ArtsFunded guide
Arts Funding Consultant vs Bid Writer: Which Do You Need?
The difference between bid writing, funder research, application review, and longer-term arts funding strategy.
Published · By Matthew Simmonds
People use "bid writer" and "funding consultant" as if they mean the same thing. Sometimes they overlap. Sometimes they are very different jobs.
Knowing the difference helps you buy the right support.
You need a bid writer if the fund is chosen
If you know the fund, deadline, amount, and project, you probably need bid writing.
That means shaping the application, asking the missing questions, writing the answers, checking the logic, and making sure the form reads clearly.
You need a consultant if the route is unclear
If you do not know where to apply, or whether the project is fundable yet, you may need funder research or strategy first.
That might include:
- Finding suitable funders
- Checking eligibility
- Mapping deadlines
- Thinking through project scale
- Identifying evidence gaps
- Planning a sequence of bids
You need review if the draft already exists
If the application is written but feels wobbly, review may be enough. A review can highlight unclear outcomes, weak evidence, budget gaps, or sections that do not answer the question.
You may need retained support if bids are constant
Some organisations do not have one deadline. They have a pipeline. In that case, regular support can be more useful than one-off panic.
Retained work can cover funder tracking, bid planning, application review, research, and drafting capacity.
Not sure?
Send the situation in plain English. I can tell you whether you need bid writing, review, research, or strategy.