Writing for a cause: Make a difference as a grant writer

Ever woken up early on a random morning and found yourself wondering “what am I doing with my life?” It’s a sentiment everyone can relate with, as we’ve all had to ask ourselves a variation of that same question at some point. Some people spend their entire lives avoiding the answer, while others seem to repeat the query like a mantra.

A career can mean many things to many people, but it’s a common sentiment among modern workers in certain sectors (management, sales, finance) to feel as though their work is inconsequential or meaningless. Countless people would love to make more of a real difference when it comes to the matters they actually care about, but work, life, and everything in between tends to get in the way. A poll put together for the World Economic Forum at the tailend of 2020 spanning 21,000 people across 27 countries found 86% of respondents desired a more sustainable and equitable post-COVID world.

A career as a grant writer represents a tangible opportunity to help foster a better future. Maybe you’re passionate about the environment, conservation, and addressing climate change. Alternatively, perhaps you’re one of the millions of Americans to have been personally affected by the opioid epidemic. Grant writing jobs offer a chance to tackle these important issues and support the causes closest to your heart.

Whose grant is it anyway?

Every year billions of dollars in grant money is awarded by both public and private institutions to help support various causes. Grant writers, simply put, are in charge of securing grants for their organizations. In many cases grant writers work for nonprofits and charities focused on addressing societal or global issues, but plenty of other organizations, such as schools, museums, and universities, pursue grants as well.

That means that as a grant writer, your own words will quite literally make a difference. Depending on the charity or organization you choose to work with, the grant proposals you write and oversee may help house the homeless, rehabilitate former inmates, provide children with a proper education, or fight climate change – just to name a few possibilities. 

On the other hand, if pursuing funding for the local Monet museum is more your style, there are also plenty of grant writing opportunities geared more toward culture and the arts. 

The life of a grant writer

Don’t be fooled by the job title, life as a grant writer actually entails a whole lot more than just writing. Sure, any successful grant writer needs to know how to string together a compelling sentence or two, but much of the job’s heavy lifting takes place before anything is composed.

To start, you’ll be expected to form a deep understanding of what your organization is all about, and of course, its main goals or aims. In other words, why is funding needed in the first place? After that much of the role comes down to research and attention to detail. Most grant writers are totally in charge of their organization’s funding efforts. That means keeping tabs on new grant opportunities, and ultimately identifying the grants that are truly worth pursuing. Securing a grant isn’t like fishing; casting a wide net can actually backfire on many charities and organizations. It’s vital for a grant writer to understand that not every grant will be a fit, and allocate available time and resources accordingly.

The work of a grant writer is far from over after the grant proposal has been written and submitted. It’s common for grant writers to keep tabs on funded programs or initiatives in order to gauge success, and are often tasked with preparing updates for the funding parties. Similarly, you may serve as the main point of contact for any number of other involved stakeholders including board members or corporate sponsors.

Tips on getting started as a grant writer

This should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway. Grant writing probably isn’t the right job for you if writing isn’t your forte. That being said, grant writing is a field that many writers and professionals enter late in their careers after working in other industries. While a bachelor’s degree is usually expected, grant writers can come from a variety of different understudy majors (communications, English, journalism, PR).

Many of these positions are willing to consider applicants with no prior experience in grant writing, but plenty of grant writers get their start by joining nonprofits in another position before transitioning to grant writing. Others pursue grant writing certifications to showcase their persuasive expertise.

Ready to start feeling good about what you’re doing with your life? Start browsing grant writing job options today on Ladders’ job search page.