By Gail R. Shapiro
Many professional writers are asked to help charities write proposals for grants. How do you get started as a professional proposal writer?
Most of us began by volunteering to raise funds for a non-profit organization with which we already were involved. Others started by answering an ad for a grant writer. (Note: this term often is used incorrectly. The one who writes the proposal is a "grant proposal writer," the one who gives the money writes the grant). Many times, little or no compensation is offered by small or start-up non-profit organizations asking for proposal writing help. You obviously can choose to volunteer your time, either to get more experience in learning how to write proposals, or because you love the mission of the organization.
But for those who dream of becoming a paid professional in the field, it's important to understand that grant proposal writing is not simply creative writing. It takes training, as well as technical knowledge, both in non-profit management as well as in the "business" of your client's organization. It can also require knowledge of the funders in your particular geographic area, as well as each one's specific focus and priorities.
Most grant proposal writers are hired by non-profits, schools, and agencies. Many others are free-lance consultants working for a regular group of clients or taking occasional assignments. Beware of offers to pay you a percentage of monies raised! Working on a percentage basis (or small fee plus percentage) not only is not advantageous either to the client or the writer, but it also violates the Code of Ethics of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (www.afpnet.org), to which many of us belong. It is unlikely that a professional who cares about advancing philanthropy and donor-based fundraising would work on a commission basis. In addition to being unethical, it devalues your time and skills.
Most proposal writers charge by the project or by the hour, as it is difficult to tell ahead of time how long it will take to prepare a proposal, particularly if one has not worked before with a particular client. Much depends on what the client already has prepared, how cooperative they are about getting information to the writer in a timely way, whether this proposal is a top priority for them, and so on.
Before you accept even a volunteer position as a proposal writer, be sure that the program or project for which the client is requesting funds is fully developed, has a feasible budget, and a good evaluation component. Developing this material is the duty of the program staff who will be implementing the project or program. Missing any one of these components means that, in addition to being a proposal writer, you will be expected to serve as: program developer, evaluation specialist, and maybe even budget developer.
An experienced proposal writer normally has some knowledge of all these components and skills. If you are called upon to do more than write the proposal itself, make sure you are properly compensated. If you don't have experience in these areas, then volunteering with a NPO may be a good place to start one's career. Keep copies of all proposals you write, even those that are not successful. You can learn as much from failures as from successes.
Always be mindful of your client's confidentiality and proprietary information - grants are competitive, and the agency most likely will not want their work shared with others.
While the field is competitive, there is always room for good people in any profession. If you are not directly involved in providing vital services to a specific population to help them improve or change their lives, or in making your community more livable or beautiful, or in protecting our environment, then obtaining money for those who do this work is a great contribution to make to the world. We wish you well in your endeavors.
Carla C. Cataldo and Gail R. ShapiroExcerpt adapted from:Get That Grant, The Quick-Start Guide to Successful Proposals
BIOGail R. Shapiro, Ed.M, and Carla C. Cataldo, M.P.P., offer consulting services to non-profit organizations. Together they have 55 years of experience writing successful proposals in education, health, human services, transportation, the arts, and other fields. They have taught hundreds of students nationwide how to write polished, winning grant proposals.
Many professional writers are asked to help charities write proposals for grants. How do you get started as a professional proposal writer?
Most of us began by volunteering to raise funds for a non-profit organization with which we already were involved. Others started by answering an ad for a grant writer. (Note: this term often is used incorrectly. The one who writes the proposal is a "grant proposal writer," the one who gives the money writes the grant). Many times, little or no compensation is offered by small or start-up non-profit organizations asking for proposal writing help. You obviously can choose to volunteer your time, either to get more experience in learning how to write proposals, or because you love the mission of the organization.
But for those who dream of becoming a paid professional in the field, it's important to understand that grant proposal writing is not simply creative writing. It takes training, as well as technical knowledge, both in non-profit management as well as in the "business" of your client's organization. It can also require knowledge of the funders in your particular geographic area, as well as each one's specific focus and priorities.
Most grant proposal writers are hired by non-profits, schools, and agencies. Many others are free-lance consultants working for a regular group of clients or taking occasional assignments. Beware of offers to pay you a percentage of monies raised! Working on a percentage basis (or small fee plus percentage) not only is not advantageous either to the client or the writer, but it also violates the Code of Ethics of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (www.afpnet.org), to which many of us belong. It is unlikely that a professional who cares about advancing philanthropy and donor-based fundraising would work on a commission basis. In addition to being unethical, it devalues your time and skills.
Most proposal writers charge by the project or by the hour, as it is difficult to tell ahead of time how long it will take to prepare a proposal, particularly if one has not worked before with a particular client. Much depends on what the client already has prepared, how cooperative they are about getting information to the writer in a timely way, whether this proposal is a top priority for them, and so on.
Before you accept even a volunteer position as a proposal writer, be sure that the program or project for which the client is requesting funds is fully developed, has a feasible budget, and a good evaluation component. Developing this material is the duty of the program staff who will be implementing the project or program. Missing any one of these components means that, in addition to being a proposal writer, you will be expected to serve as: program developer, evaluation specialist, and maybe even budget developer.
An experienced proposal writer normally has some knowledge of all these components and skills. If you are called upon to do more than write the proposal itself, make sure you are properly compensated. If you don't have experience in these areas, then volunteering with a NPO may be a good place to start one's career. Keep copies of all proposals you write, even those that are not successful. You can learn as much from failures as from successes.
Always be mindful of your client's confidentiality and proprietary information - grants are competitive, and the agency most likely will not want their work shared with others.
While the field is competitive, there is always room for good people in any profession. If you are not directly involved in providing vital services to a specific population to help them improve or change their lives, or in making your community more livable or beautiful, or in protecting our environment, then obtaining money for those who do this work is a great contribution to make to the world. We wish you well in your endeavors.
Carla C. Cataldo and Gail R. ShapiroExcerpt adapted from:Get That Grant, The Quick-Start Guide to Successful Proposals
BIOGail R. Shapiro, Ed.M, and Carla C. Cataldo, M.P.P., offer consulting services to non-profit organizations. Together they have 55 years of experience writing successful proposals in education, health, human services, transportation, the arts, and other fields. They have taught hundreds of students nationwide how to write polished, winning grant proposals.
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