Fundraiser’s Struggles
Recently, I’ve received several offers to work for a percentage of future grants—the very same grants I would be writing applications for. I politely decline such proposals and try to explain my reasoning:
A well-written application is just one component of a successful grant proposal. Behind it, there needs to be a strong project, an effective budget, and a reputable team. On top of that, everything must align with the donor’s priorities and many other factors. Ultimately, the fundraiser only controls a portion of the variables that determine success and, therefore, cannot be fully responsible for the outcome. In such circumstances, payment solely based on results seems, well, unfair.
This payment format almost always violates contract terms. Rarely can a project cover activities carried out before its approval—especially administrative ones. So, to pay a fundraiser this way, you’d have to fudge the reporting, and they’d have to agree to it. That’s a dead end for both parties.
So, what’s the solution?
Grow fundraisers from within your team. This way, you’ll have someone who can write applications with a deep understanding of your project, and you can always include compensation for application writing, reporting, etc., as part of their project coordinator salary—instead of paying specifically for grant writing.
If your team needs mentoring in fundraising, feel free to contact me.
