Grant proposal writers play an integral part in ensuring the sustainability of any nonprofit organization. As nonprofits rely more and more on private foundations and organizations for funding, proficient fund seekers are of the utmost importance. Typical responsibilities of a grant writer include: finding grant money, developing fundable programs, writing the grant proposal, and finally, managing the grant.
Elements of a Grant Proposal
The main elements of a Grant Proposal include a proposal summary, a statement of need, a list of objectives, a description of your organizations methods, a plan for an evaluation of progress, and a budget (Burkholder, 2008, pg. 10). It is important when writing a Grant Proposal to briefly review the needs and purposes of your foundation, corporation or government department. This information includes a budget, timeline, and the amount of money requested for each grant. Grant proposals should present the problem that your organization is addressing, in which the potential donor is able to gather more in-depth information regarding the foundation itself.
Grant writers need to give insight into the goals and objectives of their organization, and what the mission is that they have set out to accomplish. A significant aspect of the grant writing process is to give a sufficient description of when, where and how the foundation will achieve their ultimate goal(s). The grant proposal should also describe the evaluation process of the foundation, in order to explain how the progress and success rate of the goals and objectives will be measured. The final element to a grant proposal is the budget that the organization is requesting, and the timeline for how it will be used.
Elements of a Grant Proposal
- Proposal Summary
- Statement of Problem or Need
- Project Goals and Objectives
- Methodology
- Evaluation
- Budget
Grant Writers in the Workforce
Any writer has the choice of working for himself, as a freelance writer, meaning they work for different companies, often times with a timed contract that is not permanent, or working for just one company on a salaried income. Grant writers can work for a range of different companies and organizations, even government agencies. In Caroline Reeder’s article about Grant Writers in the field, she states that Nonprofit organizations employ the majority of grant writers. Those organizations (i.e. art organizations, museums, environmental and animal causes) are ones looking for ways to bring in more money since they are not funded by the government or their state. In some cases, grant writers work for schools, colleges and universities around the world.
Grant Writers and Their Responsibilities
The PDF listed in the sources section at the bottom of this page is from a grant writing training company called Grant Writers USA. They offer classes around the US for established grant writers who looking to write in different organizations or to better their writing and research techniques abilities. The PDF explains in detail what the typical duties and responsibilities of grant writers entail. Reeder’s article also names a few of the basic top responsibilities that come with the job no matter where the grant writer works. These are also included in the PDF from Grant Writers USA.
Their general duties include the following:
- Finding the Money – conducting research on potential donors
- Developing the Programs – working with staff to develop fundable programs
- Writing the Grant Proposal – developing a detailed, written plan of action
- Managing the Grant – ensuring the program/project is being conducted as promised
- Other Duties as Assigned – maintaining grant calendar and writing acknowledgments
The job requires a lot of research and documentation. A grant writer has to know who they work for, what type of money they will be writing a proposal for and how to put all the required information into one good presentation.
Traits of a Grant Writer/Preferred Skills
A grant writer needs to possess several sets of skills in different areas of expertise. First and foremost, a grant writer must have good writing and communication skills to be able to effectively advocate for their foundation. Grants should be written in simple English, and be easily read and understood (Inman, 1993, p. 1).
Grant writers must also be able to build up credible reputations with donors and maintain relationships with different parties, including applicants and donors. They may sometimes have to give presentations or make appearances on site to help promote their organization or foundation. Being a grant proposal writer requires a certain amount of flexibility and resilience in adapting to the needs of the applicant and “listening to and reflecting on the needs and passions of all the people involved in the organization” (Richard Male and Associates, 2012, pg. 1).
Being able to accept the rejection and disappointment is an important part of grant writing, helping the foundation to view this aspect of the job as obstacles to be overcome, rather than evidence of failure. Especially in concerning the exchange of money, grant writers must be trustworthy and reliable in properly advocating their foundation’s cause, and maintaining a continual focus on the foundation’s overall goal. Research skills are also required for a grant writer, so that they can properly identify and select sources for funding, find statistics for quantifying information and search for opportunities for their employer. As Carol Inman states, “Good content is a detailed description of a thoroughly conceived idea” (Inman, 1993, pg. 1).
Finally and most importantly, grant writers must have a true passion for the mission of the foundation they are advocating for, and an ability to bridge relationships between organizations and donors to work towards a greater cause.
Income Potential
According to a guide from entrepreneur.com, income potential in this career depends on an array of factors including level of expertise, area of expertise, and whether the writer is a full employee or a contracted, freelance writer. Typically, however, incomes for grant proposal writers range from 41,590-$68,497, with a median salary of $51,967 (Burkholder, 2008).
In addition to these differences, grant writers can receive payment by various methods. While full time workers generally earn a yearly salary, freelance writers may choose to be paid by the hour, by project, per day, or by commission. The average hourly rate ranges from around $40 to $80 or up to $100 for more experienced writers, while project fees range from $1,000-$10,000. Grant consulting firms, who often choose to pay a daily rate, often compensate writers between $500 and $2,000. Finally, writers that are paid a percentage of the grant awarded are often compensated between 1 and 5 percent of the granted award.
Career Outlook
Now more than ever, non-profit organizations rely on private grants from foundations and corporations to finance their programs and services. Due to the rising number of nonprofit organizations, fund-seekers, like grant writers, are especially valuable in locating and acquiring limited funding. In addition, many education agencies, from preschools to large universities, are seeking out grant writers to help acquire private funding. Although employment opportunities appear to be expanding, breaking into the grant writing profession is still relatively difficult. Gaining experience is often difficult; however, established writers often have little trouble finding work.
Extra Resources/Networks for Grant-Writers
American Grant Writers’ Association
Sources
Burkholder, P. (2008) Start your own grant-writing business: your step-by-step guide to success. California: Entrepreneur Press Grant Writer USA (2007) Grant writer. retrieved from grantwriterusa.com/GWUSANonProfit_JobDescription.pdf
Reeder, C (2009). Grant writing jobs- a high demand writing career. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Grant-Writing-Jobs—A-High-Demand-Writing-Career&id=3407744
Richard Male and Associates (2012) Traits of a great grant writer. Retrieved from http://richardmale.com/traits-of-a-great-grant-writer/