3 Must-Haves to Succeed in Freelance Grant Writing [Episode 65]

Should you be an employee or a freelancer? 

We discuss this in depth in the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program. There’s no perfect solution – the short answer is it depends on your situation and goals. But today I want to specifically hash out the latest and greatest in the world of freelancing.

Latest Freelancing Trends

• According to Upwork, in the U.S., the freelance workforce has been growing 3 times faster than the overall workforce since 2014.
• There has also been a 78% growth in yearly earnings according to Payoneer.
• By 2025, an estimated 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely, an 87% increase by pre-pandemic level (Upwork Freelance Forward 2020 Report).
• 65% of freelancers earn more than they did in a full-time job. (Upwork Freelance Forward 2020 Report)

How the Freelancing Trends Affect Grant Writing

Technology has made it so much easier to access opportunities, networks, and learning. On the down side, there’s so much available it’s too overwhelming and can be hard to sort out.

Content writing is one of the most popular freelancer occupations. Because of that, freelance writers need to be able to stand out. And guess what – grant writing is a great way to do that! 

Many grant writers come to me not sure if they have what it takes to be a grant writer. If you’re in the same boat, take my free quiz Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? to help you sort it out.

• 61% of freelancers specialize across two to three talents (The Slash Workers).
• 93% of freelancers with a college degree say skills training is essential for freelancers(forbes.com).

How Do You Start as a Grant Writer?

You probably already have a good portion of the skills you need for grant writing. The gap isn’t as far as you think. 

I always tell new grant writers to find the shortest path from Point A to Point B and go from there. Check out the FAST Focus Power Series where I walk you through this in Episodes 43-46.

Skills are highly transferable from one industry to another, but most people don’t realize what a gold mine of talent they’re sitting on. Grant writing is unknown; therefore they think it’s a huge leap. But the way I teach you to go about it, it’s not.

Instead of trying to cross the Grand Canyon, you’re crossing a little brook and we’re finding stepping stones to help you get across. Once you’re there, you’ll realize grant writing isn’t as big of a jump as it seems.You learn the framework on a smaller scale, and once you’ve got that down, you can build on the foundation to go from there. 

The fact that you’re here says you’re committed to learning this path and taking it seriously.

The Freelance Writing Money Struggle

Here’s the thing about freelance writing. I don’t want you churning out bottom of the barrel articles for pennies per word. That’s not fair to you and your skill level. 

I help position you to be a strategic partner with your clients so you can help them scale their impact. That’s ultimately what it’s about, right? You wouldn’t be considering grant writing if you didn’t care about making an impact in the world. 

I want to help you make an impact AND a good income while you’re at it.

That’s why I do this – I can’t write all the grants for all the amazing causes out there. But I can teach you, and you can then write the grants for the causes that light you up, and together we create a much bigger ripple effect than any of us could on our own.

3 Must-Haves for Freelance Grant Writing

In order for freelancing to work, you must have these 3 things:

1. Committed: Grants are a long game and freelancing takes work. It’s not easy money, but it’s good money and it’s feel-good money, meaning you’re a part of building something that will last far beyond you.
2. Clear: You have to be clear about what kind of work you want to do and what you don’t want to do.
3. Consistent: You can’t flit from one type of gig to another and expect your followers to jump with you. The freelancers who are the most successful are those who become an expert in their craft.

In the book Master of One, Jordan Raynor talks about the importance of doing our work with excellence. We can’t do All The Things with excellence, so we have to choose carefully and pursue the few things we’re called to do.

I have to take it a step further, though, and remind myself that excellence isn’t the same as perfection. Perfection is an elusive moving target. We need to give ourselves grace to run imperfectly.

I want to encourage you today that yes, there is room at the freelancing table for you if you are committed, clear, and consistent.

If you are ready to go all in on those 3 things, then I would be honored to help you get there. Join me in the Fast Track to Grant Writer VIP Program and let’s fast forward your freelancing success.

All right, my friends. I’ve given you a lot to think about today. Where are you on the freelancing path? Is it something you’ve ever even considered? Do you pick up a side gig here and there? Or are you all in, 100% freelancer?

I’d love to hear from you. Come find me in the Grant Writing Simplified Linkedin community and let’s continue the conversation over there.