What Not To Do When Hiring a Grant Writer

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What Not To Do When Hiring a Grant Writer

Before hiring a grant writer, make sure to look through these don’ts so you know what NOT to do.

Do not pay a percentage of what you will receive.

This is unethical and grant writers do not work based on commission. They are paid for their work regardless of if the grant is awarded. However, hiring a grant writer may significantly higher your chances of being awarded the grant – with their experience and expertise.

Don’t treat your grant writer as an employee unless he/she is.

Most grant writers are independent contractors and are paid on an hourly basis. So make sure you are using their time effectively.

Don’t expect that they understand everything about your organization/company.

Communication is key, and Grant Writers are not mind readers. The more information you give over, the more it will allow your grant writer to write and research grants most effectively.

Do not select a grant writer only based on their fees.

You get what you pay for, and it is most important to ensure your grant writer has the right experience to work on grants in your sector.

Don’t overextend your organization financially.

If you do not have the funds to pay for a grant writer, make sure that you allocate those funds before. You will not be paying your grant writer from the grant funds if you are awarded. 

Do not expect 100% approval.

Grants are never a guarantee, and you won’t receive every grant you apply for. Many grants are competitive and there are many other applicants applying for the same grant. Moreover, grantors have a limited amount of funds to give and will award the grant to where they see fit. Therefore, it is imperative to apply for multiple grants. Additionally, it is important to prepare a clear and organized grant proposal.

Do not expect fast money.

Grants take time and patience is required. Grantors can take weeks or months to award an organization. It may also take some time for the funds to be sent out. 


Don’t hire a grant writer if your organization is not ready.

You must ensure that you have an organized plan for your organization’s plans and goals. Moreover, make sure to have a budget plan and your accounts in check. This is essential information to find and write a grant, as this information must be available and ready. Furthermore, this is necesary to have a clear and concise grant proposal written.

Happy Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks to Our Grant Writers

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Happy Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks to Our Grant Writers

We want to thank our Grant Writers that are dedicated to their clients and strive to produce the best work for them!

Communication

Our grant writers possess a great level of communication. Communication is essential between the grant writer and the client to ensure that both parties understand the work that is being done and how to move forward. This eliminates a lack of confusion when preparing the project’s works. 

Dedication

Our grant writers are dedicated to their clients and their work. They listen to what their clients need and transfer it into an excellent piece of work. 

They are dedicated to finding grants for their clients that they qualify for. Many of our grant writers utilize GrantWatch as a grant database to search for grants.

Furthermore, they are dedicated to creating long-lasting relationships with their clients. If the client would like to apply for more grants, the grant writer can add deliverables to the contract and can continue to work with their clients.

Problem Solvers

Our grant writers seek to solve any issues that may come along, so that their clients are satisfied with their work and the process with GrantWriterTeam. 

They can call GrantWriterTeam to discuss any technical issues that may occur, and together – we solve the problem in the best way possible.

Excellent Writers

Our grant writers are experienced writers and know how to appeal to the grantors. You may visit our success page to view the grant writing successes on GrantWriterTeam.

All of our grant writers have been awarded at least 3 grants that they have written, and this can be seen in the bids that clients receive on their request before accepting a grant writer’s bid.

At GrantWriterTeam, it is important for us to show our gratitude to the grant writers on the team for working well with their clients and producing exceptional pieces of work.

Thank you to all our grant writers for bidding on the grant writing projects and working to fulfill our grant seeker’s dreams.

Thank you to all our clients for working with our GrantWriterTeam and creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don’t let COVID-19 Slow Down Your Grant Writing Efforts!

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By Quentin2, Ph.D., a Grant Writer on GrantWriterTeam

Don't Let Covid-19 Slow Down Your Grant Writing
Write – Image from Pixabay

To many, COVID-19 has been a nightmare and bane to individuals and businesses in many countries worldwide. In many of these settings, the result is mass unemployment, poverty, food lines, food banks, and utter despair. We as Grantwriters have a unique opportunity to actually benefit in spite of the more often negatively reported impact of the pandemic. in fact, COVID-19 actually offers us some unique opportunities;

C is for the confidence that our clients show in initially signing up for GrantWriterTeam and selecting us to pursue their grant getting dreams. This confidence is shored up by us as we assertively search and find sources within our constantly growing and abundant databases. That confidence is extended in the faith through which our clients trust us as we assemble and submit fundable grants. This process, in the main, is unencumbered by anything “COVID-19 like”.

