FREE Grant Writing Grant Writing Ethics Questions and Answers

Question 1

A small, resource-strapped nonprofit offers a freelance grant writer a contract stating that compensation will be 15% of any grant funds awarded.
What is the most appropriate ethical response from the grant writer?

Accepted Answer

Decline the percentage-based fee and propose a fee-for-service or hourly rate, explaining it aligns with professional ethics.

Answer

Accept the contract, as it aligns the writer's success with the organization's success.

Answer

Negotiate for a higher percentage to account for the risk involved.

Answer

Accept the contract but require a small upfront retainer to cover initial work.

Question 2

A grant writer serves on the board of a local printing company. A nonprofit client, unaware of this affiliation, is preparing a grant proposal that includes a large budget for printing and dissemination. Which of the following actions is ethically required for the grant writer?

Accepted Answer

Disclose the relationship to the nonprofit client before the proposal is submitted.

Answer

Recommend the printing company to the client, as it may offer a competitive price.

Answer

Say nothing, as the grant writer's role is separate from their board position.

Answer

Immediately resign from the printing company's board to avoid any potential conflict.

Question 3

Which of the following is an ethical breach when writing the Statement of Need in a grant proposal?

Accepted Answer

Intentionally using five-year-old statistics that show a greater need than more recent data indicates.

Answer

Using a compelling, emotional story about one individual to illustrate a larger problem.

Answer

Citing local, recent data to demonstrate the severity of the issue in the community.

Answer

Including a quote from a respected community leader about the importance of the project.

Question 4

A freelance grant writer develops a comprehensive proposal for Nonprofit A, but the grant is not funded. Six months later, Nonprofit B, which has a very similar mission, hires the writer to apply to a different funder for a similar project. What is the most ethical way for the writer to proceed?

Accepted Answer

Use their own background knowledge and structure, but write an entirely new, tailored proposal, as the original work belongs to Nonprofit A.

Answer

Sell the original proposal written for Nonprofit A to Nonprofit B at a discounted rate.

Answer

Reuse the entire proposal, simply changing the organization's name and budget details.

Answer

Refuse to work with Nonprofit B because the project is too similar to a previous client's.

Question 5

After a grant is successfully awarded, the primary ethical responsibility of the grant professional, in collaboration with the nonprofit, shifts to what?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring proper stewardship, using funds as proposed and reporting on outcomes accurately.

Answer

Immediately beginning research for the next funding opportunity.

Answer

Publicizing the award to enhance the organization's reputation.

Answer

Negotiating a bonus for securing the funding.

Question 6

A grant writer learns confidential, non-public information about a foundation's internal funding deliberations through a previous client. When working with a new client applying to the same foundation, the writer's primary ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Refrain from using or disclosing the confidential information learned from the previous client relationship.

Answer

Use the inside information to give the new client a competitive advantage.

Answer

Disclose the confidential information to the new client so they can tailor their proposal.

Answer

Recuse themselves from working on any proposals to that specific foundation indefinitely.

A small, resource-strapped nonprofit offers a freelance grant writer a contract stating that compensation will be 15% of any grant funds awarded.What is the most appropriate ethical response from the grant writer?

A small, resource-strapped nonprofit offers a freelance grant writer a contract stating that compensation will be 15% of any grant funds awarded.
What is the most appropriate ethical response from the grant writer?