Episode Details

If you are wondering if you need a grant writing certification to pursue grant writing and get clients, you don’t need one.

But some people are still interested in getting a grant writing certification due to external or internal reasons.

Let’s examine these:

External Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification

A nonprofit might ask you if you have a certification during a Discovery Call.

When a nonprofit prospect asks you this question, really they are asking how experienced you are.

So if you do have a grant writing certification or certification, then say, “YES!”

However, if you don’t have one, then instead let them know that there is not an industry requirement for grant writers to have a certification. 

Because, well, there’s not.

Instead let them know that you have written X # of grants, secured $X of funding, or any of your experience in grant writing. 

Let’s face it. 

Even if you did have the Grant Writing & Funding certification (yes, that’s a thing inside the Academy! wink-wink) or your Grant Professional Certification (the Academy also offers 31 education credits towards it) a nonprofit lead isn’t going to know how many hours of grant writing you have done, how long it took you to go through a course, etc.

They don’t know what the difference is between the Academy certification or the GPC. 

So even if you do not have a grant writing certification, then mention all the other cool things related to grants you have done.

If you are new to grant writing, this might be a reason you want some sort of certification, as you can eliminate a lot of OTHER questions that might come up if you say ‘no’ to this.

Externally, what having a grant writing certification will get you is 

• a nod of approval,
•  a signature of experience (literally, put the logo in your email signature), and 
• credibility. 

You can put the name of your certification on your resume, website, LinkedIn profile, or / and business card!

This lends to the external affirmation of your skills.

But once again – this is NOT required.

Internal Considerations for a Grant Writing Certification

The process of getting a grant writing certification can help improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence in writing grants.

If you are looking to improve any of the above, then you may consider going through a course, workshop, or program (like the Freelance Grant Writer Academy) to get a grant writing certification. 

This is the heart of it.

Disclaimer.

Grant Certification or not, it doesn’t really showcase your grant writing abilities. To have long-standing credibility and a reputation and to implement your learned skills, you need to practice writing grants.

Even if you aren’t working inside a nonprofit or have a current nonprofit client.

We show you how to get a ‘fictional’ client and write up a mock grant template. 

This can even serve as a writing sample for future clients.

So, yes, a grant writing certification can increase your resume and improve your skills, but actually going through the process of writing an entire grant template and getting feedback will make this skill real.

We’ve even had students come into the Academy where their nonprofit that they work at pays for the Academy because we are training their employee to write a grant. Amazing!

So do you really need a grant writing certification?

No. 

However, a grant writing certification can be helpful in increasing credibility, knowledge, skills, and confidence. But you still will need to actually start writing grants.

ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK

Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030.  Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world