A grant writer secures a crucial element of any nonprofit organization: funding. Grant writers get just one application with grant proposals, so it’s essential to ensure that grant writers know what to say and how to say it.
In this article, you’ll see what a full-time grant writing professional does on a typical day and get answers to common grant writing questions.
If you’re interested in learning through video, watch the video below.
What Does a Grant Writer Do?
A grant writer acts as a documentation specialist and salesperson for a nonprofit organization, public institution, program, or entity seeking funding.
Grant writers need to put their arguments in a written proposal.
They are also responsible for researching grants, federal or private. Grant writers gather the necessary documentation, prove why their fundraising venture requires assistance, and fulfill other requirements set by individual donors and funding agencies.
Grant writers need to be familiar with their organization’s mission to explain it to funders and supply the lifeblood of every organization: critical funds for operations. They must also keep finding grant-makers and ensure consistent funding for the nonprofit sector.
The requirements for success at each organization are different for each grant writing project and job. If you’re interested in learning more about the grant writing process, check out our Grant Writing Certification course. That will teach you the fundamentals of grant writing and how to access ideal grant writing opportunities for your skill and education.
For example, some who rely heavily on grant proposals might seek exceptional writing skills, years of experience, an advanced degree, and familiarity with the grant writing process. Other grant writing opportunities might be more lenient.
Essential skills that every nonprofit (and small business) looks for in a grant writer include:
- Persuasive writing skills
- Excellent research skills for funding opportunities
- A strategic approach towards writing grant proposals
- Ability to understand an organization’s mission properly
- An understanding of how funding agencies work (as well as utilizing that to secure funding)
- Organizational skills
- Proven track record of fulfilling complex requirements and crafting tailored grant applications
- Being well-versed with Office applications
While a Bachelor’s degree or higher is not an absolute prerequisite for a grant writing job, especially as a freelancer, it is highly recommended. Some nonprofit organizations may also require you to have a degree in addition to the above skills.
If you’re looking to become a Certified Grant Writer, enroll in our top-rated certifications to do just that:
Grant Proposals Writer Qualifications
Here are the qualifications for a typical grant writer:
- Bachelor’s degree in a writing-intensive field (English Linguistics, Journalism, Marketing, or Communication)
- Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Creative Writing, or Nonprofit Management
- Advanced certification or vocational diploma in grant writing
- Experience in corporate or technical writing
Online certifications are a great way to learn bankable skills for projects such as grant writing. However, they are best when paired with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Grant Writer Roles and Responsibilities
A significant part of a grant writer’s day includes writing and crafting the perfect grant proposals. When working on grant proposals for a grant writing service, the grant writer speaks with clients to better understand the organization’s mission and makes notes to help them find funding opportunities for their specific needs. Meetings like this usually take 25% of the grant writer’s time.
Then comes research. Sometimes, clients need grant money but don’t know about any funders or their policies. It becomes the grant writer’s responsibility to find them private or federal grants.
With a quick search, grant writers check clients’ eligibility for different funding programs and make more notes to present to clients later.
Grant writers search on social media, too, trying out different keywords and sifting through RFPs (Requests for Proposals) to check eligibility.
Research, including prospect research and statistical hunting, usually takes up about 50% of the grant writers’ time.
With all the relevant data, a grant writer will start writing grants and formatting. The proposal writing process usually takes about 10%- 15% of the writer’s time, but depending on the complexity, it might take a bit longer.
Lastly, grant writers must create custom illustrations, charts, and projections (with the client’s help) to make the proposal more relevant. The design takes up around 10% of the grant writer’s time.
These proposals aren’t just targeted towards private funders but may also be public foundations or charitable organizations. Federal grants are much more attractive and highly competitive. From healthcare to charity, animal care, research, and more, nonprofits and some businesses depend on grant writers and grant writing services.
Do Grant Writers Focus on Quick Deliverables?
On average, completing a well-structured and researched grant application takes about three weeks to a month. If writers are freelancers or working part-time, the process becomes more complex and takes longer.
