Three Paths to Becoming a Grant Writer
- Pat Kelsaw
- Apr 15, 2024
- 9 min read
Over the years, I’ve taught several courses about how to write grants. Teaching the basic foundations, the grant writing process, and tips on finding funding are frequently requested topics. During my workshops, I’ve also discussed the pros and cons of being a grant writer. But one thing that I haven’t done much, as a topic to focus on, is talk about how to become a grant writer.
That’s the topic I want to cover here, sharing three possible paths. We have all heard stories about grant writing, including horror stories. My goal is to bring this knowledge to others to explore their interest in this field – either as an actual writer or what you can bring as a subject-matter
expert (SME).
1. Work on a Project for a Nonprofit
By far, the most common way that people learn how to write grant proposals is by working or
volunteering at a nonprofit organization. If you’re looking for a foolproof way to move into
grant writing, it’s this one. This path doesn’t always require strong writing skills (although you’ll need them eventually). Also, this path doesn’t require subject-matter expertise. You can start on this path anywhere along your journey - fresh out of college, anytime along your
professional career, or even in retirement.
Initially, your role in a grant effort may be small and include tasks like reformatting resumes or CVs or collecting background information for personnel and consultants identified in the
proposal. With these scenarios, your core job responsibilities will have nothing to do with the
ACTUAL grant writing or seeking grant funding. However, because a typical grant is for a
project period of five years or less, finding and applying for grant funding is an ongoing job forany organization that relies on grant money.
Here’s a tip: keep a list of all the proposals you’ve ever worked on, including the name of the
funder, the type of project, the value of the award, what your contribution was, and the
proposal’s outcome (funded or rejected). Many nonprofits will ask for such lists from
candidates and, for better or worse, will judge your work, your writing, and skill level based on how many proposals have been funded.
2. Leverage Your Skills as a Writer
A third path to becoming a grant writer is one that many people who enjoy writing can take. If you work as a writer or aspire to become one, grant writing may seem like a natural
application of your skills and talents. Although some writers can find work as grant writers
based on the premise that “writing is writing,” it’s not as easy as one would think. Strong
writing skills are advantageous and will make establishing a career as a grant writer easier.
Through writing the Weekly Wisdoms posts, I am discovering, proposal writing indeed,
requires a different approach than writing a blog post, a research paper, or a novel.
Here’s a tip: If you are a writer (or aspire to become one) and wish to move into grant writing,
you must consider your ability to collaborate with others, your time management skills, abilityto follow application instructions, and work as a member of a proposal team. Unlike many other forms of writing, writing grant proposals is not typically a solo activity.
3. Consult on Proposals as a Subject-Matter Expert
Another common path to becoming a grant writer is through your expertise in a particular
subject-matter or field. The vast majority of grants are for projects rather than for core
funding (funding to cover basic operating expenses). Grant projects are often related to a
specialized area of focus. A subject-matter expert (SME) can assist with a proposal’s
development in several ways. For some proposals, an organization might need an SME with
expertise in a specific field or best practices area or even specific knowledge about the
geographic location. Another proposal effort might require someone with broad experience in areas such as education, youth development, or mental health who can help the organization’s staff translate technical concepts into more proposal-friendly language.
While many nonprofits have staff with expertise in their key areas of service or research, not
all do. And even if an organization employs subject-matter experts, schedule challenges and
workload issues may conflict with the grant development timeline, making it difficult to
involve in-house experts. For nonprofits, the way to fill this expertise gap is to contract with
subject-matter experts (SMEs). A board member with subject matter expertise is another
resource to consider that can reduce costs, providing their expertise as an in-kind donation to the organization.
Here's a tip: Do you have subject-matter expertise but don’t like to write? You can still offer
your services as a grant writer. Many subject-matter experts (SME) working as consultants
often write very little of the proposal’s content. Instead, they may mainly serve as reviewers,
providing feedback on proposal drafts. You can also become a grant reviewer for the
government.
I encourage you to learn about and explore the many different grant writing paths as many
states and communities will receive funds from the pharmaceutical industry as a
consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic. Look in your region for grant
applications and programs for the prevention, treatment, recovery, and abatement of
substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Because grant funding is so critical to its existence, it can be difficult for a nonprofit to take
a chance on someone who has not worked on a grant proposal team before and who not only has limited knowledge of the nonprofit’s work, but also lacks familiarity with the various types of funders and various funding mechanisms. However, the ability to write well under pressure is a highly valued skill in proposal work, so once you have some proposal experience, you can find yourself in high demand! The more you know about grants, the more you grow.
Thanks For Reading and Thanks in Advance for Sharing This Resource with Others!
Join me at Big Mama’s Table:
“Diversify Your Fundraising Toolbox”
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 (ET)
Location: Virtual and FREE!
Registration closes soon!
At this free 1-hour webinar, you learn how to avoid the fundraising pitfall of relying on a
sole or single source of funding, such as a grant, that is time-limited; funds are restricted
to supporting program activities while not addressing your organization’s operational or
capacity-building needs.
Register by Thursday, April 18th 5:00 PM (ET) to ensure that you receive your
confirmation email with Zoom instructions!
From Big Mama’s Playbook:
Did you know:
Individuals, not foundations or corporations, are responsible for most annual
donations to nonprofit organizations. Donations from individuals account for over
two-thirds of all donations.
Career opportunities for development directors who raise funds for nonprofits are in
high demand. They understand that networking and building your donor base is
critical to financial a nonprofit’s success.
Grant Tip: Diversifying your funding is more than knowing where to find grant dollars.
Can’t afford a development director? Start learning how to secure sustainable funding from
diverse revenue sources by focusing on building an individual and major donor base, while
continuing to develop grant revenue.
