Grantwriting Compensation

The Crowing One

So about a month ago I quit my job doing full-time Foreclosure Intervention counseling with a small non-profit housing agency. Since then, I've stayed on to "keep the program running" being paid hourly at my salary rate, which was almost 10k higher than other, similar, positions in the industry.

I've been approached to do grantwriting for this agency, and I honestly have no idea how to address the question of compensation. I've been asking around, but I honestly don't know any grantwriters so it's been difficult to figure what I can expect and, most importantly, what sort of compensation I should be asking for. I have gathered that, depending on the grant, etc. most grantwriters charge somewhere from $3-5k/per grant, and having little previous experience I want to necessarily underbid whatever the "going-rate" could be said to be. My hope and plan is that doing 2-3+ grants for this agency will allow me to pad my resume enough to capture similar gigs (and I have my eye on a few, already).

So, H/A, anyone a grantwriter or has anyone employed a grantwriter?

I'm meeting with the Executive Director of the agency tomorrow morning to discuss details, and I need to be prepared to have a conversation about compensation. I really don't want to get screwed into working hourly, or taking far less than I should, but I have very little concrete knowledge about what I should be asking for, generally. I understand that it's usually on contract, and my current idea is to take the grants and give "estimates" or "bids" after the weekend when I can have a better idea of how much work will go into it and what I'm actually looking at. Any ideas?

Thanks!

tl;dr: What do grantwriters change and how can I make sure I don't short myself on payment?

Thanatos

From what I've heard from grantwriters, generally you write your compensation into the grant proposal.

The Crowing One

I'm under the assumption that because I had been a salaried staff member and am still working on an voluntary, hourly basis, it'll probably be a touch more informal than a proposal.

A friend actually sent me a good link with corroborates my google-fu, and it suggests that the hourly rate ranges (generally) range from $20-100 based on the client, writing experience, etc. I would estimate around 10 hours per grant to be billed, with my old salary around $18.75/hr when broken down.

So I was considering asking for $25/hour, which would severely undercut (I assume) the professional writer they had been using, clocking in at maybe $250/per grant. Does that sound reasonable? There are a lot of variables, of course, including any proposal they would make.

MKR

My mom (professional editor) says $25/hour for non-profit, and $50/hour for for-profit. She also said she'd check the current going rates if you want.

The Crowing One

MKR wrote: »

My mom (professional editor) says $25/hour for non-profit, and $50/hour for for-profit. She also said she'd check the current going rates if you want.

That would be fantastic, MKR. $25 sounded pretty spot on, to me. I may have to go lower.

MKR

The Crowing One wrote: »

MKR wrote: »

My mom (professional editor) says $25/hour for non-profit, and $50/hour for for-profit. She also said she'd check the current going rates if you want.

That would be fantastic, MKR. $25 sounded pretty spot on, to me. I may have to go lower.

It says these survey results are for projects ending in 2005-2006, so it might not be exactly current.



edit: We're trying to find more current numbers.

edit: http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php

There are some sample contracts somewhere on there. And she wanted me to caution you against going overboard on undercutting since it gives them an easy way to take advantage of you.

The Crowing One

I came across that in my googling, the conflicting numbers seem to say either $20+ an hour or $43+ an hour. Since the above is from pre-recession, it makes sense that there would be a drop. I'm starting to think that $25 may be my low-limit, and I'll be interested in what the agency's offer will be.

I need to look over the grants, too, as I may just do a flat per grant charge.

The Crowing One

Everything is going great, and I was set to settle for a $25/hour rate.

I didn't feel as if I had any reason to "tip my hand" so I plead ignorance to the agency, simply stating that I wanted to undercut the going rate and that I trusted them to be fair.

I was told that the previous consultant was making $75/hour.

I feel like, as I'm new and the rate is way beyond my usual, that I'll look for anywhere from $55-70, depending on what I can get, does this sound like the right approach?