{
  "slug": "grant-writer-rate",
  "title": "Grant Writer Rate Calculator",
  "heading": "Grant Writer Pricing Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/grant-writer-rate",
  "summary": "Project fee, hourly equivalent, and expected value per proposal.",
  "description": "Grant writing is priced per project but delivered per hour, and success rates vary wildly by funder type. This computes a defensible project fee and shows the expected award value per hour you invest.",
  "formula": "Fee = hours × target hourly; expected value = award size × win probability.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=grant-writer-rate",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "hours",
      "label": "Hours for the proposal",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 28,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "target",
      "label": "Target hourly rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 85,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "research",
      "label": "Prospect research hours",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "award",
      "label": "Typical award size",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 75000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "winRate",
      "label": "Historical win rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 25,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "perYear",
      "label": "Proposals per year",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "fee",
      "label": "Project fee to quote",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "totalHours",
      "label": "Total hours invested",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "ev",
      "label": "Expected award value per proposal",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "evPerHour",
      "label": "Expected award per hour worked",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualFees",
      "label": "Annual writing fees",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualAwards",
      "label": "Expected annual awards generated",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Hours for the proposal: 28",
      "Target hourly rate: 85 $",
      "Prospect research hours: 6",
      "Typical award size: 75000 $",
      "Historical win rate: 25 %",
      "Proposals per year: 20"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Project fee to quote: $2,890",
      "Total hours invested: 34",
      "Expected award value per proposal: $18,750",
      "Expected award per hour worked: $551",
      "Annual writing fees: $57,800",
      "Expected annual awards generated: $375,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter hours for the proposal.",
      "Enter target hourly rate ($).",
      "Enter prospect research hours.",
      "Enter typical award size ($).",
      "Enter historical win rate (%).",
      "Enter proposals per year.",
      "Read your project fee to quote on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "hours": 17,
        "target": 50,
        "research": 4,
        "award": 45000,
        "winRate": 15,
        "perYear": 12
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "hours": 28,
        "target": 85,
        "research": 6,
        "award": 75000,
        "winRate": 25,
        "perYear": 20
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "hours": 45,
        "target": 135,
        "research": 10,
        "award": 120000,
        "winRate": 40,
        "perYear": 32
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Can grant writers take a percentage of the award?",
      "a": "No. Commission-based grant writing violates the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and most funders prohibit paying fundraising costs from award funds. Charge hourly or by project."
    },
    {
      "q": "What win rate is normal?",
      "a": "Roughly 10–20% on cold federal or new foundation prospects, and 50–70% on renewals with existing funders. Prospect research is what moves your portfolio toward the higher band."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/grant-budget",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/nonprofit-overhead-ratio"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Grant Writer Rate Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/grant-writer-rate)"
}