One of the most delicate aspects of grant writing is requesting funding for staff salaries. While many funders are open to supporting personnel costs, crafting a compelling and sustainable salary funding request requires careful planning and strategic presentation.

Understanding the Salary Funding Landscape

When a funder indicates they support salary funding, it’s essential to approach the request with confidence and caution. Your proposal needs to demonstrate not just the immediate need for the position, but also a well-thought-out plan for long-term sustainability.

Strategic Salary Funding Request: The Percentage Approach

One effective strategy when requesting salary funding is to request partial funding rather than full support. When you request 25–50% of a salary, it does the following:

• It shows other funding is already secured
• It demonstrates organizational commitment and investment in the position
• It reduces the funder’s risk while increasing confidence in sustainability

What to Include When Requesting Substantial Salary Support

If your organization needs to request more than 50% or even full salary funding, your sustainability plan becomes crucial and should include the following:

• A detailed three-year funding projection
• Specific strategies for transitioning the position to operational budget
• Multiple funding sources identified for ongoing support
• A clear timeline for reducing grant dependency

Show how the position contributes to organizational success and mission achievement

Your request should clearly articulate:

• A direct connection between the position and mission fulfillment
• Specific roles and responsibilities
• Expected contributions to short-term and mid-term outcomes
• Measurable impact indicators

Articulate Professional Standards and Fair Hiring Practices

Demonstrate your commitment to excellence through:

• Detailed job descriptions with required qualifications and credentials
• Transparent hiring process documentation
• Clear reporting structures and supervision plans

What Do You Do if the Position is Already Filled?

If the position you are requesting funding for is currently filled, you’ll want to include the employee’s resume, highlighting their relevant qualifications. Also provide documentation of the competitive hiring process used. Finally, provide some evidence of the candidate’s success in the role to date.

Building a Culture of Grant Readiness

Remember that successful salary funding requests reflect an organization’s overall grant readiness. This includes:

• Strong hiring and retention practices
• Clear professional development pathways
• Robust performance evaluation systems
• Documented impact measurement

By taking a comprehensive approach to salary funding requests, organizations can build funder confidence while creating sustainable staffing solutions. Remember, the goal isn’t just to secure immediate funding but to establish a foundation for long-term organizational capacity and impact.