However, some grant writing services and freelancers offer quick deliverables.
A grant proposal that’s written haphazardly rarely results in a successful grant. Delivering a 40-page grant proposal within a few days will mean the writer didn’t go into as many details as they should have. Of course, sometimes circumstances dictate that you need quick deliverables without compromising quality.
The only way to get a high-quality grant proposal in about a week or two is to hire a professional grant writer with at least 5-8 years of experience.
Finding a grant writer who has worked on grants specific to your industry and niche is also better.
Research time decreases significantly with experience in a specific industry since an experienced grant writer knows what to target.
A Typical Time Table for A Grant Writer
Let’s look at what a grant writer with a track record of winning private and federal government grants does during their workday.
They start their workday by spending the first few hours writing grants and editing their work. Once they have researched, grant writers focus on expressing their thoughts persuasively.
If other grant writers need more research or illustrations, they create graphs or projections. Then, grant writers connect with clients via LinkedIn, Zoom meetings, or email. Other duties appear as needed.
How Much Do Grant Writers Get Paid?
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for grant writers is $49,661 yearly, while the complete salary range is between $35,000 and $70,000.
Nonprofits, educational institutions, and various community health centers are the biggest employers of grant writers in the US. Organizations like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are well-known for their grant-writing expertise. According to labor statistics by PayScale, expert grant writers can earn up to $20,000 in profit-sharing and $11,000 in commissions.
Grant writers, especially those working as freelancers, can also be paid hourly. Freelance grant writers often charge hourly rates ranging from $25 to $100 per hour, depending on their experience and the project’s complexity. This flexibility allows freelance grant writers to manage multiple clients and projects, potentially increasing their earnings.
The grant writer’s salary considers the following:
- Written linguistic skills
- Overall customer service output
- Qualifications
- Experience in grant writing is a major determinant of salary. Grant writers with a proven track record of successful grant applications get higher compensation.
- Other grant writers may get promotions that come with significant pay raises depending on where they’re employed.
Is Grant Writing In Demand?
Yes, grant writing is in high demand. The skills of grant writers are essential for many organizations, and the need for these professionals continues to grow. Grant writing involves a combination of analytical research, strategic planning, precise writing, and critical thinking to meet tight deadlines. This makes it a highly specialized field with increasing job opportunities.
Organizations, particularly nonprofit organizations, heavily rely on grant funding to secure vital funding that supports their operations, programs, and missions. Securing grants is crucial for non-profits to sustain and expand their services.
Whether you are new to fundraising, an experienced development professional, or simply someone interested in a writing-focused career, acquiring grant writing skills can significantly enhance your career prospects and open up numerous opportunities.
Essential Grant Writing Tips for Newcomers
Once you’ve grasped the basics, you might be eager to dive into the world of grant writing. Here are our top 5 recommendations to help you get started as a grant writer:
Engage in a Real Project.
Identify a genuine grant opportunity and collaborate with a local nonprofit. If this feels overwhelming, start with sample grant proposal projects and training courses to gradually build your confidence.
Get a certification to become a certified grant writer.
Obtaining a certification can be a crucial step towards advanceing your grant writing career. Becoming a certified grant writer demonstrates your commitment to the profession and your expertise in grant writing. It adds a level of credibility that can set you apart from other writers.
Overcome imposter syndrome
Feeling like an imposter is common, even among seasoned grant writers. Don’t let it hinder you. Invest in developing your grant writing skills and seek real-world experiences to build your confidence and momentum.
Adopt a Process-oriented Approach
Break down the grant writing process into manageable steps and procedures. You’ll create a reliable framework for success by mastering these learnable components.
Seek Guidance and collaboration.
Learning grant writing on your own can lead to mistakes and inefficiencies. Connect with experienced grant writers and benefit from their knowledge and insights. Grant writing is a craft that thrives on collaboration and shared learning.
How Do Grant Writers Interact With Clients?