O is for our abilities to observe trends, styles and scenarios set in place by the funding agencies and extend those observations to our clients. We observe and orchestrate the fit between our clients’ capabilities to sustain grants and the demands of the funding agencies. This process also seems immune to the societal shock waves caused by an uncertain COVID-19 crisis. We further observe that social distancing masking, and super spreader events are irrelevant to the grant getting process.

V is for the vigilance we must show to offset the swarm of doom and gloom messages often conveyed by the media to our clients regarding stalls in the workforce and economic contingencies. We as Grant writers know the truth that the viability and validity of the robust grants in our database have to be mined and will, “with all things being equal” yield phenomenal chances of being funded.

I is for the Letter of Intent which is the entry point we use to introduce our clients to finding agencies. Our hellos are not punctuated with the distance mandated during this crisis, but actually pulls our clients ever closer to receiving their requested funds.

D is for the determination we show in meeting our clients by ”any means necessary”, we Skype, Zoom, phone, and social distance our way, even as COVID-19 grows around us. We have the opportunity to thrive in this pandemic if we just breathe lightly.

Veterans Day: The Grants, the Organizations, and the Support

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Veterans Day
Iwo Jima Memorial at Dusk. Original image from Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress collection. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.

Veterans Day is more than just a day off from school or work. Whether you are a veteran, a relative of a veteran, or a USA resident, you are aware of this federal holiday.

History of Veterans Day

Historically, this day was called “Armistice Day”. It was a day to remind nations to strive for peaceful relationships. However, over the decades this day has taken on a new significance. On November 11th, we celebrate those that have fought for our country. 

It is important to realize that Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day. Veterans Day honors all individuals that served our country, whether during war or peace. It is largely to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. While Memorial Day honors those that have fallen while serving our country.

The Struggles of Veterans

Many veterans suffer from mental issues and physical disabilities due to the hardships brought out by their services for this country. Veterans may suffer from anxiety, depression, and PTSD as a result of the sights they have seen of war and terror. This causes a great detriment to veterans’ lives. Moreover, many veterans fall to suicide due to these mental issues. 

Furthermore, numerous veterans are physically disabled. Our warriors often become injured warriors from active duty in the military. The physical and mental consequences are endured long after they have served our country.

These disabilities have shown to greatly affect the lives of our veterans. It is imperative to support and honor those that have sacrificed so much to fight for our country.

Nonprofits and Government Agencies

Thankfully, there are several government agencies and nonprofit organizations that seek to better the lives of our warriors. The wounded warrior project and the VA are only two of the many organizations that operate programs to support veterans enduring mental and physical injuries. 

Grants and Fundraising

These nonprofits generate revenue through donations and grants. To support our veterans, we can donate to organizations that benefit their lives.

Fortunately, GrantWatch has many grants specializing in the veterans category. The Operation Rebound Fund is offering grants to USA first responders, military personnel, and veterans with disabilities for sports programs. The Raytheon Technologies Grant is for USA Nonprofits in eligible states for initiatives to benefit active-duty military personnel, veterans, and military families. 

Moreover, there is a nonprofit organization looking to hire a grant writer for their veteran suicide prevention program. Grant Writers can be hired at GrantWriterTeam to improve the chances of being awarded the grant.

YouHelp.com has numerous fundraising campaigns for veterans. As an example, The Colerain Veterans Memorial is raising funds to build a memorial to honor all veterans – past, present, and future. The memorial will also be used as an educational tool to teach individuals about the wars that America has been involved in over the years.

Support our Veterans

To show our support to our veterans, be sure to donate to the many organizations that help our veterans. Furthermore, if you are a veteran or know a veteran, reach out to the many nonprofit organizations and government agencies available, to seek the help that is needed. 

