Is Hiring a Grant Writer Worth It? How to Determine the Value for Your Nonprofit
What EDs and board members need to consider before investing in grant writing services.
When budgets are tight, every investment has to make sense. If you’re an Executive Director or board member weighing whether to hire a grant writer, it’s fair to ask: Is it worth the cost?
The answer? It depends on what you’re hoping to build.
A grant writer isn’t just an extra set of hands—they can be a strategic partner who helps you unlock funding, increase capacity, and build a sustainable revenue stream. But like any investment, the return depends on how you use the resource.
Here’s how to assess whether hiring a grant writer makes sense for your organization—and how to measure the value beyond just dollars in the door.
1. Know What You’re Actually Paying For
You’re not just hiring someone to fill out paperwork. A professional grant writer brings:
Strategy: They help you target the right grants—not just what’s available, but what’s winnable.
Efficiency: They know how to tell your story quickly and persuasively, so you can stop reinventing the wheel for every application.
Clarity: They help you define your outcomes, track your data, and make your impact measurable—skills that serve your whole organization, not just your grants.
You’re paying for expertise, insight, and time you don’t have to spend doing it yourself.
2. Consider What It’s Costing You Not to Hire Help
If grant writing keeps falling off your to-do list, or if your team is rushing through proposals with little success, you’re not just “saving” money—you may be leaving it on the table.
A few things to ask:
How much staff time is being spent on grants that aren’t getting funded?
Are we missing deadlines or skipping opportunities because no one has capacity?
Are we submitting weak proposals that don’t reflect the quality of our work?
Hiring a grant writer may not be cheap—but neither is inefficiency or missed funding.
3. Evaluate the Long-Term Impact, Not Just Immediate Wins
Yes, you want grants awarded. But the real value of hiring a grant writer is often seen over time:
They build a master grant template you can repurpose again and again.
They create a calendar and system to keep you on track year-round.
They help shape programs and budgets that are more fundable from the start.
They strengthen your organizational voice so future asks—grants, appeals, sponsorships—are more compelling.
That kind of capacity-building isn’t always flashy, but it creates momentum that pays off.
4. Do the Math: What Would It Take to Break Even?
Let’s say you hire a grant writer for a package or retainer that costs $6,000–$12,000. To break even, you’d need to win one or two grants at that level. That’s not unrealistic.
In fact, a skilled grant writer might identify funders you wouldn’t have considered—and increase your chances of winning larger, more competitive grants because of stronger positioning.
And if they help you win recurring or multi-year grants? That return can compound year over year.
5. Remember: You’re Not Buying a Guarantee—You’re Building Capacity
No grant writer can promise wins (and if they do, that’s a red flag). But what you can expect is:
A stronger funding strategy
A polished, funder-aligned proposal
More time for your team to focus on programming, relationships, and growth
A clearer understanding of what makes your organization fundable
In other words: you’re investing in readiness and reach.
Bottom Line: A Grant Writer Is an Investment—Not an Expense
If you’re just looking for someone to chase deadlines, a grant writer might not be worth the cost. But if you want to build a sustainable, fundable future for your organization, the right partner can make a measurable difference.
Still unsure? Start with a conversation. Talk through your funding goals, your current pain points, and what kind of support might be the best fit. You might be closer to your next grant—and your next level of growth—than you think.