How To Become A Grant Writer

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By Shirley Graham


Creative and technical writers are often born out of experience. Whereas, most often a two or four year degree is required for those working in the field of fund raising. For this reason, a professional grant writer must often hold an associates or bachelors degree from an accredited community college or university. Although, in some cases, companies, organizations and universities will hire someone based on equivalent experience rather than educational credentials.

Once an individual has been hired, it is important to provide the information related to the subject matter as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can be difficult for the individual to analyze and target the appropriate audience. It is also important to alert the writer to any specific formatting or writing guidelines related to the work.

It is important when working in this area to know the subject matter. By knowing the objective, individuals can write to a targeted audience which is more likely to donate time or money. As a result, writers who target a specific audience with important information often have the best results.

There are also important steps in this type writing. For example, writers must analyze the audience for an intended proposal or submission. Once the audience has been analyzed, the individual needs to gather additional information related to the subject before sitting down to write the request. After which, it is imperative to write according to any existing formatting and writing guidelines. Otherwise, it is more than likely the proposal will be rejected early on in the process.

While employers must often take taxes out of a permanent employee's pay, most often contractors pay taxes at tax time. With a 1099, the contractor reports an annual, semi-annual or hourly salary each year. Rather than having employers withhold taxes, these individuals pay taxes once a year at tax time. Whereas, employers are often required to withhold pay from permanent employees, often at a higher rate which can ultimately result in a refund rather than payment.

Each entity usually provides a set of guidelines which include specifics related to subject matter, length, formatting and writing style. As formatting can vary widely, it is important to always use the right formatting for the proposal type. Once the first draft is complete, it is important to proof, edit and revise the document. After which, the organization may either accept or reject the proposal.

It is also important to notify an employee when something is wrong with any aspect of the process. Whether that be related to behavior, composition, deadlines or other issues, it is impossible for an employee to remedy an issue without knowing there is a problem. After which, if the problem continues, then the employer must decide the best course of action. In some cases, this may be probation, others termination.

There are also a number of individuals who do this work either full or part-time from home. To so, it is important to have a dedicated work-space, proper computer and internet set-up and flexible schedule. Working from home can be great for parents, students and retirees among others. It is important that anyone doing so have a strong sense of self-control. Otherwise, important deadlines can pass which can sometimes result in an entity not receiving a much needed grant.




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