Fees
How I set my fees
Fees vary widely in the grant writing world. If you only look at the fees in isolation, you will be tempted to go with the lowest bidder. The question you need to ask is, "What is the value that I am going to get?" or "What is the return on my investment (ROI)? A $5,000 fee may sound like a lot, but if you are awarded a $500,000 grant, it is an ROI of $495,000, or 99 times what you put in. Of course, you will not win every grant (it is just the reality). But if you stick with me, you will see your ROI in good terms.
I use the value-based approach in setting my fees. I provide more than just answering the questions in the grant guidelines. Using my versatile skills, I provide quality services for less and serve as a single source for all your grant writing needs, at much lower rates than what an established grant writing agency would charge. (Most of these agencies contract with independent grant writers like myself to write your grant applications, but they charge you a lot more!)
I consider my fees fair and competitive, taking into account variations in the complexity, size, and scope of each grant; the dynamic of each organization (the more players and layers, the more time it takes); and the value I provide relative to that of a larger grant writing agency.
What grant writing agencies charge
A grant writing agency typically charges 2% of the allowable funding amount (the maximum or ceiling award amount allowed by the funder). For example, if a federal grant has a ceiling award amount of $ 800,000 per year, a grant writing agency may charge $16,000. Many of these grant writing agencies contract with independent grant writers (freelancers) and pay them 1% ($8,000) or less of the fees earned from their clients.
Transparency
I value your time as much as mine. I want to be transparent about what I charge and list the fees below so that you can decide for yourself if this is a good fit and the potential ROI before contacting me.
Grant writing fees
Organizations new to grant funding
If you have not applied for a grant, we will need to start from scratch. This takes more time and work, and the fee will be on the higher end. The fees listed below are for a standard 4-6 weeks lead time for grant writing and application.
!!!IMPORTANT TO NOTE: You may need additional time to register with a funder. For federal grants, organizations must register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov. This process can take weeks. If you apply for an NIH or SAMHSA grant, you will also need to register for an eRA account, which can take 2-4 weeks for first-time applicants. START EARLY!!!
Organizations not new to grant funding
Whether you have been funded or not, having prior grant applications will help speed up the process and reduce time. In general, I can draw some generic information (e.g., organizational history, achievements, capacity, staffing, etc.) from your prior applications.
The fee will be on the lower end (for a standard 4-6 weeks lead time for grant writing and application).
Make sure you have an active SAM account with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
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The fees listed are a guide to help you decide what value you will get and if this is within your budget. Each organization and project is different; some may need help with applying on Grants.gov, while others want to handle this on their own. Contact me for a customized proposal.
Benefits to you
By working with me directly, you will pay less than what you would pay a grant writing agency, as I have lower overhead costs, and this gets passed down to you. You will work with one person and avoid dealing with different people and a potential fragmented process that could impact the quality and timeline of your grant application.
More importantly, you get the same high, or even higher, quality from these direct working relationships with independent grant writers like myself.
Grant review, needs assessment, data analysis, report writing, and other ad hoc projects
My hourly rate: $100-$125 per hour, depending on the complexity of the project and whether it is a rush project.
All hourly projects will have a minimum of 5 hours.