Grant Writer
To raise financial support from charitable institutions for urban forestry projects.
As charitable organizations vie for limited funds available from
individuals, private philanthropic foundations and corporate
foundations, the role of the grant writer becomes critical to funding
key projects. Grant writing combines strong research skills with the
ability to communicate clearly in writing to help nonprofit
organizations achieve their goals, whether it is a request for a $500
neighborhood tree project or $2 million for a city tree planting
project.
A good idea, in itself, is rarely enough to obtain a grant. Grantmakers
today want assurances that the money they give away will be put to the
best possible uses. The successful grant writer must be able
demonstrate how funds will be effectively used to reach a worthwhile
goal. "Grant writing makes you focus your thoughts on the specifics of
the program and forces you to convert your ideas into something
concrete," said Susan Reep who writes grants as part of her job as an
executive director for a nonprofit organization.
In addition to mastering writing and the grant format, the successful
grant writer must also be a shrewd grant researcher. Armed with a
well-written grant, the grant writer can increase the odds of funding
by selecting appropriate potential donors and weeding out those
foundations or corporations that are not likely to grant a request. A
well-written grant for a community tree planting project has little
chance of success if mailed to potential donors that fund only
children's health projects or contribute solely to large umbrella
charities.
Discipline and the ability to work alone are key for the grant
researcher and writer. Grant writers also must keep abreast of changing
trends in the field and potential new sources of grants through
additional reading and research. Organizational skills are paramount
for the grant writer who must organize their thoughts into concise
writing and also keep track of grant application deadlines and follow
up on grants submitted.
For many grant writers, particularly freelance writers, networking is a
critical part of the job as they meet regularly with nonprofit
professionals and grantmakers. Many grant writers get their start with
charitable organizations working in a variety of positions where they
also gain exposure to grant research and writing. Although some large
organizations employ full-time grant writers, for many small offices,
the task is incorporated in another position such as executive director.
Dana Adams, executive director of the Tree Foundation of Kern spends
approximately ten percent of her time writing grant proposals. "It's
great fun to get checks with lots of zeros in the mail, but devastating
when you have been rejected," Adams said. "The hardest part is trying
to visualize how a $45,000 project is going to play out over a two-year
period some time in the future."
Requires: Experience plus on the job training.
Salary: Can be paid salary one percentage of funding requested.
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