There’s really no time like the present to consider contracting out for grant writing services. If your organization does not have a staff grant writer – someone whose sole responsibility is grant writing and grant administration – chances are, you’re not getting nearly enough grant writing done.  Often, organizations assign grant writing to someone in the organization who is already maxed out with their “normal” responsibilities or who has no experience grant writing but wasn’t bold enough to say ‘no thank you’ to the assignment.  Other times, a well meaning volunteer is cajoled into taking on the task.  Volunteerism is grand and definitely a great source for free services for non-profits, but successful grant writing takes a particular skill set and knowledge of the grant writing process so unless you’re prepared to deal with a lot of trial and error and missed funding opportunities, you might consider calling in outside help.

Freelance grant writers are readily available.  The trick is finding one that meets your organization’s needs.  Start with your local grant and resource center or small business assistance program.  Grant centers will often provide a list of qualified grant writers that they personally know and have worked with or who have gone through their training sessions so you can have some level of confidence that you’re connecting with a skilled individual.  Also talk to other non-profits or similar businesses in your area to find out if they’ve had success using a particular grant writer in the past – but beware, sometimes they don’t want to share their resources if you are in similar fields of service and could be competing for the same grant funds.  Any of these methods are safer than simply posting a job advertisement on Craig’s list or the local employment website.

That said, don’t limit yourself to the local grant writing scene which, in some cases, can be very limited if you’re outside of a major metropolitan area.  Visit websites like the Association of Fundraising Professionals or the American Grant Writer’s Association, which publish consultant’s directories and/or operate a free referral service. And remember, your grant writer doesn’t need to be located in the same town as you. Today, 100% of the grant writing process can be done over the phone and online, which is why freelance grant writing is a more viable option today than it was even ten to fifteen years ago.

If you’re not ready to or can’t afford to commit to bringing on paid staff to focus solely on grant writing, consider hiring a freelance grant writer. Freelancers are responsible for their own insurance and worker’s compensation if they have employees. You don’t pay payroll taxes on a freelancer or consultant, either. Expect to pay anywhere from $75-$200 per hour for a qualified grant writing professional. The price tag may seem high at first glance, but remember that a) the freelancer is paying all of his/her own expenses including self-employment taxes, and b) you get what you pay for.

Look for our next blog which will discuss how to pay a grant writer and tips for interviews and contracting…