When’s Best to Hire a Grant Writer? Five Things to Keep in Mind
Five Considerations To Determine if Hiring a Grant Writer is the Right Move for Your Organization.
As tempting as it might be to bring in a grant writer, hiring one too soon—or for the wrong reasons—can be more of a cost than a benefit. When resources are limited, nonprofits may feel pressure to secure grant funding quickly, but grants aren’t a fast fix. In fact, rushing into grant writing before you’re ready can set an organization back. Here are five critical points to consider before you hire a grant writer:
1. Grants Are Not a Quick Solution for Urgent Funding Needs
When organizations face financial stress, it’s natural to turn to grants as a lifeline. However, effective grant seeking is a strategic, time-intensive process. From researching potential funders to building relationships and crafting compelling proposals, a successful grant cycle takes time. In the meantime, diversifying income sources by strengthening individual donor support may provide the immediate, sustainable funding you need to weather tight budgets.
2. Grant Success Requires a Strong Foundation
Before diving into grant applications, ask: does your organization have the structure and systems to manage a grant if awarded? This includes financial reporting capabilities, impact measurement tools, and a clear strategy for managing and stewarding grant relationships. Without this foundation, you risk losing future funding or damaging your reputation with funders.
3. Tailored Proposals Outperform Generic “Template” Submissions
A proposal that’s “shopped out” to numerous funders is rarely successful. Effective grant applications require a targeted approach, aligning your project with each funder’s priorities and objectives. Investing in research to find the best match for your organization can make all the difference in securing funding.
4. Relationship Building is Central to Grant Success
Grants aren’t just about proposals—they’re about partnerships. Many foundations prioritize funding organizations they know and trust, which means building relationships with potential funders should start well before any proposal is submitted. Whether through phone calls, informational meetings, or networking events, taking the time to connect can open doors that a well-written application alone cannot.
5. Many Funders Want to See a Track Record of Grant Success
Securing that first grant can be a challenge since many funders look for an established grant record. If your organization hasn’t won grants before, consider tapping into your network: board members, volunteers, and donors may have connections to family foundations or companies offering matching gift programs. Cultivating these contacts can help build a grants history and increase your appeal to larger funders.
The Bottom Line:
We’re grant writers and we’re all for grant writers! Hiring a grant writer can be a great investment—but only when your organization is ready.
If your nonprofit is still building its foundation or donor base, you may find better value in strengthening those areas first.
At Bonum Collective, we work with nonprofits to assess their readiness for grants and to develop tailored, sustainable fundraising strategies that set them up for long-term success.
