Grant Writer vs. Grant Strategist: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters

"Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." — Sun Tzu

When a nonprofit says, “We need a grant writer,” they’re often referring to someone who can produce polished, compelling proposals. But here’s the truth: great writing alone isn’t what wins funding. To consistently secure grants—especially in today’s competitive landscape—you need more than a strong writer. You need a strategist.

In this post, we’re breaking down the difference between a grant writer and a grant strategist, and why understanding that difference could be the key to unlocking sustainable, long-term funding for your organization.

What Is a Grant Writer? (And Why They’re Not Enough on Their Own) ✍️

A grant writer is responsible for crafting the actual grant proposal. Their skillset includes persuasive writing, attention to detail, and the ability to follow complex funder instructions. They’re often brought in late in the process—when the opportunity has been identified and the deadline is looming.

Grant writers typically:

• Translate program goals into funder-friendly language

• Assemble and format proposal components

• Ensure compliance with funder guidelines

• Edit and polish narrative content

And while that’s a critical role, here’s the catch: if your organization doesn’t have a strategy behind which grants you pursue and why, even the best-written proposals can fall flat.

What Is a Grant Strategist? (And Why It Changes the Game) 🧭

A grant strategist operates upstream from the writing process. Think of them as your funding architect. They help you identify the right opportunities, build a strong pipeline, and align your grant-seeking efforts with your organization’s mission and capacity. This kind of long-view thinking can be the difference between burnout and sustainable success.

Grant strategists typically:

• Conduct funder research and alignment analysis

• Develop multi-year grant pursuit plans

• Analyze ROI of different grant types (federal vs. foundation, competitive vs. renewal)

• Identify internal gaps (data, partnerships, readiness)

• Build systems for collaboration, evaluation, and tracking

In other words, a grant strategist helps your team pursue the right grants, at the right time, for the right reasons—and supports writers with the context, data, and clarity needed to be successful.

Why This Distinction Matters to Your Bottom Line 💸

Hiring a grant writer without a strategy is like hiring a contractor with no blueprint. You might get a few wins—but you’re more likely to waste time, miss deadlines, or apply for grants you’re not competitive for.

Here’s where the ROI comes in:

📌 A 2021 Instrumentl study showed that nonprofits with proactive grant strategies secured 37% more grant funding annually compared to reactive applicants.

📌 According to Candid, the average grant success rate for cold proposals is below 20%, but that rate increases significantly when submissions are part of a thoughtful relationship-building strategy.

Having a strategist on your team means less chasing, more choosing. It shifts your mindset from “let’s apply and hope” to “let’s apply with purpose.”

How They Work Together: Your Dream Team 🤝

A grant strategist doesn’t replace a writer—they make their job easier. When both roles are working together, you get:

• Clear program narratives backed by strong strategic positioning

• Proposals aligned with funder priorities and organizational goals

• A focused calendar that prevents last-minute panic

• Better internal collaboration and fewer rewrites

Think of it like this: The strategist sets the direction, the writer brings it to life.
At Carinci Consulting, we often do both—building strategy and supporting writing—because we’ve seen how much stronger proposals become when vision and execution are aligned.

How to Know What You Really Need (And When to Invest) 🛠️

Ask yourself:

• Are we applying for grants that we’re well-positioned to win?

• Do we have a multi-year plan or are we chasing deadlines?

• Are we repeating the same mistakes or rejection patterns?

• Is someone guiding the “why,” or just reacting to the “what”?

If your answers reveal more firefighting than forecasting, it’s time to invest in strategy.

And yes, hiring a strategist may feel like a stretch during budget season. But as we shared in last month’s post, organizations that invest strategically during lean times often emerge ahead.

Don’t Just Write—Strategize for Sustainability

Great writing gets attention. Great strategy gets results.

If you’re only focused on what to say in a proposal, you might be missing the bigger picture: where to apply, when to apply, and how each submission fits into your long-term vision. That’s what a grant strategist brings to the table.

Ready to stop chasing and start choosing?

At Carinci Consulting, we help nonprofits bridge the gap between vision and funding with comprehensive strategy and expert writing. Let’s build your funding roadmap—together.

🗓️ Schedule a complimentary strategy session.

📨 Email us at mailto:hello@carinciconsulting.com to start a conversation.