Data as of Aug 25, 2026 · Based on 352 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
If your need is technical or research-focused (NIH, SBIR, academic), choose 
Brands AI recommends here
Named in 65% of answers
Named in 48% of answers
Named in 39% of answers
Grant Writer Team is best when you want a platform that matches your organization with vetted professional grant writers for focused proposal work; note some listings reference a small administrative fee.
Named in 34% of answers
Kolabtree is ideal when you need expert freelance writers for scientific, technical, or academic grants (NIH, SBIR); it focuses on matching researchers with writers who understand complex research applications.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
Best Freelance Grant Writers for Hire (Jul 2026)https://www.upwork.com/hire/grant-writers/ | 4.6% |
 Grant Writers | FederalGrants.comhttps://www.federalgrants.com/grant-writers.html | 4.0% |
 Top 6 Sites to Hire a Grant Writer in 2026 - Squibler Learning Centerhttps://www.squibler.io/learn/hire-a-writer/hire-a-grant-writer/ | 3.2% |
 Holly Rustick | The Grant Writer Directoryhttps://grantwritingandfunding.com/grant-writer-directory | 3.0% |
 Professional Grant Writers: Your Grant Writing Specialistshttps://www.professionalgrantwriter.org/ | 2.6% |
Top Freelance Grant Proposal Writers For Hirehttps://www.kolabtree.com/find-an-expert/subject/grant-writing | 2.6% |
 Freelance Grantwriters Directoryhttps://www.grantwriters.org/nonprofit-resources/freelance-grantwriters-directory/ | 2.6% |
 Where do find a great grant writer!? : r/nonprofit - Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/nonprofit/comments/10814zt/where_do_find_a_great_grant_writer/ | 2.4% |
 Hire a Talented Certified Grant Writerhttps://www.learngrantwriting.org/hire-a-grant-writer/ | 1.9% |
 7 Freelance grant writers for hire You Should Know - OpenGrantshttps://opengrants.io/freelance-grant-writers-for-hire/ | 1.8% |
Yes, there are **many reputable freelance grant writers, specialized agencies, and professional directories** you can utilize to find the right fit for your organization . Because grant writing requires deep technical knowledge and compliance expertise, you should look for candidates through dedicated channels rather…
Yes, there are many reputable freelance grant writers, specialized agencies, and professional directories you can utilize to find the right fit for your organization . Because grant writing requires deep technical knowledge and compliance expertise, you should look for candidates through dedicated channels rather than general writing boards.
Professional Directories & Associations
These options are ideal for finding independent, certified, and highly experienced grant professionals.
Specialized Grant Writing Agencies
If you prefer a full-service team that handles everything from prospect research to complex federal compliance, hiring an agency is a strong route.
Freelance Platforms & Marketplaces
For flexible, project-based contracts or smaller foundation grants, freelance marketplaces offer a quick way to review portfolios.
Important Ethics Reminder
When hiring a grant writer, never agree to pay them a percentage of the grant award . Professional ethical standards (such as those from the GPA) prohibit commission-based pay because grant funds are legally mandated to go directly toward project implementation, not fundraising costs. Expect to pay an hourly rate or a flat, per-project fee.
To help me narrow down the best platform or agency for your specific needs, could you share:
Yes. You can hire either a **freelance grant writer** (usually best for a specific proposal or smaller budget) or a **grant-writing agency** (often better if you need ongoing research, multiple applications, federal grants, or grant strategy). Here are some places to start: ## Freelance grant writers and consultants -…
Yes. You can hire either a freelance grant writer (usually best for a specific proposal or smaller budget) or a grant-writing agency (often better if you need ongoing research, multiple applications, federal grants, or grant strategy). Here are some places to start:
A note on pricing: be cautious with writers who promise guaranteed funding or charge a percentage of the grant award; many nonprofit grant professionals consider percentage-based fees problematic because they can create conflicts of interest.
If you tell me:
I can narrow this down to better-fit writers or agencies.
