Grantwriting 101: Using Words to Get Funding

added by Tivix Team

Fundraising is the backbone of any nonprofit. In order to raise money, you need effective grantwriting skills. This can be achieved in two ways: You can either hire a professional grantwriter or do the work yourself.

If you choose to hire a grantwriter, make sure you place your ad on several online job sites for maximum exposure. Such sites include Craigslist, CareerBuilder, Monster, and nonprofit-specific sites such as Idealist.org. Make sure to ask for writing samples as well as personal references, and ask candidates about their professional rates so you know you're in the same ballpark. Once you've decided on a candidate, consider starting them off on a trial basis to gauge results before making a longer-term commitment.

If you choose to do the work yourself, there are a host of online resources to provide help. Two of the more comprehensive sites are Non-Profit Guides and Grant Writing Tip Sheets from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Extramural Research. Make sure to have all necessary documents and organizational information handy before starting on the grant, and consider making this a team effort rather than having a single person shoulder the burden.

Whether you hire externally or take care of your grantwriting needs from within your organization, make sure to start early and do your homework before sitting down to write. Good luck!