What your grant writer needs from you

Whatever the reason is behind it, the decision to work with a professional grant writer is a big one (and make sure you’ve read our blog on whether your organisation is grant ready before you get started!). It represents a decision to invest in your organisation and its future, and in building relationships with external partners who can help you to make things happen. But the thing is, grant writing is not a solo activity. It’s not something you can just hand over to your writer and expect them to work their magic alone. Hiring a professional grant writer represents the start of a new partnership, where both writer and client have a role to play. And yes - there are certain things that your grant writer needs from you.

5 things your grant writer needs from you

In this blog, we explore the key things that every client needs to provide for their grant writer to help them to maximise your grant application’s chances of success. Here are the five key things that your grant writer needs from you:

1. Transparency

Your grant writer needs the highest level of openness and transparency from you. Tell them - in detail - about what you want to achieve, and why. Share your vision and be open about your financial position and your organisation’s strategy. When they ask you questions (which they will), be full and honest in your responses. Your goal is not only to give them everything they need to write a strong grant application on your behalf, but to get them to buy into your mission and vision - because if they do that, they will be able to bring the funder along with them, too.

2. Detail

Don’t forget. When you hire an external grant writer, they don’t know you. They don’t know your business other than what they have read or researched, and of course what you tell them. So don’t hold back! The more information you can provide to your grant writer, the better. As I always say to my own clients, it’s always better to have too much information, than not enough!

3. Clarity

While the level of detail is really important, the clarity of detail is equally so. It’s crucial that your grant writer understands who you are and what you’re trying to achieve. So don’t just through a load of jargon, lengthy documents and spreadsheets at them and hope that they can find their way through it to uncover the information they need. Make sure that they understand the detail you provide. Explain any acronyms. Talk them through the science or the nuances of your sector. Don’t assume that they already know it in the level of detail they’re going to need.

4. Time

If a grant writer tells you they can produce a fundable proposal without input from you, they’re misleading you, or they may have limited experience in their craft. A good grant writer knows that whatever they write is not their proposal. It’s their client’s. It should be written in their voice and tell their story - not whatever story the grant writer has made up! But to achieve that takes time - so if you choose to engage an external grant writer, give them that. Make yourself available to them when they need you. Read drafts and make comments. Go above and beyond in answering their questions. And if you don’t know the answers they need, make yourself available to work with them and figure things out together.

5. Commitment

Another key thing that your grant writer needs from you is commitment. It’s absolutely right that good grants take time to create - and so they should! But you choose to work with your grant writer for their guidance and expertise. NOT because you can just hand the whole thing over, then they’ll wave their wand and the money will appear. It’s really important that you’re committed to going on this journey with your grant writer. Don’t waste their time on grant applications that you’re not committed to… and in return they will work with you to put together the best proposal they possibly can.

As a next step, use this check list, and my other blog which talks about whether your organisation is grant-ready. Check off the different points we make within, and if everything indicates that you’re ready, get in touch via the form on this website. I would love to talk about how I can help you move forward on your grants journey. Come and join my clients who are enjoying the return on the investment they make in working with me.