Grant Writing FAQ

Below you will find answers to the most common questions. If you still can’t find the answer you are looking for, just contact us anyway.

How much do grant writers charge?

A: Grant writers charge an hourly rate which can vary from $120/hours + GST and more, depending on the complexity level of the grant and experience of the grant writer. To keep costs down some grant writing businesses charge on a project basis instead of an hourly rate due to the large amount of hours required to prepare a competitive grant. Depending on the grant value, they might charge a smaller upfront fee and a larger success fee if the grant submission is successful.

Can the cost of the grant writer be included in the grant?

A: No. In all Australian jurisdictions the cost of the grant writer can NOT be included in the grant submission; this will be clearly stated in the grant guidelines.

How many hours does it take to write a grant?

A: The time required to write a grant depends on the grant and complexity level.  This can range from 3 to 4 hours for small grants  such as your Local Government Authority’s Annual Community Grant to several weeks for larger grants.

What makes a strong grant proposal?

A: Here are 9 things that make a successful grant application.  They are not ranked in order of importance.

  1. The funding program outcomes must align with your project outcomes

  2. Timeline – does your project start and end date align with the program dates?

  3. Matching cash contribution, known as Co-Contribution is critical

  4. Project Impact

  5. Stakeholder engagement

  6. Project Risk and impact on the funding agency

  7. Credibility of the applicant

  8. Use plain English; aim for brevity and clarity

  9. Tell a story, people remember stories.

What do funding agnecies look for in a proposal?

Funding agencies look for the following:

  1. Alignment of program goals and outcomes with your project outcomes and outputs

  2. Project Impact

  3. Credibility of applicant

  4. Potential Risks

  5. Stakeholder engagement

  6. Amount of funding requested and co-contribution cash

What happens if a grant proposal is rejected?

A: Contact the Project Officer for feedback. Use this as a learning opportunity to find out how to strengthen your funding submission.

How often do grants get rejected?

A: All government grants are highly competitive.As the funding bucket shrinks so to the large number of grants that get rejected.  

Sometimes only 20% of grants get funded while 80% are rejected.

Why do grants get rejected?

Here are some reasons why grants get rejected.

  1. Missed deadline

  2. Does not meet eligibility criteria

  3. Incomplete funding application

  4. Failure to address selection criteria adequately and clearly

  5. No matching cash contribution

  6. No evidence of stakeholder engagement

  7. Project risks

  8. Credibility of the applicant

What is the most challenging part in applying for a grant?

  1. Co-contribution – many not-for profit organisations and small businesses do not have the internal resources to comply with this selection criteria

  2. Clearly articulating project impact

  3. Meeting the deadline

How long does it take to hear back from a grant proposal?

A: This can vary depending on the amount requested and funding agency. Some Federal Grants can take 8-9 months before the decision is announced, while smaller grants (quick turn around grants) can take 4 weeks.

Why select Clayton Consulting WA to prepare your next grant submission?

We bring over 20-years’ public sector experience where we assessed and reviewed grant submissions. We have insight into what evaluation panels are looking for when assessing your funding submission. All our work is prepared to make sure we not only address these requirements but that we win! Your success is our priority!