Educational Handout If you are looking for a Grant Writer
Greetings I have been writing Grants for decades and have had a Grant Writing- Training Academy for 15 years and this is the biggest question, nonprofit organizations ask?
What does it cost to hire a Grant writer?
A Plain-Language Guide for Nonprofit Organizations
The Short Answer: Most grant writers charge $50 to $150 +per hour, or a flat fee or roughly $1000 to $8000 per proposal. The exact price depends on the grant's complexity, the writer's experience, and how many hours the work requires.
Hiring a freelance or contract Grant writer lets your organization pay only for the work you need - without the $63,000 to $100,000 annual cost of a full-time staff position (salary plus benefits).
Three Common Ways Grant Writers Charge
Hourly Rates
Writers set their hourly rate based on experience and their track record of funded grants. As a general guide:
Experience Level Typical Hourly Rate Entry/ Newer writers (fewer funded grants) $30-$50 / hour
Mid- level (solid track record or wins) $50-$95/hour
Senior / Specialized (complex federal or corporate proposals) $95- $150 +/ hour
Federal grant specialists (high-stakes, highly technical) $150-$300/hour
Example: at $50/hour for a Grant taking about 10 hours, a writer's estimate would be roughly $500.
Flat Projects Fees
Many writers review your project scope, then quote a single fixed price for the whole proposal. A typical range is $1000 to $8000 per proposal- smaller local or foundation grants fall at the lower end, while long, rules-heavy government applications cost more.
Monthly Retainers
If you have ongoing fundraising needs, you can keep a writer on retainer-commonly $2000 to $5000 per month. Retainer packages usually cover prospect research, continuous stragteic consulting, and a set number of submissions each month.
How much time does a Grant take?
Cost is tied directly to the hours involved, so it helps to budget time in advance:
A straightforward foundation grant usually takes about 20 to 40 hours of work.
A federal grant can easily require 60 to 200 + hours across the full application process- not counting planning and supporting documentation.
Crucial Best Practices
Never pay on commission. Professional ethics guidelines state that grant writers should not be paid a percentage of the awarded grant ( for example, 5% of the funded amount). Always use flat fees, retainers, or hourly rates.
Get the total cost quoted upfront, in writing, to avoid surprise later.
As a rule of thumb, a flat fee should not exceed about 5% of the Grant award you are seeking.
Remember: no proposal is guaranteed to win, no matter how experienced the writer. You are paying for skilled work, not a promised outcome.
Budget for time and start early-
especially for federal applications, which take the longest.
Key Takeaway
A well-written proposal can bring in thousands of dollars in funding, so a skilled Grant writer is an investment- not just an expense. Match the writer's experience level to the complexity of the Grant, agree on the fee structure in writing, and never tie payment to the award amount.
Apostle Dr. Bridget C Outlaw-PhD
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