My family and I just returned from 3 days at Great Wolf Lodge. We checked in on Sunday and came home this morning. It was a BLAST!
As I was sitting in a lounge chair yesterday, watching my son go down the water slides, I reflected on the many reasons why I love being self-employed.
For the past 20+ years, I have earned a very comfortable six-figure grant writing income that affords me the freedom to go on vacation whenever I want and sit by the pool on a Tuesday if I choose.
I am part of many online grant writing communities and am often asked why I only write grants on a monthly retainer basis, which is a great question.
Here are the five top reasons why I only work on a monthly retainer…
Grant Writing Tip of the Day
Don’t forget to say “thank you” for a grant award. Send the PR info over to your marketing department, but also send a personal email thanking the funder.
Freedom
I have already touched on this one, and it is BIG. I love writing grants, but I also own a few other businesses and I need flexibility with my time. My lifestyle doesn’t allow me to be an employee with a 9-5 schedule. As we approach the summer months, I plan to spend more time with my kids while they are out of school, and being self-employed with retainer contracts in place allows for this.
Long-Term Investment
To be the best grant writer I can be, I must make a long-term investment. The first three months I spend working with a new client is the learning stage. I am feverishly processing every program, learning every staff role, scouring over every financial document, and researching every applicable study relating to the mission. I am activating my passion for the non-profit and its mission.
For the first six months, I am building relationships, both within the organization and with potential grant funders. To actively increase an org’s grant budget, I need to work with an organization long-term.
Financial Security
When I am financially stable, I am a better grant writer. If I had to manage incoming leads, continuously maintain an Upwork profile, and interview for grant writing positions, I would not be able to focus on writing grants. I do not wish to be in a perpetual state of trying to pay my bills. I only contract with clients who agree to a 6+ month contract with a set monthly retainer. They don’t have to worry about finding another grant writer, and I can focus on them and their grant needs.
Scope of Work
I format my contract with a clear scope of work. For example, for my oldest client, I research and write 5 grant proposals/month, complete grant reporting, maintain the grant schedule, and create the visual collateral I need for my proposals. Whether those tasks take me 5 hours or 100 hours, I get paid the same amount each month. I am efficient, so my retainer works out to $135/hour on average. Some months, I work more hours, and some months, I work fewer hours. It all averages out, and everyone is happy.
Variety
I have a difficult time doing the same thing every day. I haven’t had a “regular job” in 20+ years, and my brain just doesn’t work that way. I always have multiple projects going on in different areas. I love working for multiple clients with varying missions. Right now, I write grants to raise funds for supporting cancer patients, therapeutic boat trips for special needs children, sports for inner city students, cultural-based museum programs, and a summer camp to teach outdoor survival skills. I crave this kind of variety.
I understand that working on a monthly retainer is not the best path for everyone, but it is the only way for me.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants