Grant Writer -VS- Consultant and how to choose.
As a small business or a non-profit, you are managing several important aspects of your organization at once. One of the most important is: funding the organization. However, in today’s world – acquiring sufficient funding can be a gruelling process. Grant applications are becoming more complex and highly competitive. Thus, it makes sense to put your best foot forward when applying. Not every business needs a grant consultant or writer, but here are three tips to help you identify that need.
Grant Writer or Consultant?
Starting with the basics – you may either need a grant writer or a consultant. A grant writer, as the name suggests, is solely responsible for writing your grant, only one aspect of the grant.
Grant writers are usually freelancers and there are online services that can connect you with one.
Organizations may use this type of service if they have great ideas and a solid project proposal but lack the writing skills to put together a cohesive story. A grant consultant, on the other hand, can help you through the entire grant process with an “all hands on deck” approach. This can include searching for funding opportunities, application and project planning, research, writing and editing the application, and submission.
Funding and Resources
Apart from knowledge and expertise in grants, one of the main reasons grant consultants are needed is due to the costs and resources available for grant writing. If your organization is short on funds, grant consultants act as an investment to secure future funding. In addition, handling the grant internally requires time and resources. Most small organizations do not have in-house grant writers but rely on staff that have solid writing and project management skills. Let’s say, for example, your team has been successful in grant applications in the past. However, it’s a busy time of year and they just cannot prioritize grants over other essential needs of the organization.
Grant consultants have that “insider knowledge”. Having done this before multiple times, their expertise eases the stress and makes the application process easier for you and your team. Some applications are easier than others, so the nature of the application may sway your decision to hire a grant consultant rather than deal with lengthy, complex submissions.
Is grant consulting better suited for new non-profits/businesses or established organizations?
The short answer is both. New organizations usually lack experience in acquiring funding. A common mistake of first-time applications is applying for funds that the organization does not have the capacity to deliver - yet. This is where grant consultants fill the gap. They have first-hand knowledge of applicable grants or have the skills to find them. On the other hand, why would a successful organization need a grant consultant? Especially, if you have had successful grant applications for small grants in the past, consultants may help you expand to bigger funding amounts, more complex opportunities, and lengthy applications that your team may no longer have time or capacity for.