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Careers in Grant Writing
by Caroline S. Reeder
Grant writing is one of the most lucrative ways to do what
you love (write) and make a living. With more than 1.5
million nonprofit organizations in the United States, grant
writers are in high demand.
“Grant writer” is actually a misnomer since grant writers
actually write proposals to get grants. Grant writers work
primarily for nonprofit organizations and governmental
agencies, many as independent contractors or freelancers.
What skills do you need to be a grant writer? Good writing
skills are only the beginning. Successful grant writers
share the following traits:
Power of Persuasion: Can you convince a friend to bungee
jump with a few, carefully selected words? Have a knack for
tugging at people’s heartstrings with your prose? A grant
writer’s main task is to convince a charitable foundation,
corporation or government agency to award a grant to your
organization. Your job is to “sell” a funder on a specific
project.
Ability to Herd Cats, er, Staff: Grant writing is not a
solitary activity. Many different parties are involved in
the development of a grant proposal, and as a grant writer,
it is your job to pull many disparate pieces together into
a cohesive whole. You will work intensively with the
program manager to flesh out ideas and work with others on
staffing, budgeting and general logistics.
A Vivid Imagination: Working with the program manager will
be essential but your own creativity will often be crucial.
Program managers are often “idea people” rather than planners.
Your job will often involve creating a detailed, meaningful
program and plan of action out of very sketchy information.
Grace Under Pressure: Grant writing is a deadline-oriented
occupation. Proposals are not prioritized by their order
of importance but by when they are due to a funding agency.
Remember pulling all-nighters in college? Occasionally you
will have to relive those grueling, coffee-fueled nights to
complete a proposal on time. Planning, writing and
compiling the components of a grant proposal are time
consuming, and funders have very stringent deadlines. If
the deadline is 5:00 p.m., turning your proposal in at 5:01
p.m. will disqualify you from the competition.
How lucrative is grant writing?
Grant writers who work as independent contractors usually
make a higher hourly wage than those who work full-time for
nonprofits or governmental agencies. This rate varies
dramatically, ranging from $40 to $100 an hour depending on
level of experience. Salaries for full-time grant writers
start at about $30,000. Beware of requests to work on a
contingency or percentage basis in which a client offers
to pay you a designated percentage of the total grant
awarded. There are two negatives with this scenario:
1) If they don’t get the grant, you don’t get paid, and
2) it is considered unethical by most professional
organizations because it encourages the grant writer to
get the grant at any cost. This can lead to stretching
the truth and other unsavory behaviors. More importantly,
grant writers are skilled professionals who should be
compensated for their time and expertise regardless of
whether a grant is awarded. Many factors determine whether
a grant is funded and most have little to do with the
quality of the writing.
Getting Started
Several organizations offer grant writing classes and
workshops. You may find a low or even no-cost
introductory workshop through educational or nonprofit
agencies. Check with local colleges or the United Way
for offerings. National organizations which offer grant
writing training include the Grantsmanship Center
( www.tgci.com ) and the Foundation Center (
www.fdncenter.org ).
You can also find many resources on grant writing at your
local library such as the Grantsmanship Center’s Program
Planning and Proposal Writing, an excellent introduction
to grant writing.
Actual grant writing experience helps, too. You may have
trouble landing a paying job with only coursework under
your belt. Don’t let this deter you. One way to get
experience is to volunteer for a nonprofit organization.
What social causes interest you? Contact local
organizations aligned with your interests about
volunteering as a grant writer.
Grant writing can be a very rewarding occupation. You
get to write, make a contribution to society, and
contribute to your own well-being.
BIO
Caroline Reeder is a grant writer, freelance writer,
and artist in Houston, Texas. She can be reached at:
caroline_reeder@sbcglobal.net
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