Is your nonprofit ready to receive grant funding? Do you need more capacity to develop grant applications? Is hiring a grant consultant the right step for your nonprofit? How do you know? Here are some questions for you to think about.
- Is there a need or higher demand for grant development in your nonprofit?
- Does your nonprofit need someone who’s focus is on grant development?
- Is your nonprofit ready to invest in grant development?
- Do you already have expertise in grant development in your nonprofit?
- Does your nonprofit have the capacity to supervise grant development?
As I’ve shared before, grant development takes a lot of preparation and planning. A grant consultant can guide you through the process from start to finish. Hiring a grant consultant gives you many advantages.
Pros for Hiring a Grant Consultant:
- Focus will be completely on grant development
- Only pay when you need them
- Reduce liability
- Flexibility in hiring and firing
- Receive specialized skills, experience, expertise, and credentials
- Resources: tools, systems, databases
- No indirect expenses like office space, computer, and professional development
| Cost | Consultant | Employee Full-Time |
| Dedicated to Grant Work | 1,000 hours | 1,000 hours |
| Professional Development | Consultant Responsibility | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Fringe Benefits | Consultant Responsibility | 36% of salary |
| Overhead | Consultant Responsibility | 23% of salary |
| General and Administrative | 3% of nonprofit’s time working with a consultant | 17% of the time |
| Total for annual budget | Hourly Rate x Hours + (.03) Administrative | Salary, Benefits, Overhead, and General and Administrative |
*General averages for grant seeking organizations. Will vary by location and type of organization. Chart by Jo Miller of JMiller & Associates.
It is my mission to guide nonprofit organizations successfully through the grant development process and competitively apply for and increase a nonprofit’s grant funding. As a grant consultant, I offer my clients a range of services to help with the grant development process at hourly, monthly, or project-based rates.
When a client hires bmpconsulting, they will work with a Grant Professional Certified (GPC). A Grant Professional Certified has taken an examination offered by the Grant Professional Certification Institute that measures a candidate’s competency and skill in the grants profession. I am also a proud member of the Grant Professionals Association, a nonprofit membership association for individuals in the grants industry.
Additional Resources on this topic:
What questions do you have about hiring a grant consultant?