Finding the right grant writer depends heavily on your organization type (nonprofit vs. for-profit), industry, and budget. Professional help ranges from vetted directories of certified experts to major freelance marketplaces and full-service agencies. Vetted Directories & Associations - **[Grant Professionals…
Finding the right grant writer depends heavily on your organization type (nonprofit vs. for-profit), industry, and budget. Professional help ranges from vetted directories of certified experts to major freelance marketplaces and full-service agencies.
Vetted Directories & Associations
Freelance Platforms
Full-Service Agencies
Typical Pricing Structure
Red Flags to Avoid
To help me narrow down the best platform or specific recommendation, tell me:
Absolutely. There are several credible options in the Northern Virginia/DC area, and I’d recommend choosing based on whether you need **one or two proposals** or want someone to become an **ongoing outsourced grants function**. ### A few worth considering - Raise Well — Ashburn-based fundraising consulting practice…
Absolutely. There are several credible options in the Northern Virginia/DC area, and I’d recommend choosing based on whether you need one or two proposals or want someone to become an ongoing outsourced grants function.
There are also some Virginia firms I'd put on the broader shortlist:
Don't just hire the person who promises the highest "success rate." I'd ask each candidate:
One particularly important point: Virginia's own grant-writing guidance emphasizes funder alignment before investing heavily in a proposal. In other words, a good consultant should sometimes tell you not to apply rather than simply take your money and write the application.
If you tell me (a) what your organization does, (b) whether you're a nonprofit/501(c)(3), (c) roughly how much you're trying to raise, and (d) whether you're looking for federal grants, foundations, corporations, or all three, I can narrow this to 5–7 strong candidates and compare their specialties, location, services, and likely fit for you.
Yes, there are several dedicated platforms, professional directories, and agencies where you can hire freelance grant writers or full-service consulting teams.[](https://www.reddit.com/r/nonprofit/comments/10814zt/where_do_find_a_great_grant_writer/)…
Yes, there are several dedicated platforms, professional directories, and agencies where you can hire freelance grant writers or full-service consulting teams.
Dedicated Grant Writing Platforms & Directories
General Freelance Marketplaces
Specialized Agencies
Important Tips for Hiring:
If you can share a bit more about your project, I can point you toward the most relevant resource:
Absolutely. I found several **grant writers and agencies in the Indiana/Kentucky region**, including options that work remotely. Since you're around Corydon, I’d especially look toward Louisville, southern Indiana, and Indianapolis. ### A few I'd put on your shortlist - Sarah Writes Grants, LLC — Indianapolis-based…
Absolutely. I found several grant writers and agencies in the Indiana/Kentucky region, including options that work remotely. Since you're around Corydon, I’d especially look toward Louisville, southern Indiana, and Indianapolis.
Sarah Writes Grants, LLC — Indianapolis-based grant-writing/fundraising communications consultant. Offers ongoing retainer packages and project-based work. Their profile says they've worked across nonprofits, schools, higher education, and government, with a reported $50M+ portfolio of successful grant writing.
Thrive Nonprofit Solutions, LLC — Indianapolis-based nonprofit consulting firm serving Indiana and surrounding states. They handle grant writing and management, including proposal development, submission, compliance, reporting, and evaluation. They report nearly $11M in grants acquired.
Ashley|Rountree & Associates — Louisville-based nonprofit consulting agency with a substantial grants division. They offer grant research, proposal writing, editing, funder strategy, outcomes development, and grant-readiness work. Their team includes experienced federal and government grant writers.
Bolek Grant Writing and Consulting Services, LLC — Evansville-based grant consultant offering project-specific applications, grant-readiness assessments, logic models, and training. Their public materials report $54M+ in funding secured since 2010.
TRQ Solutions — Evansville-area consulting firm focused on grant writing, strategy, and organizational change. They report $14.5M in grant wins and work with mission-driven organizations.
Center for Grant Research and Writing — Indiana-based firm specializing in nonprofit grant research, identifying funders, proposal development, and grant support. They advertise a free initial consultation.
There are freelancers who will take one grant at a time, rather than requiring a long-term consulting contract. For example, Kayla's Freelance Grant Writing is listed in Evansville.
Another interesting option is Petra Solutions Consulting, which publishes its pricing: hourly grant support at $100/hour, project-based work, or monthly plans starting at $1,399/month.