We must also be aware of and spread awareness of the struggles facing our heroes. For, without awareness, there is no change. So wave your flags and salute our veterans who have worked tirelessly to create a safer America. Acknowledge their sacrifices and help those who have helped our country!

NonProfits and Charities Suffer from COVID-19: Grants are Needed

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NonProfits and Charities Suffer from COVID-19: Grants are Needed
Grant Funding Needed For Nonprofits and Charities Suffering from COVID-19

Economic Downfall Due to COVID-19

Many nonprofit organizations have suffered tremendously, as a result of an economic downfall during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lack of Donations

Many charitable organizations rely on donations to keep their programs operating. Yet, a tremendous amount of people have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their own families! Therefore, many donors have held back on donations. The lack of donations has had an immense effect on nonprofits worldwide.

Moreover, many nonprofits hold events to fundraise. Although, when events deemed to be unsafe during the pandemic. There was a lack of an avenue to receive funding. Many nonprofits rely heavily on these events, as they bring in much of the donations they receive each year. 

Greater Need for Services

Despite the decline of revenue, many organizations are needed more than ever! Nonprofit organizations seek to benefit the lives of those that are in need – at no cost. So many individuals are turning to charities for help. Due to COVID-19, individuals are suffering economically, and are in need of several resources. For example, many people are in need of food pantries, free healthcare, shelters (for the many that became homeless during the pandemic), etc.

On GrantWriterTeam, a growing charity in Canada is seeking to hire a grant writer. This charity provides feeding for the hungry/homeless, clothing and shelter for the destitute, cares for seniors, and educates the youth of their communities. During these trying times, these services are needed more than ever!

Grants

With a lack of donations and fundraising events, there is a tremendous demand for funding for nonprofits and charities during Covid-19. Furthermore, with an even greater request for their services, monies are essential to keep their programs afloat.  That’s why organizations are turning to grants for help, more than ever! 

GrantWatch allows you to look for grants for your nonprofit in an efficient manner. There are many categories of grants, such as Coronavirus Covid-19, Community Services, Nutrition, Financial Assistance, etc.

Hire a Grant Writer

Grant writers are also essential to the grant writing process. With their expertise, they can research grants for your nonprofit. They will find the grants that are most appropriate for your organization to apply for. Moreover, they are excellent writers and experienced in grant writing. There is no need to hassle over a headache to write a tedious grant application. The grant writer will write the grant for you!

The price to pay a grant writer is only a small percentage of the grant you may be awarded. Hire a grant writer on GrantWriterTeam for your nonprofit today, and secure the proper funding to ensure programs are still operating despite the loss of revenue. Furthermore, increase your chances of winning the grant by having a professional find and write the grant(s) for you.

Writing For A Cause: Happy National First Responders Day

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National First Responders Day

Today is National First Responders Day. We celebrate this day to give back to our heroes that have given up so much for us! We honor our firefighters, police officers, EMT’s, and lifeguards. 

We want to dedicate this article in memory of Dr. Sam Law, a cousin of Althea,our Director of Marketing at GrantWatch.

Althea says of Sam, “He was the best ‘big brother ever’, he was on the ‘front lines’ helping COVID patients. He lost his life battling Covid-19.

He was doing what he loved. RIP.”

sammy

The pandemic has led to a drastic need for specialized equipment and programs for our first responders. Many EMT’s put their lives on the line to save those that were severely sick from COVID-19. 

EMT’s choose to take risks to save those that are affected by the horrific virus. Our first responders work in very stressful conditions and need the highest level of protection. To date, we also know that exposure, stress, pre-existing conditions, and vitamin deficiencies contribute greatly to susceptibility. 

Not only must we give our greatest gratitude to our first responders, but we need to find the funding to provide the resources needed for first responders.

Without them, people would not be receiving the help they need, and we would see many more deaths, whether from sickness, crime, fires, etc.

On GrantWriterTeam, there is a nonprofit organization that is seeking to hire a grant writer to provide resources for first responders suffering from PTSD. 

Police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel pay a high price due to their high-stress careers. Many of these people working high-stress occupations endure mental health issues such as PTSD, as a result of the horrific sites that they have seen on the job. 

