how to become a grant writing consultant

How to Become a Grant Consultant

Betsy Bakerwww.YourGrantAuthority.com

A Little About Me

• I’m a grant writing consultant and also run YourGrantAuthority.com, a place for nonprofit grant writers to learn how to win more grants and a place for grant writing consultants to learn how to win more clients.

Here’s WHY I Became a Grant Writing Consultant

• Worked in nonprofit since 1994

• Never thought about NOT going back to work after baby

• But baby was a long time coming!

If you don’t like how things are, change it. You’re not a tree. Jim Rohn

• What’s holding you back?

• Making it happen– Money– Time– Effort

One Touchy Subject: Money!!

• Be practical• Be realistic• Don’t use anyone else’s

yardstick for success• What does success look

like for YOU?

Find the Time to Grow Your Business

• Are you willing to sacrifice your time?– Should more “pleasure”

activities be temporarily put on hold?

• Finding pockets of time– Early in the morning– On the way to work

(public commute)– Late at night

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint! Keep Up the Pace…

• Effort – slow and steady wins the race– Grant writing skills– Public presentation skills– Online/computer skills

• Work on your weaker areas

Boring, Yucky Legal Stuff

• Types of incorporation– Sole Proprietorship– Partnership– Corporation– Limited Liability

Corporation

• Other practical considerations– City license– Employer Identification

Number

Sell Yourself!

• For new grant writers with limited experience– Research– Gather information– Letters of Intent– Corporate Letter Requests

• For grant writers with more experience– All of Above– Writing Grant Applications– Proposal Review– Hourly Consulting

How to Determine Your Fees

• What are other professionals in your area charging per hour?

• What are nonprofit development executives paid in your area?

• www.OpportunityKnocks.org

• www.salary.com• “grant writer”• Other consultants• Pay attention to your area

Calculating Fees Based on Your Level of Experience – A Handy Guide

Service Provided Beginner/ Intermediate

($25,000-$250,000)

Experienced($250,000 – less than $3

million)

Rock Star($3 million +)

Hourly Consulting $25-$50 $50-$100 $100-$250

Letters of Inquiry (At least 10) $150 $250 $550

Corporate/Foundation Letter Requests (At least 10)

$750 $1,000 $2,000

Full Foundation Application $500 $1,500 $3,000

Proposal Review $25-$50 per hour $50-$100 per hour

$100 - $250 per hour

That Sweet Retainer Agreement• Option 1– Charge client $75

per hour for research, inquiry letters, writing, rewrites, etc.

– Estimate 52 hours per month to complete type of work they want

– Total job = $3,900

– Option 2– Charge a monthly

retainer @$2,600. That is a reduced rate for the same number of hours per month but you’re guaranteed consistent income.

– Have a 6-12 month minimum contract

Introduce Yourself to the World

• Your website is your gateway– Gives potential clients a

place to check you out– Gives you a face and

personality– Include samples of your

writing style with your BLOG

– Include a professional photo– I recommend a WordPress

website!

How to Draw Potential Clients to You

Online – How to Drive Traffic to Your Site

• Blogging– Blog on topics of interest to

your potential clients– Shows off your expertise

• Participation in online communities– Forum at

www.ForGrantWritersOnly.com

– Charity Channel– YourGrantAuthority.com/

ConsultantsSignup– Social media

Quickie Primer on How to Effectively Use Social Media

• Twitter– Connect with nonprofits,

grant makers, nonprofit news sources

– Tweet content that helps your primary grant seeking audience

• LinkedIn– GROUPS!!!

• Facebook

Offline Marketing Strategies

• Local chapter of AFP• Chamber of Commerce• Nonprofit boards• Conference

booth/workshops• Hold your own

workshop

Cool Tools to Help You Keep Up With It All

• For keeping up with grant deadlines: Amplifund

PhilanTech• For keeping up with

clients:BasecampGoogle Docs

• For keeping up with your $$$$:– Freshbooks

Join Our Consultant Community on Facebook for Ongoing Support

Your Grant Authority's Grant Writing & Nonprofit Consultant's Group

Ask to join by emailing me atBetsy@YourGrantAuthority.com

Finally, A Few Words of Encouragement

• Do NOT feel intimidated just because other grant writing consultants exist

• You do NOT need a special degree, certification or a significant record of achievement

• You get hired because you’re taking it off someone’s plate

Thank You!Let’s Stay in Touch.

• Twitter - @GrantWritersAid

• LinkedIn/betsyjbaker• Join my Facebook group

“Your Grant Authority's Grant Writing & Nonprofit Consultant's Group”

• Email me at Betsy@YourGrantAuthority.com