Before hiring anyone, I'd figure out which of these you actually need:
If you tell me what your organization does, whether you're a 501(c)(3), roughly how much you're trying to raise, and what kinds of programs you need funding for, I can narrow this down to 3–5 grant writers/agencies that are particularly good fits, including what they charge and whether they have experience with organizations like yours.
Absolutely. There are several good options in the NYC/NJ area, and I’d generally recommend hiring someone with **actual experience in your nonprofit’s specific funding area** rather than a generic “grant writer.” A few worth considering: - ANC Consult — NYC-based; offers grant writing, prospect research,…
Absolutely. There are several good options in the NYC/NJ area, and I’d generally recommend hiring someone with actual experience in your nonprofit’s specific funding area rather than a generic “grant writer.”
A few worth considering:
You can also hire an individual freelance grant writer rather than an agency. Upwork's New Jersey grant-writer marketplace currently has NJ-based writers with substantially different backgrounds and rates—for example, profiles ranging from roughly $68/hour to $200/hour.
If you're going to have someone help with multiple grants, I'd look for a person/firm that can do more than just write. Ideally they should:
For a smaller organization, I actually like the freelancer or small consultancy + monthly retainer model. You don't necessarily need a big agency.
If you tell me (a) what your organization does, (b) whether you're a nonprofit/501(c)(3), (c) roughly how much you're trying to raise, and (d) what kinds of grants you're pursuing (government, foundations, corporate, etc.), I can narrow this down to 5–10 specific grant writers/agencies that are a strong fit, including their experience, pricing where available, and contact information.
`Yes, there are many freelance grant writers, specialized boutique firms, and large agencies available for hire` . Where you look depends heavily on whether you need a quick, single application drafted or a long-term strategic funding partner.[](https://jm-aq.com/services/proposal-development-grant-writing/)…
Yes, there are many freelance grant writers, specialized boutique firms, and large agencies available for hire . Where you look depends heavily on whether you need a quick, single application drafted or a long-term strategic funding partner.
Platforms to Find Freelance Grant Writers
Grant Consulting Agencies & Firms
Important Rules of Thumb for Hiring
If you can share:
I can help you narrow down the best platform or approach to find the right match.
Absolutely. There are quite a few **freelance grant writers and grant-writing firms in the NYC/NJ area**, and the right choice depends on whether you need someone to write individual applications or want a partner to handle your broader funding strategy. A few worth looking at: ### Local options I'd shortlist
Absolutely. There are quite a few freelance grant writers and grant-writing firms in the NYC/NJ area, and the right choice depends on whether you need someone to write individual applications or want a partner to handle your broader funding strategy.
A few worth looking at:
If you don't need an agency, Upwork has a substantial pool of NJ/NY grant writers, including people with government, foundation, education, arts, and human-services experience.
That's often the better route if you want to start with one or two grants, see how the relationship works, and then move to a retainer.
Before hiring anyone, I'd ask each candidate:
One important caution: I'd be wary of anyone promising that they'll "guarantee" a grant award. Grant professionals generally charge for their work rather than taking a percentage of the award; performance-based compensation can also raise ethical concerns in the profession.
If you tell me what your organization does, whether you're a nonprofit/501(c)(3), and roughly how much you're trying to raise, I can narrow this down to 5–10 grant writers/agencies that are specifically suited to you and compare their experience, services, and likely cost.
Yes, you can hire both freelance grant writers and full-service agencies depending on your budget, organization type, and the complexity of the grants you are targeting (e.g., local foundation grants vs. multi-million dollar federal proposals).[](https://www.professionalgrantwriter.org/)…
Yes, you can hire both freelance grant writers and full-service agencies depending on your budget, organization type, and the complexity of the grants you are targeting (e.g., local foundation grants vs. multi-million dollar federal proposals).
Here are the best places and platforms to find vetted freelance grant writers and specialized agencies:
A quick ethical and financial note: Legitimate, professional grant writers charge by the hour or by flat project fees. Never hire a grant writer who asks to work on a commission or percentage-based fee of the awarded grant, as this violates professional ethics codes (such as the Grant Professionals Association).
If you can share:
I can give you a more tailored recommendation on what to look for and how to structure your budget.