As mentioned above, before starting work on a project, grant writers spend considerable time discussing requirements, fundraising, grant opportunities, the organization’s mission, and other relevant subjects.
The goal is to learn as much as possible about their intentions with the grant and ask for all material that could make their grant application more appealing.
For research grants, this discussion also includes asking about the research process, the incentive behind it, goals, progress, and coordinators.
Suppose there are any prototype pictures or alpha/beta results. In that case, they strengthen their chances of winning the grant money. The resumes of all the people involved in the research process are also collected.
It usually takes about a day or two to collect everything necessary. After that, the writer is on their own. They create an outline before starting work to have something to guide them. From this point onwards, the research process begins. If writers need anything else, they should inform the client of their intention to discuss the project via email or direct message.
It is important to remember that clients pay a sum to the grant writers. Therefore, they expect to remain in the loop about how far along their project is.
The grant writing process is relatively slow; clients know that well enough. Despite that, a great grant writer should make a point of welcoming any communication attempts from clients.
Bottom Line for Grant Writers
Differences in actual responsibilities come from the host company from role to role. Some employers may have them working on multiple different kinds of written grant proposals and applications. In contrast, others may require a single type of document.
Grant writing is a complex blend of technical and creative writing. It, therefore, has to be perfected over time if the grant writer is to succeed in the long term. It has mental stress factors, so grant writers must take leave when necessary.
For those just starting with grant writing, we recommend you email a nonprofit organization or grant writing service for an internship instead of winging it from the start. You can also reach out to grant writers who have already mastered the craft of grant writing for guidance.
You will learn much about what a grant writer does, the research process, how to handle clients, and more. Once you are confident about your abilities, feel free to apply for a job within the professional sphere and make the most out of your years of experience, education, and exceptional grant writing skills.
FAQs
Here are answers to the most common questions about what a grant writer does. You’ll see more in our grant writing course, which teaches you how to use grant funding application and project management principles to write grants and win business.
What does it take to be a grant writer?
To become a great grant writer, you need to have excellent communication skills and work well with people from various backgrounds. The grant process typically starts by reading through what is requested (i.e., research funding, community development), who’s asking it (the organization or individual), and why they need funding.
Is writing grants hard?
Grant writing is hard if you’re not familiar with grant processes. But if you know what to expect and do your research, grant writing can be a gratifying profession.
Can anyone write grants?
If you want to become a great grant writer, it’s helpful to have a certification or Bachelor of Arts degree in English or Communications with several years of experience in a related profession. These professions include researchers, journalists, or project managers within social services, government agencies, or private organizations.
What industries hire grant writers?
Grant writers are in demand across various industries, including healthcare, education, community development, scientific research, and the arts. Nonprofits, government agencies, community health centers, educational institutions, and research organizations often need grant-writing expertise.
How long does it take to write a grant proposal?
The time it takes to write a grant proposal can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the grant and the specific requirements. On average, completing a well-researched and structured grant proposal can take three weeks to a month. Experienced grant writers might be able to complete grant proposals more quickly, especially if they are familiar with the funding agency and the requirements.
What is the success rate for grant proposals?
The success rate for writing proposals can vary depending on the grant’s competitiveness, the proposal’s quality, and the grant writer’s experience. On average, a good grant writer might expect a success rate of about 20-30% of their proposals. However, this can be higher for grant writers with more experience and those who know how to write proposals for a specific industry.
What are the key elements of a successful grant funding application?
A successful grant funding application includes several key elements: a clear and compelling narrative, a detailed budget, well-defined goals and objectives, thorough research and data to support the need for funding, and a strong alignment between the funder’s mission and the project’s objectives. Adherence to the funder’s guidelines and criteria is crucial for success when writing grant proposals.
If you’re new to grant writing and looking to break in, we recommend taking our Grant Writing Certification Course. In it, you will learn the fundamentals of grant writing, how to dominate grant writer interviews, and how to stand out as a grant writer candidate.
