6 Considerations for Hiring a Grant Writer To Work With Your Nonprofit
Funders receive a significant number of requests, and often are limited in how much grant support they can provide. Because of this issue, grant writing has become a competitive process. Many types of organizations, both small and large, are often vying for the same funds. And, often, larger organizations have the budget to hire fundraising professionals to write grants, but for smaller organizations this is often not the case. Therefore, it is important for even small shops to invest in expertise that helps them write winning grant applications, and one way that can be accomplished is by hiring a grant writer.
What is a grant writer?
Grant writers find donors, which typically include government, foundations and corporations whose funding priorities align with the organization they are working for. They write and submit proposals that help nonprofits receive grant funding. In some cases, the money awarded needs to be used for a specific purpose that is outlined by the granter, or in some cases the grant can be used for the general operating costs of the organization. Some grant writers work for a single organization, while others are self-employed and freelance their services. The goal of the grant writer is to write as many successful proposals as possible to increase the organization’s impact through increased funds.
Benefits of hiring a grant writer
For many smaller organizations contracting outside help, like hiring a fundraising consultant to guide their fundraising strategy, or a marketing firm to build awareness in the community can increase their team’s capacity and in turn lead to more fundraising revenue. There are several benefits of hiring a grant writer. But most importantly, having a skilled writer work with your organization can help secure funding while saving your team time by allowing them to continue the work of serving your communities. When your team has minimal staff the time saved can be well worth the investment considering that grant writing can be time consuming, especially for those new to writing grants, or unfamiliar with the process.
Considerations when hiring a grant writer
Grant writers can be a wonderful resource for your organization. However there are several things to think about prior to making that commitment. Here are six considerations when hiring a grant writer.
How they align with the needs of your existing team. Grant writers are generally responsible for securing funding for your nonprofit by writing grant applications or proposals. However, they may also be responsible for developing grant funding strategies and timelines, and building relationships with larger funders. If your organization is contracting a freelance grant writer it is important to understand what the expectation is and exactly how their work will fit with the existing team’s roles and responsibilities. Also, consider what expertise and support your current team needs when seeking a grant writer whose skills will align with your team’s needs and capacity.
Determine your grant writing needs. Although a grant writer will write the applications and proposals, it will still need to be a collaboration between the grant writer and the other team members. It would be helpful for your nonprofit to do some work in advance to provide the grant writer with guidance. This may include determining which types of grants you would like to apply for. Is your team looking for project-based grants, or is your team looking for capacity based grants? How much funding does your organization require from grants? Take the time to confirm your needs as an organization prior to hiring a grant writer.
The grant writer’s past experience. Ideally your organization would like an experienced grant writer with a history of success. Your organization can conduct an interview, and ask for samples of previous work (with confidential information removed). Furthermore, you can check the grant writer’s past clients to verify their experience and record.
The grant writer's skillset. There are important skills that every strong grant writer should have. Grant writers should be comfortable conducting prospect research to find suitable funders for your organization. In addition, they should be strong writers and detail-oriented and have the ability to submit compelling and error free work. Lastly they should be creative with strong story-telling skills and have the ability to submit a persuasive proposal.
The grant writer's knowledge of the nonprofit sector. Even if the grant writer does not have a full understanding of the specific work that your organization does at the time of hiring, they should have a good understanding of the nonprofit sector. With industry knowledge it can help the grant writer identify opportunities for your organization, and by understanding industry trends and best practices, can help strengthen their grant applications.
The grant writer’s fees. Grant writer’s fees vary depending if they are a beginner grant writer, or an advanced grant writer with a number of successful proposals. Your organization should consider whether the grant writer charges by the hour, or if there is a flat fee for their work, and how this fits with your organizational budget. It is important that you discuss the cost of hiring a grant writer so you can find a reasonable agreement that works for your team.
Hiring a grant writer can be a wonderful resource for your nonprofit. Just take the time to consider if it is the best solution for your team, and hopefully if your organization does go that route you will be able to secure the funding you need to sustain the wonderful impact in your communities.