The Business of Freelance Grant Writing Course
Become a Freelance Grant Writer
The Business of Freelance Grant Writing Course is for experienced writers and graduates of the Certificate in Grant Writing course who are ready to build a freelance practice around meaningful work. Across nine self-paced modules, you will set up your business, price your services with confidence, write contracts that protect you, market to the right clients, manage projects without burning out, and navigate the ethical questions every consultant runs into. By the end, you will have a launched practice, not just an idea for one.
Bundled Course
Save $194 when you purchase the Certificate in Grant Writing and the Business of Freelance Grant Writing course together. Click "Select Type" and choose the Bundle.
Full participation in the Business of Freelance Grant Writing course is applicable for 9 GPCI Education Points toward acquiring or maintaining the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential, and 9 points toward Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification or recertification.
The Business of Freelance Grant Writing
Build a real freelance practice — not just a side hustle dream 🔥
You don't need a fancy MBA, a corporate exit, or a perfect plan to build a thriving freelance grant writing business. You need a roadmap, the right tools, and someone who's actually walked the path to show you how.
That's exactly what this course delivers. 💛
I've been a freelance grant writer since 2003 — back before "personal brand" was a phrase and working from home raised eyebrows at family dinners. I figured it out the hard way so you don't have to. This course is everything I wish I'd had when I started: a clear path from "I'm thinking about it" to "I'm doing it," with the business foundation to actually back it up.
By the time you finish, you won't just have learned about freelancing — you'll have a fully built business ready to launch. 🚀
What Makes This Freelance Grant Writing Course Different
Most "start your business" courses hand you theory and wish you luck. This one hands you the actual documents your business runs on — built alongside the lessons, customized to you, and ready to use the day you finish.
We're talking about the real foundation: a 30/60/90-day plan you'll actually follow, a fee schedule you can defend to clients, a contract that protects you, a consultant resume that wins work, a writing sample that closes deals, and a professional online presence that gets you found. ✨
Plus the conversations no one else is having — the ethics, the sticky client situations, the scope creep moments, the "do I take this project?" judgment calls. The stuff that separates someone who wrote grants once from someone who runs a sustainable practice.
What You'll Walk Away With 📦
Your complete business toolkit, built for real use:
🗺️ 30/60/90-Day Business Plan — Your action-focused roadmap from idea to launched practice
💲 Fee Schedule — Research-backed rates you can present with confidence
📝 List of Services — Clear, client-resonant language for what you offer
📄 Contract Template — Professional protection for you and your clients
📄 Consultant Resume — Not a job resume; a marketing tool that lands clients
🖋️ Writing Sample — A polished narrative that shows funders (and clients) what you can do
🌐 LinkedIn & Website Presence — Your professional storefront, peer-reviewed and ready
Plus your full Freelancer Toolkit — contracts, invoices, intake forms, client checklists, status report templates, start-up budget, website architecture worksheet, business registration checklist, and a recent grants list. Everything you'll reach for in your first year, already in your hands. 🧰
What's Inside This Freelance Grant Writing Course
✅ Nine modules covering business setup, pricing, services, contracts, marketing, client management, ethics, and operations
✅ A minimum of 21 hours of content you can move through at your own pace
✅ A private Circle community where peer review actually sharpens your work
✅ Optional co-working sessions for accountability and momentum
✅ "Sticky Situation" discussions on the real-world ethical calls every consultant faces
✅ A Spark the Fire Certificate of Participation when you cross the finish line 🎓
✅ Lifetime access to our alumni community — because the network you build here matters as much as the curriculum
Who This Is For
Aspiring freelance grant writers who are tired of guessing. Established consultants who want to professionalize their practice. Career changers who want a flexible, meaningful way to build a livelihood around work that matters.
