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| Re: Becoming a Freelance Grant Writer
Posted by Tony Poderis   on 10/16/2009, 12:46 pm, in reply to "Becoming a Freelance Grant Writer"
VIP Poster | Message modified by user Tony Poderis 11/23/2009, 9:39 am
Be ready should you take the plunge. It’s almost always “feast or famine” out there in the consulting business at most any time, whether economic boom or bust times. Even with the latter, there could be freelance grant proposal writing opportunities than there would otherwise be available. I recall a bad economic slowdown in the eighties at a time when my full-time grant writer resigned to move out of state. With a hiring freeze in our organization, nonetheless, over the next year or so, until the economy improved and I could once again hire a replacement, I recall that I hired three professional grant writing consulting professionals to help with several major grant proposals.
You will need to determine if “there is work out there," considering “there” would depend greatly on respective communities’ economic status, and opportunities available. With your considerable experience, you have a good running start.
You might be able to secure freelance grant writing opportunities in some, or all, of the ways I will list below. However, opportunities will be fewer and far less likely, should you stick to your objective to specialize working for arts, cultural and educational organizations. A big career move as you are weighing, with all of the ordinary risks, should prompt you to be less selective and miss out on writing engagements---in my opinion.
• Send letters to development officers of non-profits in the geographic area of your choice (United Way, universities, hospitals, etc.), and let them know that you are available. Get your resume' up to date and ready. You might just make contact at the right time when an organization is in the middle of a full-time grant writer search, and could make good use of your interim freelance services. Not to mention the many additional non-profits with no such full-time staff position which are generally in need of the services of a freelance grant writing professional.
• Be a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, or otherwise attend the local chapter's regular open lunch/program meetings. It is one of the best ways to get to know individuals who work for non-profits and to have them know that you are in the consulting business should they have a grant writing need some time or another. This is true as well with board members of organizations who are at those meetings. It's the best possible, "Let me have your business card," opportunity during the "Attitude Adjustment" half-hour prior to the usual lunch program. See your nearest AFP Chapter from their geographic search page:
--- AFP: US
http://www.afpnet.org/international.cfm?folder_id=873
"Network!"
• Make inquires at the AFP chapter, and other places where there might be opportunities to speak on grant writing topics. Offer your free lecture services. Maybe the local Library, United Way, Business Volunteerism organization, or University, would welcome such a talk as part of their production of seminars and community programs specific to non-profits, or general in nature. To stand up in front of a group comprised of individuals from non-profits, and deliver a talk on the process of grant writing, is one of the best ways for them to see and hear you in action.
"Speak!"
• Identify fund-raising consulting firms or individual fund-raising consultants at work in your area. Do some research "through the grapevine" to know of the best ones. Perhaps a firm needs you as a new grant writing consultant to add to its team, or perhaps an individual professional's grant writing business is growing and she or he would welcome a partner/colleague such as you.
"Expand The Market Potential!"
• Write an article of the type which might be of interest to your local newspaper's writer on things philanthropic. Offer an article, or articles, on grant writing to some of the non-profits at work in your area for publication in their newsletters. Look for any opportunity to have something you have written be published somehow, somewhere, in your community: i.e., Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, etc.
"Publish!"
• From your experience as a development professional, collect the names of the board members with whom were were associated, and get their addresses if you can, or you'll need to do your own phone book research. Many of the board members whom you served, or otherwise knew, when you worked as a development professional, most likely are members of other boards of trustees for other organizations. Remind them of your good association during your development professional time with them, and ask that they consider your services when the need arises as they serve on the boards of other community organizations.
"Referrals!"
• Visit program officers and corporate contributions managers, or otherwise make known to them your credentials and availability to provide grant writing services. As they talk to grant seekers and grant getters, these stewards of foundation and corporate money many times want to be in position to name grant writing consultants for the benefit of those organizations to contact as a resource for their fund-raising needs. While it's good to be mentioned in that way, we are especially blessed when those grant givers actually recommend us by name.
"Endorsements!"
• I've advertised, mailed, and otherwise distributed my consulting services brochure---all with limited success, relative to time and expense expended for relatively scant return. What worked best over time, and accounted for almost all of my engagements with clients, was the good old .W.O.M.. (Word-Of-Mouth.) Do all you can to have your name readily recalled and mentioned---and better yet, recommended---when the subject of available, experienced, and capable,---grant writing professionals comes up.
"Word-Of-Mouth!"
Finally, when in doubt, don’t. But should you take the leap, don’t ever look back.
Best of all good wishes for success,
Tony
Tony Poderis
http://www.raise-funds.com
- Fund Raising Forum Library
- Exhibit & Document Library
• Permission to reproduce any material is not required
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Link: http://www.raise-funds.com
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