Grant Writing: Is it the Career for You?

The purpose of most undergraduate students is to come out of college with a well paid job. Becoming a lawyer, doctor, or having a career in business are seen as the way to have that life. The fact of the matter is there are multiple ways to build a career without taking the normal way out. Careers in Grant Writing, written by Caroline Reeder addresses these concerns as shows the art of persuasion from a grant writer’s perspective. The career planning guide, found on kindle and paperback, was self-published in 2009, or as Reeder has in the book, by Cats Pajamas Press in Houston, Texas. As an expert grant writer for over fifteen years, Reeder knows the fundamentals of grant writing to make the style a career path for readers of all ages. Her first proposal resulted in a $200,000 grant awarded to a nonprofit organization advocating for affordable housing. She has also written countless proposals resulting in over a million dollars in funding. Reeder’s background in grant writing helps the reader by presenting material she has used to help foster her fifteen year career.

Careers in Grant Writing, a planning guide, aids those wanting to gain grant writing skills, or wanting to find resources. The guide starts with a brief Table of Content detailing the book arrangement. The “Introduction,” followed by “The Basics,” highlights the fundamentals of the book and grant writing. “Skills and Traits of Successful Grant Writers, “Grant Writers at Work,” and “A Day in the Life of a Grant Writer,” jumps into the successful traits of a writer. The chapters to follow emphasize the earnings, and opportunities to work in the field. Assisting writers by answering questions in the field; this guide discusses making this a successful career for the reader and she targets with interest in becoming a proposal writer or writers needing more information on the field. Featured in the back, Reeder gives a brief synopsis of the career and provides online links, books, blogs, and schools with degrees in professional and technical writing, as resources. Reeder explains a grant as a form of monetary aid awarded to an organization or individual (Loc 76).

The terms grant and proposal can be used interchangeably because as a grant is written; it is called a proposal until acceptance. These proposals are essentially guidelines for the funding and are very thorough. The wordsmith delves into the typical jobs for the reader and their particular skill level. Necessities in grant writing require having funders support your organization, be able to work in groups, and work under increasing amounts of pressure with a deadline.

These writers, because of their special talents, can work in many fields and be successful. The different employment fields grant writers go into are government agencies, schools, and nonprofit organizations, but they are not limited to those areas. Proposal writing, a typically freelance profession, requires working closely with staff and maintaining a detailed account of what they plan to do with the grant money if received.

Finding financial supporters, an important job for the proposal writer, involves additional research to find the perfect prospective donor for the organization. After the proposal has been awarded, the job of the grant manager entails following through with requirements as stated in the grant in a timely manner. Reeder discusses earnings and lessons conducted for those interested in grant writing. The salary of a proposal writer had a median salary of $51,967, with a maximum of $68,497 in 2009. The salary can vary depending on the field, for instance, an independent contractor usually makes higher hourly wages than those working full time. The rates dramatically fluctuate between $40 to $100 dollars depending on experience (Loc 276).

Reeder mentions the different job titles, such as, Development Writer, Development Coordinator, Fundraising Manager, Proposal Writer, Grants Manager, and the list goes on. As a recent college graduate interning will be an option, but also there will be assistant positions open to learn the trade. Freelance writing becomes an option, but these writers are not paid on salary, they are paid by doing specific jobs and may have a side job to support themselves.

The biggest necessity for grant and proposal aspiring writers calls for a love of writing and eagerness to learn. There are internships offered as an opportunity to learn about grants. Grant writing, a field that has many diverse paths to obtain the same goal can be achievable in any major or at any age. The vast majority hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university with different concentrations (Loc 290). Reeder, herself, holds a degree in Anthropology and a Masters in Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

Careers in Grant Writing presents grant writing for those interested in the professional, more specifically college graduates during a time when the unemployment rate is significantly high. College students may also use this as a tool to make extra money while being a student. The material covered in this can be used for adults wanting to figure out a new career path. Reeder has been in this career for over fifteen years, but she has done other things before finding her path. English majors gain an overview of the field by reading Careers in Grant Writing. Reeder does not go into the majors because she wants those reading and interested in the field to know there are many ways to becoming a grant writer.

The strengths of this guide include the resources and documents listed throughout.  Reeder provides examples of jobs and ways to obtain experience. She features the duties involved, like helping develop programs, researching potential funders, drafting reports and letters to donors (Loc 95). The writing was clear, concise, and detailed leaving no questions unanswered. As a reader, the connection appears immediately. The subject holds my interest and will help those who may enjoy technical writing, but are not sure of the careers.

As a reader, I did, however, have things I did not necessarily like, for instance, the 40 page length and a mass majority of the information could be found online. Goolging multiple sources could bring anyone to the links and provide the same information she gives and possibly in more detail. Kindle the book cost $9.99 and I believe because of length, and content it should be worth less. The paperback is over $20.00, which makes me question the reasoning behind the price. Overall this book is worth $5.00 or less for both paperback and Kindle. I would also like more information about how Reeder’s professions before grant writing. Careers in Grant Writing provides insight but does not necessarily teach all there about grant and proposal writing. This is a field that has different arenas to learn from but the guidance would’ve been valuable to the reader. Reeder’s life is mentioned briefly, but if more were included the readers could see the path she took to become a grant writer. She jumps in immediately, yet the reader is trying to gain context from Reeder to make her information more engaging.

My overall assessment of this book: it has issues, but many pieces of information are all put together for this book. Keep in mind the price and the possibility another cheaper book that could hold the same information. Although the guide has short comings, the information provided helps develop an interest, but necessary research is vital. The fulfillment from reading definitely outweighs the problems with the guide and I would recommend to others, but at a reduced price. The information supplied benefits the reader and the scope was just right. I found this very practical because technical writing occupations peak my inquisitiveness. For that reason, I believe others would be interested in grant and proposal writing. Readers will gain more insight and understand the job and hopefully learn some tools progressing their writing further.

While reading, I learned becoming a grant and proposal writer can be an achievable goal with the help of research, jobs, internships, and people who can assist in the process. I am still very interested in learning more about a technical field with straight forward writing like my own. The unanticipated piece of this reading was the types of places that a grant writer can work. Learning grant writers are used in various departments was interesting and my perspective on this career has shifted and I am more fascinated than ever.

Mentioned in this guide are details about the writing industry, as well as a specific way to profit from writing effectively. The style written in holds a very distinct tone. The author makes the work readable, while also effectively notifying the reader of the occupation. The informal tone connects the reader to the author so that her message conveys a sense of credence. She uses the proposal writing language when discussing “transom,” a document submitted dangerously close to the deadline. Her credibility starts from the “About the Author” section and she continues to hold that ethos by supporting her claims. She immerses the reader with her diction and enhances the reading of the book. The level of style in my opinion would have to be sweet because of the informality. Throughout the reading of Careers in Grant Writing, the information permitted the building upon a previous idea. The “How-To” guide offered a new level of understanding of the field and the resources makes this job a possibility for those who nothing beforehand.

Picture: http://cohort.utk.edu/cohort/2012/12/speaking-english-to-smart-people-grant-writing-in-the-humanities/