If you've ever thought, "I could do this on my own," you're probably right. Let me show you how. 🔥
Learn More 🔗
Meet the Instructor
Executive Course Description
Bundle Course Description
Executive Bundle Course Description
FAQ
Terms, Conditions, & Refund Policy
Bundle Course: Certificate in Grant Writing + The Business of Freelance Grant Writing 🔥
This bundle is designed for students who want to launch a freelance grant writing business while building strong, foundational skills in grant research, writing, and management. Two flagship courses, built to work together, taking you from "I want to do this" all the way to "I'm running my own practice." 💛
📚 The Certificate in Grant Writing Course offers comprehensive training in prospect research, narrative development, budgeting, reporting, ethics, and documentation. You'll gain the knowledge and confidence to write successful grant proposals across a variety of sectors. ✍️
💼 The Business of Freelance Grant Writing Course guides you step-by-step through starting your freelance business. Learn how to set rates, craft client contracts, market your services, onboard clients, manage multiple projects, and navigate the ethical dilemmas and sticky situations every consultant runs into. 🚀
All instruction is delivered online and self-paced, with reading and writing assignments, peer discussion opportunities, and personalized feedback from Allison Jones, CEO and Founder of Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes. ✨
Your Investment 💰
Two courses. One discounted price. A real freelance career on the other side.
Certificate in Grant Writing Course — $1,497
The Business of Freelance Grant Writing Course — $697
Purchased separately: $2,194
🎉 Bundle price (Pay in Full): $2,000 — you save $194 🎉
Flexible Payment Plans 📅
Pick the plan that fits your budget. All payment plans are auto-billed monthly to the credit card you use at checkout — no extra steps, no reminders to remember, no hassle. Just enroll and let the system take care of the rest. ✨
💳 Pay in Full — One payment of $2,000 at registration (best value)
💳 2-Payment Plan — Two monthly payments of $1,020 (total $2,040)
💳 3-Payment Plan — Three monthly payments of $700 (total $2,100)
💳 4-Payment Plan — Four monthly payments of $550 (total $2,200)
A small convenience fee is built into each plan to allow for spreading payments out over time. Pay in full and you'll save the most. 💛
How it works: Your first payment is charged when you enroll. Each subsequent payment is automatically charged to the same card every 30 days until your balance is paid in full. 🔄
🔓 Full access from day one. No matter which plan you choose, you'll unlock both courses immediately upon enrollment. Payment plans are purely about flexibility, not about waiting for content to unlock.
Continuing Education Points? YES! 🏅
Full participation in the Certificate in Grant Writing is applicable for 24 points for the GPC and Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Full participation in the Business of Freelance Grant Writing is applicable for 9 points for the GPC and Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
🎓 Total = 33 CEUs — one of the most CEU-rich bundles you'll find anywhere.
Learn More 🔗
Learn What Others Loved about this Course
“A wealth of information! Allison has created a course chock full of resources that would be helpful to anyone looking to work freelance. The online classes created thought-provoking conversations and a perspective of others who may already work in the grant writing world. The course was well-organized and easy to follow. I also enjoyed the 'real-life' examples shared throughout the curriculum. This is an incredible value in addition to the Grant Writing Certification course.”
“Excellent Course! I have been searching for a course like this for years! After learning a few of the skills and lessons presented here, "on the job," it was so great to have this course to confirm some things I already knew but also to learn about aspects I had not yet dealt with/considered. Having all the info about the business of freelancing so organized and all in one place, with checklists, materials I can use, and feedback from the instructor, was invaluable! I also enjoyed connecting with other grant writers during the cohort portion. I cannot say enough good things about this course!”
“Extremely relevant and thoughtful content. I've been holding off on jumping into 100% consulting work because I was concerned about financial stability and getting solid clients. The information learned in the Business of Freelance Grant Writing course has allowed me to expand my consulting business, secure long-term client contracts, and navigate client relationships professionally. As a result, I've been able to quit my job and achieve my goal of solely freelancing/consulting to maintain a positive work-life balance. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to make the transition.”
“This course uses relevant examples, tips, resources, and stories, giving a clear roadmap for building a grant writing business. This course gave me the confidence and direction I needed to go out on my own and successfully engage and manage clients while raising money for their important causes.”
“Practical Information! This course was a treasure trove of helpful, practical information. The checklists and links were very helpful and valuable. How to handle sticky situations was very helpful to me. Thank you!”
“The course allowed me to get a solid foundation and the tools to launch. Allison inspires us all to go out and raise money for the causes we care about in a high-quality manner sure to get results.”
