In the freelance writing community, sometimes writing for nonprofits gets a bad rep. These organizations can be seen as low-budget prospects that expect you to offer discounted rates or even work for free. But that’s an over-generalization.
For every nonprofit trying to get freelancers to cut them a deal, many more hire pros (and pay their rates) because they understand the value writers bring to their organizations and missions. They can also have healthier budgets than you realize.
In this mailbag entry, a writer currently employed by a nonprofit asks whether or not there’s financial potential in specializing in freelancing for these kinds of organizations.
Can a Freelance Writer Specialize in Writing for Nonprofits?
The following question was originally posed to Peter:
Presently I am employed by a nonprofit. I write appeal letters, grant proposals, brochures, etc. I love the work, believe in the mission of the nonprofit, but the pay is terrible. I’m good at what I do and wonder if I could make money doing the same for other nonprofits. Is this feasible? Do you know other writers who have started their own well-fed businesses as “specialist” writers for nonprofits? I really like helping good causes prosper, but I’d like a bit of prosperity myself.
Peter Bowerman on Specializing in Nonprofit Writing
Yes, of course, you can make a living as a writer for nonprofits. You might find that you start there, and branch out to for-profits as well (or the other way around). This year, I just did a bunch of work for a local chapter of a global nonprofit with thousands of chapters worldwide. I probably averaged $125-150 an hour for the work I did.
Interestingly enough, when I was bidding on the work, we (myself and a graphic designer, an alliance I’d highly recommend you forge before going after this or any other avenue of work) were up against an agency that had as its focus, nonprofits. And I promise, they were charging very healthy rates.
Obviously you have to pick larger charities that have the money. The local chapter of a worldwide one is, needless to say, a far better bet, than say, a local theater company or dance troupe.
Jennifer Mattern on Freelancing for Nonprofits
In a previous mailbag submission, a freelancer asked if they should charge less for nonprofit clients. I my response, I shared a bit about my history working in the nonprofit sector.
The short version:
Before going into business for myself, I worked in nonprofit PR. I’d worked with smaller organizations, but my last traditional role was with a major international nonprofit.
Since then, I’ve also worked with a variety of nonprofits on a freelance basis, from solo-founded nonprofit startups to a nonprofit arm of a law firm client I already had a working relationship with.
Having that background, both as a nonprofit employee (directly involved in recruitment and hiring, including contractors) as well as on the freelance side, the simple answer to your question is “yes.”
You can absolutely specialize in writing for nonprofits. And it can be lucrative.
You mention that you already write grant proposals. That itself can be a freelance specialty.
If you’re good at landing significant funding, you can make great money in the process.
Some of these gigs will involve more than writing. You’ll essentially be put on a retainer (flat monthly fee) where you’ll search for and vet opportunities, then write the grant proposals.
In other cases, the clients will come to you wanting proposals for specific grants. They do the initial legwork, and you write the proposals.
In this case, they might pay a flat fee, or they might offer a commission-style arrangement where your fee is a percentage of the awarded grants you help them earn.
One options gives more stability. But a commission, or hybrid, option can be more lucrative if you’re confident in your ability to get results.
Don’t always assume smaller organizations = smaller budgets.
That’s a common misconception around for-profit businesses, and the same can be true with nonprofits. So don’t ignore smaller nonprofits immediately. Look into their history, where their funding comes from, and who runs the org. It all matters.
But there are other things to consider beyond Peter’s excellent tip of looking into smaller offices of much larger nonprofits…
One option I’d urge you to consider is writing for foundations.
These are organizations that grant money to others more than seeking grant money themselves. They have money. And they need writing on a regular basis (newsletters, website copy, blog posts, promotional copy, event-oriented copy, etc.).
You still do mission-oriented work, but with less worry that the client will cry “broke” and try to get out of paying you for the professional services you provide.
Submit Your Question to the Well-Fed Writer Mailbag
Do you have a question related to freelance commercial writing (writing for businesses rather than traditional publications)? Submit your question using the form at the bottom of the main Mailbag page, and you could be featured in the Well-Fed Writer Mailbag series.