non-profit’s ability to fulfill its mission.
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