As a grant writer, you have the privilege to make a difference in the world, and help those that are in need, such as our brave first responders.

man people woman travel
Photo by Kamaji Ogino on Pexels.com

Writing for a Cause

Grant Writing is not creative writing or blog writing. When writing a grant, you are writing to secure the appropriate funding for a specific cause. 

Nonprofit organizations turn to grants to fund their programs and services – to help those in need.

Each nonprofit organization is created based on a mission and a vision. As a grant writer, you must present the passion of their vision.

Grant writing is a rewarding job, as you are helping organizations provide much needed services for individuals and communities. You are writing for a cause, that has meaning to people’s lives!

Tips for Writing the Grant

To win the grant for your client, you must understand the cause for which the organization is fighting for. Their passion for their vision must be your passion, and your writing should resonate the intense need for the cause. 

Make sure to include facts in your grant proposal to prove why the organization’s cause is important and needed. Include statistics and specifics to prove your case, so that you can persuade the grantor to believe your mission.

Moreover, explain how the nonprofit’s programs and services will help serve the cause. 

By using GrantWatch.com, you can find grants for funding for the needs of first responders to help serve their cause.  GrantWatch has many categories of grants, such as community services, domestic violence, veterans, health and medical, etc. Allowing you to search for grants in an efficient manner.

To take on our grant writing projects and write for a cause, join our team of grant writers!

All the hard work of grant writing will pay off when you help an organization see their dreams and your dreams come to fruition! 

To all the first responders and the families of first responders, we at GrantWatch thank you and express our gratitude through our continued search for funding for your agencies. RIP, Dr. Sam Law.

What Is An LOI And How To Write One

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Letter Of Intent

What is an LOI

An LOI is a letter of intent/inquiry: Many Grantors will request an LOI as an initial letter before a grant proposal is submitted. Based on your letter of intent, the funding source will make the decision whether or not to accept a grant proposal from you. This way, the grantor can easily evaluate which organizations they feel are most viable to be considered for the award.

The grantor will also be able to receive a scope of how many organizations will be applying for the grant, and to prepare enough staff to review future grant proposals that will be submitted.

Remember that an LOI is your chance to create a good first impression for the funder. So be sure to follow all these steps for a successful LOI.

How to Write an LOI

Guidelines

Most grantors will provide you with guidelines of what they want in the LOI – these guidelines must be followed. Negligence to the guidelines will land your letter in the reject pile.

Summary

An LOI must be brief and engaging; it should summarize your grant proposal. At times, an LOI can be as long as 3 pages. Although this is not your grant proposal, so keep the letter clear and concise as to not bore the readers.

Business letter

Your LOI must follow a business letter structure. Be sure to use a business letterhead. Your company’s address should appear on the right-hand side and your recipient’s address needs to be on the left-hand side.

Since the LOI is written in a business letter style, you must write in a professional manner. It is best to avoid any general terminology to address the recipient.

Introduction

The opening part of your letter must be eye-catching as it is the first section that the grantor will be reading! It must be concise and engaging, so the reader is enticed to read further.

In your introduction, you must include your company’s name, the grant you are applying for, how much funding you are requesting, and a short summary of the project you need the money for.

It is extremely important to do your research on the funding source, so you can understand how to best appeal to the grantor. This will allow you to include how your specific project fits the funder’s interests and guidelines.

Programs and Objectives

After you have completed writing your opening on your LOI, write a brief summary of the history of your programs. The programs that you currently provide must align with the initiatives you seek to accomplish with the funding. 

Additionally, include a description of your target population and geographic area.

Make sure to elaborate on your objectives. It is essential to incorporate specifics, such as statistics, names of the programs, the program staff, etc.

Funding

Explain if you have received funding from any other sources and how much.  Be sure to mention any other grants that you have applied for.

Signing the LOI

Make sure to thank the funder for the opportunity to send in a letter of intent and to potentially apply for the grant. When signing the letter, use proper business salutations such as “respectfully” or “sincerely”.

