Grant system — one of the most effective ways to develop really necessary branches of industry, science and social sphere.
A grant is a targeted subsidy (financial support) to companies, legal entities or individuals to motivate them to carry out certain actions. For example, the purpose of the grant may be to obtain the necessary qualifications, in which case training is funded. If the aim is to develop a new product or service, then project activities will be funded.
Grants are usually awarded on a competitive basis. This means that they have to prove that they are more deserving than other applicants.
The money does not have to be paid back if it is used for the intended purpose, i.e. if the grant provider achieves the desired effect or result.
What are the typical purposes of grants?
Grants are most often awarded for:
- Training and obtaining the necessary qualifications (specialist knowledge), for work placements after training.
- Carrying out research. This is full-fledged scientific work, but within a narrow specificity that is favourable to the grantor.
- Reimbursement of expenses related to any targeted activity — payment of tickets, hotel accommodation, covering the transport of goods, etc.
- Project funding.
It is this last point that we are most interested in order to understand who a grant writer is and what they do.
Grant project manager — who is it?
A grant manager is a specialist in managing a project or projects funded by grants. They search for grants that are suitable for the project, documents and submits the necessary reports, and manages the interaction between the organisations that have issued the grant (grantors) and those that have received financial support for their purposes (grantees).
The need for a separate qualified manager arises for the following reasons:
- You need expertise and experience to understand possible sources of funding. You need an in-depth understanding of the principles of the grant system.
- You need specific skills to manage the documentation and organisational support of a grant awarded or received.
- In order to increase the likelihood that a grant application will be approved, a number of requirements must be met. An experienced grant manager understands the relationship between project objectives and implementation methods and knows how to organise the interaction in a way that benefits both parties: positioning the project, calculating appropriate implementation figures, knowing how to attract partners, etc.
- There is a need for a specialist to be responsible for the design of the earmarked project and to ensure that the work is carried out as planned (project implementation).
So, if your organisation does not plan to seek earmarked funding for its work, you do not need a grant manager.
However, if you like the idea of receiving grants and are firmly committed to doing so, then you cannot do without a grant writer who can take care of all the work involved in such a project.
What a typical grant process looks like
Grants come in many forms. They can be awarded by state and non-state structures, but most socially significant grants are awarded by the state, represented by regional authorities.
- The grant maker announces a new grant, specifies the amounts to be allocated and the objectives, and describes the conditions of participation for applicants.
- A competition is organised within a specified time frame, during which applicants submit their applications for participation.
- Applications are subject to public and professional scrutiny.
- The experts decide whether to reject or approve the project. If changes are needed, the project is sent for revision.
- Applications approved by the experts are reviewed by the Grant Council.
- Grants are awarded to recipients.
The most successful projects can be featured in presentations at thematic forums and in special catalogues.
Thanks to mass publicity, the project may receive additional targeted funding, for example in the form of new investors, without having to apply for grants.
Responsibilities of a Grant writer (Grant Manager)
The main role of the grant manager is to coordinate the grant project.
A grant manager’s list of responsibilities might include
- Finding the most appropriate grants for the company’s field of activity, i.e. the specifics of the project that needs targeted funding. Monitoring what is available on the market and the conditions for taking part in grants. To do this, you need to know all the main places where you can find up-to-date information on grants. Grant providers are not necessarily municipal structures, they can also be commercial companies, so there are a lot of sites to monitor.
- Documenting and submitting grant applications on time. Provide the necessary reports and plans for the implementation of upcoming projects.
- Conclusion of contracts for successful applications, further documentation support.
- Planning the implementation of the grant project and coordinating the deadlines for its completion.
- Ensuring all types of communication between representatives of the grantor and the grantee.
- Developing the necessary reporting forms. Analytical and statistical activities in support of the project. Submitting reports on the grant.
In other words, the grant manager has to:
- Be able to plan project activities.
- Develop documentation and be able to work with available forms of documentation.
- Have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and recognise the limits of their authority.
- Know who to liaise with and on what issues.
- Monitor project work in accordance with the previously developed plan.
- Be able to envisage major risks in project delivery and develop methods to respond to force majeure.
- Possess the necessary leadership and communication skills.
- Be able to adequately estimate the amount of funding and time required to implement the project under different input conditions.
Of course, a grant writer should be able to work with specialised tools for project planning and control, financial accounting and so on. For example, this could be software for recording staff tasks and the project as a whole.
Does your project need a Grant Manager?
The answer is as simple as possible — if your project does not involve funding from grants (from commercial and non-commercial organisations), you do not need a grant manager. A regular project manager is sufficient.
If your project or projects are funded by grants — you need a grant manager.