Becoming An Expert In Grant Writing - 10 Tips For Freelancers

Grant writing is one of the most lucrative types of freelance writing, and if you can master it, you can greatly increase your earning potential as a freelancer. Grant writing involves completing an application process to obtain funding from an institution, such as the government, a corporation, or a nonprofit foundation. Companies and individuals will pay writers very well for grant writing services, which are absolutely integral to getting the funding that’s needed. As a grant writer, you will gather information about the subject of the proposal, then write and format the proposal itself, with your target audience in mind.

Here are 10 tips for freelancers interested in grant writing, to help you master this very profitable subspecialty of freelance writing.

  • Look at similar organizations or entities who have successfully obtained funding for similar projects. You can talk to people who have succeeded at getting funding, and even request a copy of their successful grant letter.
  • Find out what organizations have given out similar grants. This will help you and your client determine where to target your grant letter.
  • Stockpile samples of successful grants. You can look at other writers’ work and use it as a sort of boilerplate template when you’re determining the voice, style, and formatting that you want to use in your own work.
  • Try to network with individuals who work with the organization you’re asking for a grant. This isn’t always possible, but knowing the right people can give you and your client a tremendous advantage.
  • Become as familiar as you can with the project that’s looking for funding. When you’re freelancing as a grant writer, you’ll need to be able to convince an organization exactly why your client’s project is important, and why it deserves to be funded.
  • Read a foundation’s current guidelines for grants. This will let you know what types of projects they’re willing to fund, what their deadlines are, and other important information.
  • Frame your proposal in the context of a major regional or national issue. This helps to underscore the project’s importance, and to lend it a sense of relevance and immediacy.
  • Be realistic about what your client’s project can really achieve within its desired budget.
  • Keep things concise. Organizations that provide funding have to read through many, many grant letters. Keep yours clear, concise, and to the point. Don’t make it longer than it needs to be.
  • Be specific, using as many data points and tangible facts as you can to demonstrate that your project is realistic, actionable, and achievable within the target budget.
  • These are just a few pointers that can help you learn to master the art of grant writing, an endeavor that can greatly increase your earning potential as a freelancer.

© EtiCareers.com. All rights reserved.

#