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How Much Should You Pay a Grant Writer?

Writer's picture: Bria  ArlineBria Arline

Updated: Oct 1, 2024


Knowing how much to pay a prospective grant writer is an important part of creating your fundraising strategy. 


And the answer to that burning question is…it depends. 


A grant writer’s rate will be based on the complexity of the project and the skill set you need to accomplish your fundraising goals. 


What Type of Grants Do You Need?


Private grants can take roughly a few days to a week to complete. 


Federal grants, however, can take many weeks and over a hundred hours to complete and involve not only writing but also project management and a deep understanding of program design.


The complexity of the project will impact the cost of hiring a grant writer. 


The Required Skills


Grant writers often specialize in one type of grant or industry. 


For instance, grant writers who work on private grants may not prefer to write government public funding grants. Or a grant writer might specialize in complex federal grants only. 


The specialty will play a part in how much they will charge.


You can also consider the experience level you need. Does your organization have the capacity to lead the project, but you need some support actually writing grants? 


Consider hiring a beginner grant writer; the average rate for a professional just starting out is roughly $25 per hour.


However, if you need someone who can manage all aspects of the grant process—prospect research and evaluation, project management, grant writing and grant management (reporting and compliance)—then you’ll want to hire an experienced professional. 


A freelance consultant with these skills can charge $125 per hour.


If you’re looking to hire a full-time staff writer, you’ll want to review the average salary for grant writers in your area (the salary can range between $65,000 and $95,000, depending on where you live). 


Conclusion


Knowing your fundraising needs can help you choose the right grant writer for your organization and budget. 


Want more insights into working with a grant writer or other topics to help you fuel your mission? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.


Need a skilled team to help you secure funding? Reach out to us today for a free consultation.

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