There is an option to attach any additional forms to the LOI, but it is not necessary as this is not the grant proposal.

Review

Review the letter before submitting it. Check for proper spelling and grammar, factual mistakes, and that all guidelines were met. Make sure that what you have written in your letter of intent gives off the best impression of your organization!

Submit the LOI

Once your letter has been reviewed, submit your LOI to the funding source. Then you may wait for a message from the funder, through the post or email as to whether or not you have been accepted to submit a grant proposal to the grantor.

How To Break Into The Grant Writing Field

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Assess Yourself

If you are used to creative writing – get ready to enter a whole new field of writing. Grant Writing is challenging; It is extremely detail-oriented, analytical, factual, and technical. 

If you are a writer that generally procrastinates and fluffs up your work, grant writing is not the proper specialty for you. As grants must be written clearly and concisely. In addition to this, a grant writer must meet deadlines and work in an efficient manner to do so.

Further, grants require a lot of research and study – to create a grant proposal that includes correct information and that appeals to the grantor.

Make sure that grant writing is the right field for you before you commit to the work it will entail.

Learn about grant writing

There are many resources and classes you can take to learn about grant writing. In addition to this, there are many articles written that will help you learn more about grant writing, such as the Basic Steps Of The Grant Writing Process, 8 Success Habits of Top Grant Writers, and
How to Write A Winning LOI (Letter of Intent)

Moreover, many colleges offer a certificate program and/or classes in grant writing. There are also many books available that can provide you with essential grant writing information, such as The Only Grant Writing Book You’ll Ever Need.

Practice!

Firstly, subscribe to a grants database, such as GrantWatch. Allowing you to have the ability to view grants from all over the USA and from international countries.

Look over many grant proposal requirements and familiarize yourself with what is needed in a grant application. Remember, that grants are not only available to nonprofits, but for businesses and individuals too.

Write your first grant proposal. If you do not know of any organization or company that is willing to have you write a grant for them, it is perfectly ok to write a grant for yourself. 

Build your portfolio

To become a reliable and experienced grant writer, you must be able to show your accomplishments.

Try to find as many grant writing jobs as you can, even if you are working for free or for $10 an hour – consider these projects to be an internship job. You need the experience to take on bigger projects and to expect better payment.

In order to develop a clientele, build your network in the nonprofit community. 

You can also work for other grant writers to help them develop grant proposals for their clients. Moreover, you may learn a lot about grant writing from a professional that is experienced in this field!

Work as a professional and experienced grant writer

Once you have boosted your skills and have built your portfolio – you will be able to show your experience to potential clients. 

You can either do freelance work or work for a specific organization, as many nonprofits have a grant writer employed on their team.

Further, GrantWriterTeam can connect you with many different clients and will give you the ability to take on many grant writing projects! 

On GrantWriterTeam, you can create your own fees and be paid for your work.

Make sure to take on grant writing projects that you are passionate about – It is a great feeling to help nonprofits and for-profits see their dreams come true!

The Process of Hiring a Grant Writer on GrantWriterTeam

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Step 1: Submit a grant writer request

Submit a request for a grant writer on GrantWriterTeam. In your grant writer’s request, you will need to include your primary purpose for hiring a grant writer, your funding/dollar needs, grants you are requesting to be written, etc. Make sure to include all necessary information so that your request will give the grant writers an understanding of what your project consists of. If your request is incomplete, you may need to revise it.

There is a $50 administrative fee for the submission of your request. Once your grant writer request is complete and paid for, GrantWriterTeam will publish your request on our Grant Writing Projects list and send your request to highly skilled and experienced professional grant writers.

Step 2: Receive bids on your request

The grant writers will respond with bids for your project, with their experience, expertise, a list of awarded grants, and writing samples.

They will also include their pricing structure. Grant writing fees vary according to the grant writer’s experience and expertise and the economy of the location where the grant writer resides. Grant writers set their own hourly fees, ranging from $40 an hour and up, for research, writing, and curriculum development. 

If you request a specific grant to be written, the bid will include a flat-rate fee for that grant, so you will be able to know how much the grant writer will charge for the entirety of the grant writing work for each grant requested in your project.

