To Be a Grant Writer: The Ultimate Job Resource

If the world was made of money, what would you do with it?

Would you give it away or keep it all to yourself?

Grant writers have a unique opportunity to have both.

This profession is distinguished by its philanthropic foundation, which is writing grants for various organizations and people.

Pursuing a career as a grant writer might be perfect for you if you enjoy using your writing skills to help others and non-profits!

Grant Writer Information

Official Job TitleGrant Writer
Average Salary$57,091
Stress LevelModerate
Work/ LifeHigh
Job SatisfactionModerate
Career AdvancementAverage

Grant Writer Job Description

What Is A Grant Writer?

A Grant Writer is an individual who optimizes their talents to research, write proposals for, request and receive grants from financial-contributor-contenders: non-governmental or governmental.

The nature of this profession relies on a consistently organized, analytical, and proficient communicator to synthesize research into a compelling and polite request to an outside organization to grant financial support for one’s own organization.

If you find that you’re naturally a lifelong learner who’s intrigued by researching, reading, writing, and communicating, then a career in grant writing may be a perfect fit for you!

What Does A Grant Writer Do On A Daily Basis?

On a daily basis, a grant writer can be found researching organizations, writing grant proposals, managing grants’ progress, establishing and keeping productive relationships with granters, planning future grant requests, and observing standard bookkeeping practices. 

Grant Writer Responsibilities
Grant Writer Responsibilities

Responsibilities, Duties & Roles Of A Grant Writer

With infinite combinations possible for organizations’ missions, purposes, and financial means, grant writers must individualize every single grant proposal to cater to the respective organization.

Requesting grants from local businesses and governmental organizations, for example, would differ greatly.

The grant writer is the liaison between an organization and its stakeholders, so the duty of effective, compassionate communication and thorough record-keeping belong to this position. 

Grant Writer Salary

According to PayScale.com, for the Grant Writer Profession:

  • Average Salary: $57,091
  • Starting Salary: $50,525 
  • Senior Salary: $69,249 

How To Become A Grant Writer

You can become a grant writer by finalizing your education with a Bachelor’s degree and seeking work in the field, applying to and interviewing for grant writer opportunities.

The Entry Level: Certification, Training & Degree

Most employers seeking grant writers ask for a Bachelor of Arts degree specialized in displaying some expertise in writing, such as journalism or English.

A more technical college degree is acceptable (i.e., chemistry, physics) if your writing competency can be made marketable and clear.

Certain employers, such as a medical establishment, a scientific journal, or other scientific organizations, may prefer a grant writer with a Biology degree because it displays proficient expertise in their field.

The most important factors in the employability of potential grant writers include a college degree and previous grant writing experience.

Other Skill Sets, Requirements & Qualifications

Factors that benefit an applicant include Rhetorical Competencies to create Persuasive arguments; Strong Communication; Sociability; Organizing Skills, and the Ability to Synthesize Researched Knowledge.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Grant Writer?

It takes about four years to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree.

Finding field experience in grant writing before employment can take up to 12 months. 

Is It Hard To Become A Grant Writer?

It is not hard to become a grant writer, but it requires commitment.

It’d quickly become your responsibility to make work for yourself and keep the organization you work for running smoothly, seeking and securing necessary fund-raising partnerships to meet your organization’s quotas and goals. 

Grant Writer Career Paths

The grant writer understands the unique opportunity that their career path is in their own hands.

For the most part, working for a single organization will be a starting point, and it will be the writer’s responsibility to find work in other fields and land those opportunities successfully.

This profession has a lot of room for growth and goes down differing paths.

It is not like a conventional job where you get a starter job to eventually be promoted to higher levels.

Rather, promotions exist, but the job description would likely not change at any time aside from switching from projects.

Career paths may be plentiful due to the high demand for grant writers in the job market.

You could work for different non-profit organizations at the same time, which is a distinct ability to expand knowledge in different areas of expertise. 

The Grant Writer Roadmap

A roadmap for grant writers is as follows:

  • Get a College Degree
  • Land your First Grant Writing Experience
  • Pursue work officiated as a Grant Writer, providing an important service to various organizations. 

Projections For Growth In Grant Writer Jobs

This position is estimated to grow four percent by 2031 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Grant writing is a highly demanded skill, as all organizations need some fundraising. 

In Summary: Is Grant Writer A Good Career?

Grant writing can be a wonderful, fast-paced career if you enjoy hitting the ground running on writing, managing, and keeping up Grants, Grant Proposals, Research, Relationships, Organization Objectives, and more. 

Grant Writer Skills
Grant Writer Skills

Working Conditions

Can A Grant Writer Work Remotely From Home?

Yes, Grant Writers can work from home.

However, deals can take place in person from time to time, and some employers request that the Grant Writer works at the organization’s office location. 

How Many Hours Does A Grant Writer Work?

According to the University of Texas at Dallas, writing one grant can take “at least six weeks.”

Hours for a Grant Writer would depend upon the employment type (part-time or full-time), and it would ultimately depend upon the hiring organization to provide the weekly hours.

At a rough estimate, a typical Grant Writer can plan for and anticipate anywhere from 40-60 hours a week. 

Can A Grant Writer Work Part-Time?

Yes, Grant Writing can be worked Part-Time. 

What Are The Average Vacation Days Of A Grant Writer?

Due to the varying nature of the profession, vacation days for a Grant Writer depend on the employer’s organization and hour distribution.

There is no quota of vacation time granted to a writer, except in one’s own employer. 

Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to a Grant Writer

Grant Writer Resume Tips

Resumé stand-outs would be prior Grant Writing experience, Non-Profit Organization experience, or anything that displays your affinity for exceeding the tasks expected from a Grant Writer.  

Grant Writer Interview Questions

  • Q1: Why are you the best fit for this position: what experience do you hold that distinguishes you for this job? 
  • Q2: Identify any transferable skills obtained from previous employment and specify how this will help you with us. 
  • Q3: What is your previous experience writing grants: how many times have you been successful and accrued valuable insight, knowledge, and skills from these experiences? 
  • Q4: What is your process to ensure quality control, especially if assigned multiple projects, on the organization’s trust that you will accomplish its objectives? 
  • Q5: Do you identify as a highly sociable individual with patience for difficult interactions? If so, tell of a time and occurrence where you handled a customer or client conflict with tact, resolving any animosity smoothly. 
  • Q6: Which is your favorite field to work for when it comes to Non-Profit Organizations, what experience do you have within this field, and how can you apply this to your prospective career as a Grant Writer? 

Jobs Related To Grant Writing

  • Ghostwriting
  • Editor
  • Technical Writer
  • Event Organizer
  • Book Writer 
  • Copy Editor
  • Journalist
  • Multimedia Specialist 
  • Transcriber
  • Paralegal Writer

For HR Manager: Tips For Hiring A Grant Writer

Tips for an HR Manager include

  • Take note of your team as it stands: what type of personality are you missing from the team?
  • Hire based on merit, not necessarily flashy credentials
  • Don’t assume the quality writer is their resumé’s price tag
  • Request samples of the interviewee’s works and Grants

Key Characteristics To Look For In A Grant Writer

  • Look for positive, enthusiastic, and optimistic body language and tone of voice in interviews, for this signifies a genuine interest in the profession and non-profit organizations, especially.
  • Take note of the questions the interviewee asks you at the end of an interview. 
  • Are they genuinely interested in others? Observe the way they interact with you. 

Minimum Level Of Education & Experience

The minimum level of Education is a Bachelor’s Degree (preferred in a writing-related field).

The minimum level of Experience is at least one successful project. 

Works Cited