I have a special fondness for homegrown grant writers because I was one.
Early in my career, after I had written a winning award nomination, I was hired as a Development Director in a then-small nonprofit. I learned by working inside this nonprofit, asking questions, and being coached along the way. Looking back, that investment paid off at least ten-fold and helped the organization become stronger. I went on to coach a grant writing team, and to teach grant writing to other nonprofit leaders.
When nonprofits need grant support, the first instinct is often to hire an outside consultant. Sometimes that is exactly the right decision. Tight deadlines, highly technical proposals, or temporary staffing shortages may call for outside expertise.
But there is another option that deserves more attention: developing someone who is already on your team.
Growing grant writing talent from within is about much more than writing proposals. It is an investment in your organization’s long-term fundraising capacity. An internal grant writer understands your mission, your programs, your participants, and your culture. They hear the stories of transformation as they happen. They notice the small breakthroughs that rarely make it into reports but often become the most compelling parts of a proposal. Over time, they become not only better grant writers, but better strategic thinkers.
Hiring a Consultant vs. Growing Your Own
Who Makes a Great Grant Writer?
- Strong communicator and clear writer.
- Curious and resourceful.
- Passionate about the organization’s mission.
- Organized and able to manage multiple deadlines.
- Comfortable asking thoughtful questions.
- Interested in learning and continuous improvement.
- Likely to remain with the organization long enough for the investment to pay off.
A Hybrid Approach Often Works Best
One of my favorite approaches is to combine outside expertise with internal capacity building. An experienced grant professional can continue pursuing funding while simultaneously coaching an emerging grant writer. The organization receives high-quality proposals today while building the skills it will need tomorrow. Eventually, that internal staff member becomes increasingly independent, reducing reliance on outside consultants and creating a stronger fundraising culture.
What Grant Writing Can Include
- Connecting mission to larger social issues funders care about
- Identifying the right funding opportunities
- Creating reusable organizational language
- Developing compelling program descriptions, logic and metrics
- Reviewing proposal drafts and providing feedback
- Teaching grants strategy—not just writing
- Building annual grants calendars and workflows
- Learning from both funded and declined proposals
The Goal
The goal isn’t to create better grant proposals. The goal is to create stronger organizations. Great grant writing is simply one of the outcomes.
My Philosophy
My goal is to help organizations become stronger, more confident, and more self-sufficient. Whether I am writing proposals, coaching an emerging grant writer, facilitating strategic planning, or strengthening a fundraising program, I want to leave an organization with greater capacity than when I arrived.
The strongest nonprofits aren’t simply good at writing grants. They build the strategy, infrastructure, relationships, and internal talent that allow them to sustain their mission for years to come.
Growing your own grant writer may be one of the smartest investments you can make.