Step 3: Accept a bid

After you accept a bid– the grant writer will be given your contact information and will phone or email you. 

Step 4: Prepare a contract

Together you and the grant writer will be able to set up an online contract for your project, which consists of a retainer and a series of deliverables. With the contract, before you approve, you will be able to review the grant writer’s full resume and two references.

Step 5: Approve the contract

Once the contract is submitted to you for approval, you may request changes to be made to your contract. When the contract is approved, you need to pay the agreed-upon retainer and your grant writer will then start your project. Once each deliverable is complete, your grant writer will upload the completed work – requiring payment for the deliverable, and then you will be able to view the file(s) uploaded.

Step 6: Add more work needed

Would you like to work with your grant writer after all deliverables are complete? Simply ask your grant writer to add a new deliverable. You will then have to approve the newly added deliverables because they were not approved when you originally approved the contract. The grant writer can then proceed as usual and upload a file of completed work once each deliverable is completed.

Contact us

We at GrantWriterTeam are here to help you! If you have any questions regarding your process with GrantWriterTeam, email us at Support@GrantWriterTeam.com.

Grant Writer’s Guide on How to Keep Your Clients Happy:

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Grant writing is a service, and like all services, we want the client to be satisfied and happy. This is important as it can lead to a long-term relationship with your clients and thus, they can bring in more projects and more work for you. 

Furthermore, it can alleviate much of the grant writing stress. An upset client can ruin a project. It may mean payment will not be made on time, the client may opt-out and hire a new grant writer, etc. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that your client is satisfied and happy.

Communication

Communication is key to every relationship. The same goes for a relationship between a grant writer and his/her client. When speaking to your client, make sure that you are clear and understood. You do not want the client dissatisfied with your work because he/she wanted something else to be done or did not understand the procedure.

Further, make sure to contact your client right away when a bid is accepted or when the grant seeker hires you. This presents a level of professionalism and responsibility – that you are reaching out to the client immediately. This will be much appreciated by your client.

Always respond to emails and phone calls. Do not leave your client wondering what is going on with the project; this can lead to much frustration and confusion. If you are unavailable at the time, respond to the email or call and let your client know that you are unavailable and will respond or call back in a certain time frame. 

In addition to this, update your client constantly so that your client is aware of what is going on with the project, what work is being done, what is needed, when to pay, etc.

Collect documents

Be sure to collect all documents necessary from the client. No one is happy when the client is scrambling for paperwork the date of the grantor’s deadline!

Transparency

Be transparent with all your work for your grant writer.

Create a contract with a series of deliverables (similar to GrantWriterTeam’s contract template), so that the client knows clearly what date the work will be completed. This will also help you complete the project in a timely fashion.

Moreover, make sure that each deliverable is clear as to what work will be delivered. So that the client is aware of the process and the work before signing the contract. If any confusion occurs, you can always point the client to the contract that he/she signed.

When submitting a draft to the client in your deliverable, be sure to label it as a draft – so that the client does not get upset from errors that may appear.

Professionalism

Always keep a professional decorum so that the client is ensured that they are in good hands. You need the client to trust your work and believe that you will provide excellent work to them.

Check your spelling and grammar for anything that you send to your client. You must maintain a professional persona in any of your emails, letters, and conversations with the client. If your emails have errors, the client may think that your grant writing work will have errors.

If any mistakes are made, take responsibility for it, and happily fix your errors. If the client does not like something that is written – edit it, instead of not acknowledging their request because you believe that you know better.  Many grant writers seek to create the best proposal to get the grant awarded. Since the client is paying you for your work, their requests must be completed accordingly.

Create a long-term relationship

Thank your client for working with them and let them know that you are available for any further work that may be needed in the future. If your client is happy, chances are that he/she will contact you if he/she needs grant writing services again.

GrantWriterTeam allows you to work for many different clients, and to build long-term relationships. Deliverables can always be added to a contract. We also seek to ensure that all of our grant writers and their clients are happy with the work completed and the process. We check in on our clients at times to ask how satisfied and happy they are with their grant writer’s work and process of things.