A slightly cheeky title for a very practical conversation. So long as it earns one knowing chuckle, I’ll be satisfied 😀
Many clients are new to working with a grant writer and bring diverse expectations to our collaboration. Some need support only on specific sections or attachments (e.g., knowledge mobilization plans, budgets and justifications) while others are looking for full-spectrum support. Every grant writer has a different process, but it should always be a collaboration. We become a team, working closely together.
Why Work With a Grant Writer?
Reaching out for help can propel you forward. Even on a tight budget, working with a professional will boost your capacity, unlock new knowledge and resources, and improve your chances of securing funds—ultimately breaking that scarcity mindset and introducing new opportunities.
You may choose to work with a grant writer because you don’t have the time, personnel, or skillset to do it in-house, or because you’re unfamiliar with certain funding bodies. Whatever the case, a grant writer will guide you through the process. While we generally are not magicians, we do save you time, stress, and money.
How Grant Writers Can Benefit You
- Grant writers can take on prospective research (finding new funding opportunities)—a task that is often time-consuming. For overworked teams, the research feels overwhelming and onerous, often sitting on the side of their desks for as long as possible. Hiring a grant writer can provide you with a list of results quickly and efficiently, allowing you to access new opportunities faster.
- The grant writer becomes a reliable expert for you and your team. We know the application instructions front to back, understand which items are eligible for your budget, and catch details that are easy to miss. We also stay on top of current trends in the funding landscape, helping you position your work in ways that align with funder priorities.
- For non-profits, hiring outside support helps keep your overhead low. You get professional expertise without the added costs of MERCs, such as benefits or RRSP/pension contributions. This can result in significant savings on wage and staffing costs.
- For academics, hiring a grant writer frees up your time for research and teaching obligations, among the many other activities you do as part of academic service. It also allows you to stay focused on the intellectual substance of the proposal rather than writing, formatting, and compliance.
- Maybe you already have a fundraising team, or you have research/support staff. It’s very likely that they’re juggling relationship-building, donor maintenance, and project management on top of meeting application deadlines. Outsourcing the writing component will enable them to focus on your partnerships and reputation.
- Grant writers are focused solely on your project. We’re dedicated to your proposal without getting pulled into internal bureaucracy or broader organizational administration, helping maintain momentum and meet deadlines efficiently.
You’ve Decided to Work With a Grant Writer, Now What?
If you’re ready to take the first step—congrats! Here are a few things you’ll need to do to prepare for a smooth collaboration and get your grant writer up to speed.
- Prepare yourself
- If you already have a funding competition in mind, take a few minutes to review the instructions so you know what to expect and what is expected.
- Know what your project will be. You don’t necessarily have to develop the entire plan ahead of time, but know your general approach: goals, a few potential outcomes, and strategy.
- Determine the scope of work
- Do you need support with every aspect of an application or just a few specific parts?
- What are your deadlines?
- What are your expectations of the grant writer, and how do these match the services they offer?
- Prepare materials
- You will need to share a lot of documentation and information with the grant writer. This may include previous grant applications, current budgets, finances, evaluations, and other relevant resources.
- You may be asked to provide core content such as background information, key references, or preliminary analysis to ensure the proposal accurately reflects your expertise in the field or sector.
- Communicate
- Connect regularly to help everyone stay accountable. This ensures that you’re on schedule to provide resources and feedback and the grant writer is on schedule to provide drafted material. Remember: this is a collaboration!
Working with a grant writer can be a highly valuable asset. Though one-off projects can lead to successful collaborations, ongoing relationships are key. The better we understand your research program or organization’s mission and strategy, the more effectively we can represent these in grant proposals. This understanding also improves prospect research, allowing us to think creatively and identify new funding opportunities for you to increase capacity and reach.
If you have questions about working with a grant writer, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to share information or talk things through—no obligation to book or move forward!
Thanks for reading! I’d love to know what resonated with you or any specific components you’d like to learn more about. Leave a comment, use the Contact page, or email me directly. Until next time!
jbr editing 