Grant Research & Prospect Service

Research and identify grant opportunities matching client needs

Startup Cost
$2,000-$8,000
Difficulty
Beginner
Time to Profit
3-8 months
Profit Potential
$5,000-$21,000/month

Overview

Grant researchers charge $1,000-$5,000 monthly for research services or $500-$2,500 per research report.

Serving 15-50 clients generates $60,000-$250,000 annually with 80-95% margins.

In 2025, nonprofits need strategic grant prospect research.

Revenue from monthly grant research subscriptions ($1,000-$5,000), grant opportunity reports ($500-$2,500), funder strategy sessions ($1,500-$5,000), grant calendar development ($800-$3,000), and foundation research ($1,000-$4,000).

Services include foundation and corporate grant research, government grant opportunity monitoring, customized grant prospect lists, funder alignment and strategy, grant submission calendars and timelines, and funder relationship intelligence.

Successful researchers understand foundation databases (Foundation Directory, GrantStation), identify aligned opportunities, provide actionable intelligence, track deadlines and cycles, and help clients prioritize prospects.

Small to medium nonprofits as primary clients.

Marketing through grant writing partnerships, nonprofit associations, grant writing groups, research service packages, and prospect research expertise.

Required Skills

  • Research Skills
  • Foundation Databases
  • Prospect Analysis
  • Organization
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Database Management

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Recurring monthly research revenue
  • Can serve many clients simultaneously
  • Lower startup costs than grant writing
  • Research is critical for grant success
  • Can work remotely with databases

Cons

  • Subscription fees for research databases
  • Labor-intensive research work
  • Competitive research service market
  • Clients may discontinue after building lists
  • Need multiple database subscriptions

How to Get Started

  1. Subscribe to foundation research databases
  2. Develop grant research methodologies
  3. Create research report templates
  4. Market to nonprofits and grant writers
  5. Conduct customized grant prospect research
  6. Deliver actionable grant opportunity reports
  7. Provide ongoing research subscriptions

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