The Cost of Grant Writing: In-House, Consultant, or AI

 Every nonprofit wants funding. That’s the dream. But before the grant dollars roll in, there’s a big question: who’s actually going to write the proposal?

Three paths usually pop up:

Do it in-house with your team.

Hire a consultant.

Or let AI tools lend a digital hand.

Each one has its own cost – money, time, and sometimes sanity. The trick is figuring out what works for your nonprofit’s size, budget, and reality.

When thinking about grant writing for nonprofits, it’s easy to underestimate the time, effort, and skill involved. But getting this right can make all the difference between a “thanks, but no thanks” and a big funding win.

In-House – Rolling Up Your Sleeves

Writing grants in-house feels like home cooking. You know the ingredients, you know the story, and you know exactly why your nonprofit matters.

Perks:

Cheap (on paper, at least).

Keeps the voice authentic.

Builds real skills inside your team.

The flipside:

Time hog. A grant proposal isn’t just words – it’s budgets, metrics, logic models, and deadlines.

If your team’s already stretched, this can pile on stress.

Mistakes happen if you’re still learning the ropes.

The real cost? Staff hours. It’s “free” until you realize someone had to drop program work to crunch out proposals. For small NGOs, that tradeoff can sting.

Consultants – Bringing in the Pros

Now let’s talk consultants. Think of them as the master chefs of grant writing. They know the recipe, the seasoning, and how to plate the story so funders take notice.
Why nonprofits love them:

Experience. They’ve seen what works.

Speed. They can knock out polished proposals while you’re still staring at a blank page.

Strategy. Good ones don’t just write; they help plan your fundraising.

https://ngoinfo.org/the-cost-of-grant-writing-in-house-consultant-or-ai/