Hiring a Grant Proposal Writer

Recently, I discussed some government grant basics and locating a writer to draft the grant proposal portion of the application ‘package.’

So, you’ve decided to pursue applying for one of the government grants with billions of dollars given to individuals, small business owners, local governments, schools, and non-profits. Above all, government grants are intended to improve the economy, the environment, or health of Americans, and your purpose for needing a grant ties into one of these goals.

Although grants are often perceived as some sort of ‘free money from the government’ free-for-all, it’s a misconception. Billions of endowment dollars mean thousands of grants which in turn means thousands of applicants. This means, competition for a grant is high. For example, the need to lower youth violence in the U.S. remains a focus. As such, the government has grants for entities with viable, feasible solutions to this problem. Millions of communities are vying for this money to deter youth violence. If your need for a grant falls under this purpose category, just imagine your competition here. But, whatever your grant need/purpose, even a small chance for success is a chance. Your candidate package has to be strong to at least ‘make the cut’ among the thousands of submissions. Enter: the grant proposal writer. 

Hiring Tips

Along with the standard application comes request for a full written grant proposal. A grant proposal details why you deserve the grant, how you intend to carry out the requirements, etc. For a small grant (under $5,000), you may be able to research and pull off doing it yourself. For larger grants (over $5,000) and if you’re inexperienced with writing grant proposals, hire a professional grant writer. Some tips:

1. Utilize the internet for your search and don’t limit yourself to local prospects. Freelance writers are ideal and are easy to find online. You want writers with experience writing grant proposals. Winning a grant is serious business, so take it seriously; don’t consider those who write for a ‘hobby.’ You’re recruiting a professional grant writer.
2. Don’t just hire any writer. Although professional, content writers or novelists likely won’t do here. Grant proposals determine your eligibility to receive free funding for a particular project, like business expansion or youth violence prevention. As mentioned, one grant can receive thousands of application submissions (proposals). A proven way to have your proposal stand out is with an experienced grant
3. Hire a grant writer who specializes in your category. Government grants come in different types and formats, with focuses including crime reduction, climate change, health concerns, and agriculture. If you’re a shop owner looking to get a government grant to convert part of your shop’s infrastructure to include clean air equipment, consider hiring a grant writer with a background in environment protection. Remember: you’ll be working closely with them, providing the necessary information to tailor your proposal.
4. With paid grant proposals, ensure they’ll provide an editable softcopy document. In this age of digital interaction, that’s simple enough. But you want the ability to fine-tune the proposal if necessary.

Proposal in Hand

You’ve received your proposal, pages and pages of ‘looks good.’ Great. However, it goes without saying: review and proofread first. Even experienced, professional grant writers make mistakes. From typos to grammatical errors to something as mundane as the wrong contact information, these things should be checked. It’s not a bad idea to have another trusted individual review the proposal, too. Make any necessary changes and save/print the final version.

Using funding from grants to positively impact civilization is a great way of doing some good for the country (maybe the world). It’s a win-win for the government and you. Hiring a professional grant writer improves your odds of success to that end. Good luck.