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Here are several other reasons (I'm a grant writer by trade, and often get  
asked about this):
 
1.  the grant writer can't guarantee the quality of the program or the  
relationship that the museum has with the potential funder.  Even the  best-written 
grants can't overcome a poorly conceived project or a negative  relationship.
 
2.  the grant writer is doing just as much work either way -- so  should 
really be paid for professional services rendered.
 
3.  the amount of $ received through incentive-based pay is based on  the 
amount of the grant.  Which means the grant writer won't put much  effort into 
small proposals -- and at the same time will be vastly overpaid for  big 
proposals (I once wrote a successful $4,000,000 grant.  At 10%  incentive pay, I 
would've make a serious killing!!!  I mean, I worked hard,  and all, but $400,000 
for one grant -- what a deal!)
 
4.  BIGGEST REASON: in theory, the incentive-fee grant writer is paid  out of 
the money they bring in.  That means that the $ that a funder  provides, 
that's earmarked BY CONTRACT for a particular project, will actually  be paid, in 
part, to the grant writer.  So far as I can figure it out, that  is a breach 
of the contract between funder and awardee (museum).
 
Lisa


I  love the idea and have considered it myself.  However, my  "fundraising"
friends say that in the fundraising world it is considered  unethical and
unwise to pay a fundraiser on this type of system.   Here's the best reason
they gave me:

Your fundraiser gets paid for  the funds he/she raises now.  If he/she were
to have opportunity to  get $10,000 from a company today, he/she might take
it versus working for a  donation such as $2000 per year for the next ten
years.  They tend to  live by the system, "A bird in the hand is worth two in
the  bush."


 

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