Why Should You Outsource Grant Writing? 6 Benefits to Know About

You’re a small nonprofit and just found a grant program that would be perfect for your organization. You tick all the requirement boxes, and the only thing left to do is to apply and hopefully win. 

However, there’s a nagging thought at the back of your mind.

“Can you write a proposal that paints your organization in the best light, lays all the facts, and brings your mission to life?”

In most cases, the answer is no, and in better circumstances, a maybe. 

And you’re not alone. Many nonprofits realize that the grant writing process is a challenging task that requires a combination of specific skill sets and knowledge on how grant proposal and awarding work. 

Your nonprofit also needs to submit at least three proposals to have a better chance of winning a grant reward. 

Unfortunately, most nonprofits, especially the smaller ones, lack the time and, in most cases, expert grant writers to create compelling proposals. In addition, grant writing requires significant time and effort investment. If you rely on an in-house writer, you would likely not accomplish sending multiple proposals in a short period or increasing your success rate. 

Yet, a grant proposal is one of the most significant parts of earning your nonprofit a grant award. You can have the most admirable mission and results, but if you can’t demonstrate this in writing, it’ll be harder for your proposal to be accepted. 

That’s why many organizations, constrained by time and staff, outsource grant writing. 

Below we explore why outsourcing grant writing is the best decision for your small nonprofit. 

Benefits of Outsourcing Grant Writing

These are the 6 advantages of outsourcing your organization’s grant writing. 

1. Cost-effectiveness

Outsourcing grant writing can be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time grant writer for several reasons. This is especially true if you’re a small organization with a limited budget. 

For starters, your nonprofit won’t have to provide employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans. 

In addition, outsourcing allows organizations to pay only for the services they need, rather than paying a full-time salary for a grant writer who may not always have grant writing tasks to complete. 

After all, your organization won’t be applying for grants every day of the week for 365 days. When you outsource grant writing, you only pay the agreed hourly rate or project cost.

2. Expertise and Experience

Grant writing is a complex and time-consuming process that requires a deep understanding of the grant application process and the ability to craft compelling proposals that stand out from the competition. 

For instance, the writer must be well-versed in grant research, submission requirements, and proposal developments. Also, a single grant proposal can total 10,000 words. Even in such instances, every word needs to count. 

That’s why having a knowledgeable and experienced grant writer is crucial. 

Outsourcing grant writing can provide access to a broader range of expertise and experience. In other words, your organization will have access to the crème de la crème in the industry.

Professional grant writing firms typically employ a team of experienced writers who have worked with various clients and have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. 

They are also up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in grant writing. This experience can give your organization a competitive edge when applying for grants.
 

3. Time-saving

Outsourcing your organization’s grant writing process can be a time-saving strategy. This is one of the main reasons why nonprofits with limited resources outsource grant proposal writing. 

Grant proposals require extensive research, planning, and detailed writing. These efforts are time-consuming and distract organizations from their core programs. However, by outsourcing grant writing, organizations can free up their time and focus on executing their core programs.

By outsourcing grant writing, an organization accesses a dedicated grant writer, or writers, who can focus solely on writing and submitting grant applications. This saves time as the organization does not have to spend time training staff members on grant writing.

Also, remember that you’ll need to apply to at least three proposals to increase the chances of winning a grant award. In most cases, multiple grants will be announced simultaneously, leaving you little time to work on multiple proposals. 

If you rely on an in-house grant writer, they may be unable to write as many proposals during a grant season. This situation limits the chances of winning a grant. 

But, if you outsource the work to a team of grant writers, you can apply to multiple grants simultaneously and increase your chances of winning a couple.

4. Increased Success Rate

The perks of outsourcing grant writing don’t end with time and cost savings. 

You also increase the chances of winning awards by outsourcing grant writing. After all, a dedicated grant writing service has a team of experienced grant writers. In most cases, the team has won millions of grants for clients in several sectors. The grant writers in the team will also have extensive knowledge of grant proposals and the latest trends in grant writing. 

Moreover, because it’s a team, numerous quality controls ensure a proposal is up to par with the grant requirements. 

All these combined give you a better competitive advantage and greater chances of winning grant awards. 

5. Flexibility

Flexibility is yet another convincing reason to outsource grant writing. Outsourcing grant writing gives your nonprofit the flexibility to engage grant writers on an as-needed basis. 

In turn, you can scale up or down their grant writing efforts based on your needs. This is particularly valuable for organizations with limited resources or fluctuating grant writing needs. 

6. Objectivity and a Third Eye

When writing a grant proposal, it’s so easy to be subjective. It’s even more challenging to spot the biases, mistakes, or inconsistencies that can cost you a grant award. 

Here’s where involving a grant writing service comes in.

Outsourcing grant writing affords you a fresh and unbiased perspective of your organization and proposal. After all, being too close to your organization makes it easy to overlook areas of improvement that could make your grant proposal more competitive. 

A dedicated team of grant writers can provide you with a third eye and offer unbiased recommendations on improving your agency's chances of securing funding opportunities.

A professional grant writer will analyze your organization's strengths and weaknesses. Then, they will tailor your proposal to highlight your unique selling points. 

Outsourcing grant writing lets your nonprofit tap into a wealth of expertise and quality control you may not have in-house.

Considerations When Outsourcing Grant Writing

Contracting grant writing services can be an excellent way for organizations to save time and money while increasing their chances of securing funding. 

However, it's essential to carefully consider a few key factors when choosing to outsource this critical task. Here are 5 vital considerations to keep in mind.

• Expertise and reputation. When outsourcing grant writing, finding a professional with the proper knowledge and experience is crucial. Look for a team with a proven track record of success in securing grants for organizations similar to yours.

• Cost. While outsourcing can save money over the long term, it's important to consider the upfront cost of hiring a professional grant writer. Make sure to factor in all costs, including the writer's fees, travel expenses, and other related expenses. Some expenses, such as travel costs, can be eliminated if you conduct all interactions online. 

• Timeline: Grant writing can be a time-consuming process, so it's essential to establish a realistic timeline for completing the project. Make sure to work with the grant writing service to set achievable deadlines and milestones. Keep in mind that grants can take 6 to 40 hours to complete, depending on complexity or funder requirements. 

• Confidentiality. When outsourcing grant writing, it's vital to protect the confidentiality of your organization's sensitive data. Make sure to establish clear guidelines for handling confidential information and ensure that the service signs a non-disclosure agreement.

• Communication. Clearly define expectations and delivery through the outsourcing agreement. For instance, which information will you provide? When will the project be complete? How many revisions, if any, do you expect? What are the overall costs? How often will communication happen, and through which channels? What research is the writer expected to conduct? Which internal sources should the writer refer to when conducting research? 

This guide dives deeper into where you can find grant writers: Where to Hire Grant Writers: 4 No-Stress Places to Find Grant Writers.

Increase Your Chances of Success With the Help of Experienced Grant Writers

Outsourcing grant writing is beneficial for organizations seeking professional assistance in securing grants. It has several advantages, including time savings, cost-effectiveness, increased success rate, and offering objectivity.  

In addition, outsourcing grant writing gives you the flexibility to scale up or down your grant writing efforts per your needs. 

Don't miss out on valuable funding opportunities because you’re short-staffed or limited by time. 

Zoey Writers has professional and experienced grant writers who can help your nonprofit craft proposals that win you grants. 

Contact Zoey today to learn more about our grant writing services. 

Also read: Nonprofit Content Creation and Marketing: How a Content Marketing Team Helps You Win More Support

Photo by Katt Yukawa on Unsplash. Thank you, Katt!