Do I Need To Hire a Grant Writer?

Contemplating whether you need a grant writer? Hopefully this article will help you decide!

Hiring a grant writer can be a great decision for individuals, organizations, or businesses seeking help in securing funding through grants. Here are several reasons why someone might choose to hire a grant writer:

• Experience– Applying for grants can be complex for the average applicant. Grant writers have expertise and experience in researching, applying and submitting grants. This knowledge can greatly improve chances for securing funding.
• Time– Applying for grants can also be time consuming. Depending on the type of sponsor and the complexity of the application, grants can take 10 hours to 100 hours to complete. Small foundational grants may take less time than a federal grant. With most organizations consumed with daily tasks, it can be difficult to find time to dedicate to grant research, let alone grant applications.
• Access– Most grant writers know where to find the funds! They can help identify relevant grants that match the goals and needs of the client, expanding the range of potential funding options.
• Compliance– Grant applications are sometimes very restrictive with things like font, headers and footers, spacing, margins, lines of text and more. A grant writer can ensure that the application is in compliance with these guidelines, reducing the risk of rejection due to technical errors or omissions.
• Strategy: Grant writers can assist in developing a plan which includes aligning the client’s objectives with available funding opportunities and creating a timeline for application submissions. Deadlines can be overwhelming and looming, but a grant writer will help things stay on track.
• Presentation: Grant applications require a professional and persuasive writing style. A skilled grant writer can articulate the client’s goals, objectives, and impact in a way that resonates with grant reviewers, increasing the application’s competitiveness.

While hiring a grant writer involves a financial investment, the potential return in the form of secured funding and the ability to advance meaningful projects can often outweigh the costs. Another great benefit of having a grant writer is that the documents developed for an application can be reused for other funding opportunities.

Shamaere Ashby, Access Granted Solutions