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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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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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