Imagine this scenario: You’ve come up with a new project for your nonprofit. However, this project will not only require more of your already stretched resources, it’s far enough outside your normal scope that you’re not sure if your regular donors will be able to offer support. This situation is the perfect opportunity to apply for a grant.
Grants are a necessary part of any organization’s fundraising plan. Although nonprofits shouldn’t rely on grants as their primary source of income, it’s a way to earn extra fundraising for new programs and can sometimes account for up to 20% of your organization’s total funds. However, applying for a grant is more than just randomly selecting a grant and filling out an application. Grant proposals are detailed documents that require your time and effort (and writing skills!). If your organization is considering applying for a grant (and if you aren’t, you should be), you should also consider whether your organization should hire a professional to write your grants.
Writing grants takes time
In your position, you may simply not have the time to devote to writing a successful grant.The process of writing a professional grant can take up to a month, and requires an incredible amount of detail. To create a successful grant proposal, you will need in-depth interviews with staff and others involved with your organization, as well as concrete objectives, assessment methods, financial expectations, and implementation strategies. Additionally, many grants require a letter of inquiry before your organization can receive an application. By hiring a grant writer, you’ll have someone who is specifically dedicated to the grant proposal, and who will have the time to craft a thorough and thoughtful proposal.
Grants require research
Each year, over $50 billion dollars are awarded in grants, which also means that there are hundreds of available grants. However, sifting through these grants can be a challenge. Professional grant writers not only have experience writing grants, they also have experience navigating the different sites, databases, and archives that list available grants. They’ll not only know where to find grants, they’ll also be able to determine the best ones for your organization.
Every proposal is unique
As tempting as it can be to recycle information for each proposal, grant writing isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Every grant has its own guidelines, so your proposal needs to be tailored to the specific grant. Proposals can sometimes be 100 pages, and most proposals use specific words and language when outlining their objectives and methods of assessment. If you decide to hire a professional to write your grants, he or she will likely already be aware of the ins and outs of proposal writing, and will already be familiar with the language that should be used.
Your staff is busy
It can be tempting to pass grant writing responsibilities to other members of your staff, but it’s likely that they already have a lot on their plates. As a result, those proposals may not be as well-written, or may contain minor errors that your staff doesn’t have time to fix. This is why a grant writer is valuable. By reaching out to a professional, you’ll be able to take the burden off your staff, and trust your grant applications to the people who have the time and energy to create detailed proposals.
Grants allow your organization to help the community, and provide an extra source of funding so you can add new programs and services. By hiring a writer who can create a compelling grant proposal, you’ll demonstrate that your organization is competent, responsible, and ready to change the world. If you’d like more information about grants or have any questions about the process, get in touch with our team— we’d love to help!