Grant Writer for Outdoor & Environmental Nonprofits | Get Funded to Protect Nature
Hi, I’m Sarah—Your Partner in Securing Grant Funding for Conservation
After spending eight transformative days circumnavigating a volcano through stunning backcountry, I quit my corporate job to become a grant writer helping outdoor and environmental nonprofits protect natural places.
Why Grant Funding Should Be Your Next Revenue Stream
If you’re running a conservation nonprofit, land trust, trail organization, or environmental group, grant funding isn’t optional—it’s essential. It’s non-dilutive money that brings your projects to life without surrendering equity or control.
Here’s the reality: There’s money on the table right now for environmental conservation, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation access, and climate resilience projects. If you’re not applying for grants, that funding goes to someone else.
How I Help Environmental Nonprofits Secure Grant Funding
Based in Seattle and working with clients nationwide, I make grant funding accessible. If you’re pursuing foundation grants, federal conservation funding, or corporate giving opportunities, I’ll partner with you every step of the way—from assessing your readiness and organizing your materials to identifying the right opportunities and crafting compelling proposals that win.
The Challenge Small Outdoor Nonprofits Face
I get it. Most small, bootstrapped conservation organizations don't have the human power or resources to submit competitive grant applications. Between managing volunteers, coordinating trail work, conducting habitat surveys, and engaging your community, who has time to write a 15-page federal grant proposal?
Grant applications are complex and time-consuming—but they're also your ticket to sustainable funding.
That’s where I come in.
Grant Writer vs. In-House Staff: The Cost Comparison
Stuck deciding between working with a freelance grant writer or hiring full-time staff?
According to Indeed, the average salary for a U.S. grant writer is $64,191—plus benefits, taxes, training, and overhead.
For the cost of one full-time salary, you could fund over 1,600 hours of my specialized grant writing support—without any overhead.
I scale to fit your capacity and goals. Whether you're preparing for one major federal conservation grant or developing a full annual grants calendar, my support adapts to your organization's evolving needs and unique funder landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Environmental and outdoor nonprofits can access several types of grant funding:
Federal Grants
- Range from $50,000 to $500,000+
- Requires detailed applications
- Strict compliance
Foundation Grants
- Comes from private and community foundations focused on environmental causes (ex: conservation-focused family foundations and regional environmental grantmakers)
- Varies widely from $5,000 to $1 million+
Corporate Environmental Grants
- Offered by companies with sustainability initiatives
- Range from $10,000 to $100,000
State and Local Government Grants
- Supports region-specific environmental priorities
- State fish and wildlife agencies, environmental departments, and parks departments frequently offer funding opportunities
Community and Grassroots Grants
- Provides smaller amounts from local community foundations, conservation collaboratives, and donor-advised funds
- Often have simpler application processes
The best grant opportunities for your outdoor nonprofit depend on your specific mission, geographic location, organizational capacity, and project scope.
Grant writer costs vary significantly based on experience, project scope, and pricing structure:
Project-Based Fees: Many grant writers charge per proposal, ranging from $1,500 for simple foundation grants to $5,000-$10,000+ for complex federal grants. Project fees provide cost certainty and align the writer's incentives with completing quality work.
Retainer Arrangements: Some nonprofits hire grant writers on monthly retainers ($2,000-$5,000/month) for ongoing support including grant research, proposal writing, and funder relationship management.
Full-Time In-House Grant Writer: Hiring a staff grant writer costs $64,000+ annually plus benefits (health insurance, retirement, taxes), onboarding time, and overhead—totaling $80,000-$100,000 in true costs.
For small to mid-sized environmental nonprofits, hiring a freelance grant writer is typically more cost-effective than employing full-time staff. You pay only for active grant cycles and benefit from specialized expertise without long-term salary commitments.
Consider your organization's grant funding potential when evaluating costs. If a grant writer helps you secure even one $50,000 grant, the return on investment is substantial.
Grant proposal writing timelines vary based on grant complexity, organizational readiness, and proposal requirements.
Factors That Impact Timeline:
Grant Readiness: Organizations with up-to-date 501(c)(3) documentation, financial statements, board lists, and project descriptions can move faster. If you're building these materials from scratch, add 2-4 weeks.
Collaboration Needs: Time for program staff to provide data, review drafts, and answer questions affects overall timeline. Clear communication accelerates the process.
Funder Deadlines: Rush proposals (under 2 weeks) are possible but may incur rush fees and require significant organizational capacity for quick turnaround.
Starting the grant writing process several weeks before major deadlines allows adequate time for research, writing, internal review, and revisions. Building a grant calendar helps you plan ahead and avoid last-minute scrambles.
Grant readiness refers to your nonprofit's organizational capacity and infrastructure to successfully apply for, receive, and manage grant funding. Funders evaluate grant readiness to ensure you can execute proposed projects and comply with reporting requirements.
Building Grant Readiness:
If you're not fully grant-ready, don't panic. Most small environmental nonprofits need to strengthen certain areas. A grant consultant can help you:
- Identify gaps in organizational documentation
- Develop missing policies and procedures
- Create reusable document libraries
- Build toward larger funding opportunities over time
Grant readiness is a journey, not a destination. Even while building capacity, you can pursue smaller grants and grow into more complex opportunities as your organization matures.
Grant success rates vary significantly based on grant type, funder, and organizational factors. It’s important to set realistic expectations for your grant seeking efforts.
Factors That Improve Your Success Rate:
- Strategic Targeting: Applying only to grants that genuinely align with your mission and capacity
- Funder Relationships: Cultivating relationships with program officers and attending funder events
- Proposal Quality: Well-written, data-driven proposals with clear outcomes, realistic budgets, and compelling narratives
- Track Record: Demonstrating past success, organizational stability, and measurable impact
- Partnership and Collaboration: Demonstrating strong community partnerships and stakeholder support
- Persistence: Successful nonprofits apply to multiple opportunities, learn from feedback, and refine approaches over time
Realistic Expectations:
A professional grant writer with experience in environmental funding typically achieves success rates above average because of strategic targeting, funder knowledge, and proposal quality. However, no grant writer can guarantee awards—external factors like funding priorities, budget constraints, and competition always play a role.
Return on Investment:
Even with moderate success rates, grant funding provides exceptional ROI. If you invest $5,000 in grant writing services and secure one $50,000 grant from three applications, you've achieved a 10x return while building organizational capacity and funder relationships that pay dividends for years to come.
I'm Not Just a Vendor—I'm a Capacity Builder
My goal isn't just to win you grants (though that's definitely the plan). I want to help you build sustainable grant funding practices that continue paying dividends long after each project ends.
Think of me as an extension of your team, helping you develop the systems and relationships that lead to consistent funding.
Founder, Lupine Literary Works