Are you new to fundraising and grant writing?
My free 1-hour webinar:
Diversify Your Fundraising Toolbox offers a basic introduction to fundraising designed for non-profit staff and board members, especially those new to fundraising, who want to learn about and develop a clear strategy to diversify funding streams your organization’s needs.
Date: Saturday, April 20 th - 1:00 – 2:00 EST Registration closes Thursday, April 18th !
*Featured Grant Opportunities This Week:
Community:
Los Alamos Community Foundation (Los Alamos, New Mexico) invites applications for its
various grant programs – capacity building, youth sports, music organizations, and preserving history. Grant requests range from $600 - $5,000
Deadline: April 30 th at 5:00 PM (MT)
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, follow the link:
The U.S. Bank Foundation’s Community Possible Grant Program supports nonprofit
organizations in U.S. Bank’s 26-state geographic scope: AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY,
MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, and WY
Grants are provided in the following areas: workforce education and economic prosperity;
neighborhood stability and revitalization, including safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing;
and artistic and cultural enrichment, learning through play, and protecting and enhancing
outdoor places to play. Priority is given to organizations with an intentional mission to promote equity by serving those facing barriers to economic success, including low- and moderate-income communities, women, and communities of color. From the website: “New and emerging organizations bring balance to our grant making through our Letter of Interest (LOI) application. Nonprofit organizations new to the U.S. Bank Foundation may submit an LOI at any time during the year.”
For complete program guidelines and application instructions visit:
Seattle Foundation invites applications for its Neighbor to Neighbor Fund (N2N). Funding
supports grassroots efforts in South Seattle, White Center, and Kent that increase the
engagement, power, and influence of community members affected by poverty and racial
disparities. Quarterly deadlines – next deadline: April 30 th
Grants of up to $7,500.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, follow the link:
Education:
(new) The Dollar General Literacy Foundation invites applications for its Youth Literacy Grants program. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in support of efforts to help K-12 students who are reading below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading.
Deadline: April 25, 2024
For complete program guidelines and application instructions visit:
(new) Grants facilitate hands-on STEM activities for North Carolina students. The Burroughs
Wellcome Fund’s Student STEM Enrichment Program supports diverse programs in North
Carolina that enable primary and secondary students to participate in creative, hands-on STEM activities and pursue inquiry-based exploration. After-school programs are demonstrating value in helping to close opportunity gaps for underserved and underrepresented students. Grant awards provide up to $60,000 per year for three years.
Deadline: June 11, 2024
For complete program guidelines and application instructions visit:
The NEA Foundation invites applications for its Learning and Leadership grants. Learning and Leadership grants are intended to provide resources for educators hoping to engage in
professional learning that can be implemented in their classrooms. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in support of the professional development of NEA members.
Deadline: May 1, 2024
For complete program guidelines and application instructions visit:
The Greater Washington Community Foundation invites applications for its LEARN Foundation Scholarship, to support Prince George’s County youth, high school seniors residing in the vicinity of FedEx Field stadium in Landover, Maryland. The minimum scholarship amount is
$1,000.
Deadline: April 30 th
Health/Safety/Environment:
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health seeks to address oral health disparities “by investing
strategically and providing collaborative, capacity-building support…” CareQuest Institute is
offering two calls for proposals focused on oral health:
Veteran Oral Health - Funding will be provided for ten projects addressing system-level
barriers to oral health for veterans. The School-Based and School-Linked Initiatives grants
will be provided for ten projects that are engaging schools to address oral health, inclusive of access, for children and their families. Grant awards up to $125,000
Deadline: May 1, 2024
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, follow the link:
Racial/Economic/Environmental Justice:
The Nathan Cummings Foundation is a multigenerational family foundation, rooted in the
Jewish tradition of social justice, working to help create a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and
democratic society. The foundation has an approximately $17 million grantmaking budget for 2024 and seeks applications for funding in three categories: Venture, Advancement and
Enterprise. Grant awards from $100,000 up to $250,000.
Deadline: April 30, 2024
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the website.
Women/Girls:
The Lalor Foundation funds initiatives that bring women information and access to reproductive health care, contraception, and pregnancy termination to help broaden and enhance their options in life. Grants awarded through the program typically range between $10,000 and $35,000, with an average grant size of between $15,000 and $25,000.
Deadline: Concept papers are due by May 1, 2024, and selected applicants will be invited to
submit a full proposal.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the website.
*This listing primarily focuses on regions of the country and targets communities: urban/suburban/rural where I have lived or worked, or other places that touch my life – where I know people are working hard to make a difference. And besides regional and state-specific grants, national and Federal grant opportunities related to the health and well-being of communities and families will also be included in this listing.
*Featured Career Opportunities:
Fellowship Opportunity, California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). The CHCF Health Care
Leadership Program is a two-year, part-time fellowship widely recognized as a transformative
experience that helps clinicians to better lead change in a challenging, complex environment.
Early Educator Investment Collaborative, Program Assistant, Remote. The Program Assistant
will support the Director with a wide range of administrative and communications support. The Program Assistant will also provide support to The Collaborative’s Steering Committee. This position will be 37.5 hours per week from the employee’s home office.
New American Leaders, Multiple positions/internships. Headquartered in New York, New
American Leaders (NAL) is leading a movement for inclusive democracy by preparing first and second-generation Americans to use their power and potential in public office.
*(listings included here are not a personal endorsement or for promotional purposes, just sharing…)
Weekly wisdom, in their own words:
“In complete darkness, we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separate us. Don’t let your eyes deceive you.”
— Janet Jackson (1966 - )
Comments