How much to charge for grant writing
Rates reviewed June 2026
Grant writing is priced flat per proposal or hourly, never as a percentage of the award (funders prohibit contingency fees). Most of the work is the research and needs assessment behind the proposal, so price that.
You should charge
$3,950
per project · typical $1,000–$12,000
Why this number. Charge flat or hourly and explain why you do not take a percentage: funders forbid it, and it signals professionalism. Price the research and strategy, which is the part the client cannot do themselves.
Typical grant writing prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Letter of inquiry | $300 – $1,000 |
| Full proposal | $2,000 – $8,000 |
| Per hour | $50 – $150 |
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the grant writing pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting grant writing in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Early access to the paid Pricing Toolkit
Instant unlock, and a copy in your inbox. No spam. The calculator stays free either way.
What changes the price
- Grant size and complexity
- Research and needs assessment included
- Nonprofit vs. business
- Letter of inquiry vs. full proposal
The pricing move most people miss
Charge flat or hourly and explain why you do not take a percentage: funders forbid it, and it signals professionalism. Price the research and strategy, which is the part the client cannot do themselves.
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Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for grant writing?+
Most grant writing is priced $1,000–$12,000 per project, with a typical rate around $4,000 per project. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to grant size and complexity and research and needs assessment included. Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge per job or by the hour for grant writing?+
Most grant writing is priced per job, and that is the stronger model. It pays you for the result rather than the clock, and clients far prefer one fixed number they can plan around. Estimate the hours a job takes, multiply by the hourly rate you want, then add a 15-25% buffer for the jobs that run long.
How much should I charge for grant writing as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $1,000 to $4,000 per project. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $12,000.
What affects how much grant writing costs?+
The biggest factors are grant size and complexity; research and needs assessment included; nonprofit vs. business; letter of inquiry vs. full proposal. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote grant writing so the client says yes?+
Charge flat or hourly and explain why you do not take a percentage: funders forbid it, and it signals professionalism. Price the research and strategy, which is the part the client cannot do themselves. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.