Question: Should We Sign a Contract With Our Grant Writer? What Should Be in the Contract?
Answer: To avoid disappointment and a futile waste of time and money, you should indeed sign a contract with a professional grant writer. Here is what to include:
- a detailed list of the tasks you expect the grant writer to perform.
- the effective date of the contract and when it expires.
- a cancellation clause that either the consultant or your nonprofit can use with appropriate notice. That notice period is usually not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days. For instance, you or the consultant would need to give the other from 30 to 90 days notice in order to cancel the contract.
- a statement that stipulates that your nonprofit owns the resulting proposal.
- how much the grant writer will be paid and when. You may want to have portions paid when certain tasks are accomplished.
- how reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses will be paid. Will they be reimbursed after documentation? Or will there be an advance? Will they be included in the final payment?
- signatures by both the grant writer and by an officer of the nonprofit.
If possible, have your legal counsel develop the contract or, at least, review it.
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