“If you are thinking about starting a grant writing consulting business or are already running one, this course is well worth the time, money, and effort. The course shares many useful tools and resources, addressing many of the issues we’ve been facing and stimulating further thought and conversation. Many thanks to Allison for creating this wonderful resource.”
“Whether you're getting started as a grant writer, or looking for a career refresher course, Allison's workshops are fun, relevant, and educational! Framing of the business process was especially useful, as was the great presentation of materials and content.”
“Allison Shirk takes her students through the information they need to know. If you are considering a business as a freelance grant writer, this easy-to-understand blueprint helps to reach that goal. Allison Jones is an excellent instructor. I give it five stars!”
Course Curriculum
This is a brief outline of the course modules and the deliverables you will build along the way. By the end of the course, you will have a complete business toolkit and a launched freelance practice. Final projects include your 30/60/90-day business plan and start-up budget.
01 Welcome to the Course
Syllabus and course overview
How to use the Circle community
Course project: your launched freelance practice
Discussion: Introduce yourself
02 Setting Up Your Business
Choosing a business location, structure, and name
Registering your business
Federal and state tax ID numbers
Licenses, permits, and insurance
Business bank accounts and accounting setup
Deliverable: Business registration checklist completed
03 Your Business Plan
Writing a business plan that you will actually use
The 30/60/90-day launch roadmap
Setting goals you can measure
Deliverable: 30/60/90-day business plan
04 Start-Up Costs and Pricing
Office, equipment, software, and apps
Tax deductions, receipts, and self-employment taxes
Setting your rate (and why commission-based work is a trap)
Researching the market
Deliverables: Start-up budget and fee schedule
05 Your Services and Marketing Assets
Defining the services you offer
Writing service descriptions that resonate with clients
Building your consultant resume (not a job resume)
Selecting and polishing a writing sample
LinkedIn and website presence
Deliverables: List of services, consultant resume, writing sample, LinkedIn profile, website architecture worksheet
06 Finding and Attracting Clients
Marketing strategy for freelance grant writers
Where the right clients actually come from
Networking, referrals, and visibility
Sticky Situation discussion: What would you do?
07 The Client Interview
The initial phone call
The first meeting
Qualifying clients (and when to walk away)
Deliverables: Client checklist and intake form
Sticky Situation discussion: What would you do?
08 New Client Intake and Contracts
Onboarding new clients without losing your weekend
Writing contracts that protect you
File sharing and key staff contacts
Communication norms and expectations
Deliverable: Contract template customized to your practice
Sticky Situation discussion: What would you do?
09 Managing Clients and Projects
Tracking hours, invoicing, and getting paid on time
Time-saving systems and workflows
Average hours to complete different grant types
Communicating with grantmakers on behalf of clients
Status reports and ongoing client communication
Deliverables: Invoice template and status report template
Sticky Situation discussion: What would you do?
10 Ethics and Sticky Situations
The ethical commitments every grant writer makes
Scope creep, scope drift, and how to handle both
Protecting yourself from common consultant traps
Work-life balance as a sustainability strategy
Sticky Situation discussion: What would you do?
11 Growing Your Practice
Raising your rates over time
When (and whether) to hire
Subcontracting and partnerships
Expanding your services
Staying current with the field
12 Next Steps and Lifetime Resources
The Freelancer Toolkit: complete library of templates
Recent grants list and ongoing research resources
Alumni community and continued peer review
Earning your Certificate of Participation
Instructor Bio
Allison Welch, M.Ed., GPC is a grant writing educator with 25+ years of experience and one of only ~30 trainers nationally approved by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute. She is also an approved trainer for the Grant Professionals Association, Certified Fundraising Executives, and 501 Commons. Allison is the founder of Spark the Fire Grant Writing, creator of the Certificate in Grant Writing program, and author of the forthcoming book The "Of Course" Factor: A Guide to Meaningful Grant Writing (October 2026).
A former adjunct professor at Western Washington University, Evergreen State College, and Seattle Colleges, Allison reviews grants for foundations and government funders and is an experienced speaker for nonprofit conferences across the country. Her courses have been ranked among the best grant writing courses in the nation by Instrumentl for three years running.
Learn more about why I started Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes.
Allison Welch, M.Ed, GPC, CEO and Founder