When I have an opening for a new grant client, my number one goal is to partner with a long-term client invested in growing their grant budget.
I don’t want to spend dozens of hours getting to know every detail about my client’s mission and programs and have them cancel their contract after three months. That is a poor investment of my time and a poor investment of their resources.
Before I work with an organization, I make sure that they understand that grant funding is a marathon, not a sprint. This is especially true if they have never applied for grants before.
Because I am looking for a specific type of client who understands the long-term benefits of grant funding, I am careful about where and how I find clients.
To learn more about what I am looking for in a client, read: How much grant writing autonomy do you have?
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I typically work with a client for 4+ years. After that, they usually have a grant budget of $1M+ and need an in-house grants management team or at least a full-time employee, and I help them make the transition.
I have five clients right now. Three came from word of mouth, and two came from Upwork.
Word of mouth is, by far, the best way to find clients aligned with your business model, mentality, and style. The recommendation comes from a current client or someone I have worked with in the past, so a level of trust is part of the relationship from the start.
If you are looking for a full-time grant writing job with benefits, Indeed has hundreds of these positions advertised. Many positions are remote, and most require in-office work.
If you want to freelance, have a flexible schedule, and work for multiple clients, Upwork is the best place I have found to connect with clients.
If you have no idea, read: Which is better: Freelance grant writer or grant writing employee
A few other places to look for grant writing jobs:
- Reach out directly to grant consulting agencies
- Simply Hired
- And, of course, any of Holly’s students receive her hands-on assistance to find clients after completing the academy.
I am considering taking on an additional client, so I may be searching right next to you!
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants