Did you ever want to know what being a grant writer is like?
Most people who become grant writers don’t start with that plan in mind. Like me…I was a social worker. I worked for the State of Washington right out of college and later as a case manager at a homeless shelter in Honolulu. Grant writing happened by chance.
And what good luck I had! Becoming a grant writer has been one of the best decisions I made in my life. I have a work-life balance, AND I get to do meaningful work. But what is being a grant writer like when it’s not all rainbows and unicorns?
Let’s start with the basics. The Grant Professionals Association surveys grant professionals once yearly to gather research on what it’s like to be a grant writer. Here are some of the most interesting statistics they found.
Who are Grant Writers?
84% of grant writers are female
48 is the average age
Age: 48 is the Average Age
6% in their 20s
22% in their 30s
36% in their 40s
28% in their 50s
Career: Mid to Advanced
13% are early career
40% are mid-career
47% are advanced career
Degree: Most Have a Master’s
29% have a Bachelors
51% have a Masters
16% have a Doctorate
My takeaway from the demographics is that grant writers are every age and that once you become one, you stick with it for a long time, often continuing your education with advanced degrees.
What is the Average Salary of a Grant Writer?
Especially with tools popping up everywhere to use AI in grant writing, it’s essential to note grant writing is much more complex than writing certain phrases and keywords. The generic term “grant professional” reflects that more than grant writer. Nonetheless, the title of a grant writer can be linked to an average salary.
Grant Writer $61K
Grant Specialist $64K
Grant Manager $67K
Development Manager $69K
Grant Coordinator $70K
Grant Administrator $74K
Director of Development $82K
Director of Grants $90K
Consultant $101K
Work Profile
The report found that a grant professional’s time was spent roughly three ways.
41% of time spent writing grants
29% of time spent managing grants
30% spend doing administrative work
Most grant writers who responded write about 21 grants per year, of which 65% are awarded.
Most Grant Professionals Are Employed Full-Time
79% employed full time
17% consultant
5% part-time
Where Do Grant Professionals Work?
There are a multitude of businesses that hire grant writers. In the GPA survey, the diversity of the workplace included:
25% nonprofit
12% government
10% college or university
6% K-12
If you are looking for a job as a grant writer, be sure to check out the Spark the Fire Job Board.
Are Most Grant Professionals Certified?
Grant professionals can earn several types of certifications, but there is no degree in grant writing. Still, the vast majority of grant writers do not have a certification. The survey found:
74% have none
12% have a GPC - Grant Professional Certified
5% have a CFRE - Certified Fund Raising Executive
8% listed their certification as “Other”
“Other” means that the certification is a Certificate in Grant Writing, such as the assessment-based certification through Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes. Others receive their certification through colleges and universities as a non-credit professional certification.
Having a certification will definitely make you stand out in the crowd!
What Are the Negatives of Being a Grant Writer?
There are so many great things about being a grant writer, but it wouldn’t be fair not to talk about the not-so-great stuff, too, so you are prepared for the worst. Here are some of the negatives of being a grant writer.
Always on Deadline
While planning helps immensely, you are constantly working on a deadline. That means you may have to force yourself to write when you don’t feel like it. I often imagined that there were invisible handcuffs that locked me to my desk.
No Instant Gratification
The time between submitting a grant and finding out if it received an award can be months. By the time you hear back, you feel pretty disconnected from the hard work you put into writing it. It really helps if your colleagues say congrats for getting it submitted rather than only saying good job months later when you hear back.
Pressure
Grants can make or break a program and even the entire organization. That’s a lot of pressure to get it right and a whole lot of responsibility to live up to.
Managing Up
Imagine a question on the grant application to describe how your board of directors functions. And imagine that the board at your organization is in total disarray. You have to figure out how to answer the question truthfully but delicately while also giving feedback to your superiors that these problems need to get fixed right away if your grants are going to be competitive.
What Are the Positives of Being a Grant Writer?
While being a grant professional is challenging work, there are some pretty great aspects, too. I live on Vashon Island, Washington, and when I look around my community, I feel incredibly proud of what my grant writing has accomplished. My grant writing helped build a skatepark and new playing fields, preserved the lighthouse and a sphagnum bog, created a playspace for young parents, won the first United Way grant for the local senior center, helped build affordable housing, and started an organization to help domestic violence survivors.
The work is also enjoyable. I love learning about the endangered species, the Fresnel lens at the lighthouse, the pros and cons of turf versus grass, how to help prevent depression in older adults, and effective ways to prevent graffiti. I love being able to have intellectual conversations about any topic with people I meet.
The best part of being a grant professional, though, boils down to two words: meaningful work. I know I’m spending my life helping others and doing good. There is no better feeling than that.
Are you ready to become a grant writer?
Earn an assessment-based Certificate in Grant Writing through Spark the Fire and launch your dream career. Click below to learn more.