Resources

--Read More About the IRS Legal Considerations of an Independent Contractor versus an Employee (pdf)
Independent Contractor versus an Employee: Considerations for Your Organization

--American Grant Writers' Association's Code of Ethics and Professional Standards
American Grant Writers' Association's Code of Ethics

Members put philanthropic mission above personal gain.
Members affirm, through personal giving, a commitment to philanthropy.
Members improve their professional knowledge and skills so their performance will better serve others.
Members practice their profession with the absolute obligation to safeguard the public trust.
Members value privacy and freedom of choice.
Members foster cultural diversity and pluralistic values, and treat all people with dignity and respect.
Members avoid even the appearance of any criminal offense or professional misconduct.
Members bring credit to the profession by their demeanor.
Members act according to the highest standards and visions of the organization and profession.
Members are aware of the codes of ethics of other professional organizations that serve philanthropy.

American Grant Writers' Association Professional Standards

Members shall not engage in activities that harm their employers, clients, volunteers, American Grant Writers' Association, Inc., its members, or the grant profession.
Members shall not engage in activities that conflict with their fiduciary, ethical or legal obligations to their employers or clients.
Members shall effectively disclose all potential and actual conflicts of interest, however, such disclosure does not preclude or imply ethical impropriety.
Members shall not exploit any relationship with a grant maker, employer, client, member, volunteer, or the American Grant Writers' Association, Inc.
Members shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal civil and criminal law.
Members shall recognize their individual boundaries of competence and be forthcoming and truthful about their professional experience and qualifications.
Members shall take care that all solicitation materials are accurate and not misleading.
Members shall take care that grant funds are used in accordance with grantmaker's intentions.
Members shall not disclose privileged or confidential information to unauthorized parties.
Members shall adhere to the principle that all donor and prospect information created by an organization is the property of that organization and shall not be transferred or utilized except on behalf of that organization.
Members shall not accept compensation that is based on a percentage of contributions or contingent upon award of a grant.
Members may accept from employers performance-based compensation, such as bonuses, provided they are in accord with prevailing practices within the organization, and are not based on a percentage of contributions.
Members shall not pay finder's fees to obtain donors and shall take care to discourage their organizations from making such payment(s).
Members shall, when stating fundraising results, use accurate and consistent accounting methods that conform to the appropriate guidelines adopted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for the type of organization involved.

--Concerns on Grant Writer's Working on a Commission/Percentage Basis
"Professional Compensation, A Position Paper," prepared by the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Ethics Committee does an excellent job of explaining why fundraising professionals, including grant writers, should not be paid on a commission/percentage basis.
http://www.afpnet.org/files/ContentDocuments/Professional_Compensation_Position_Paper_102001.pdf

--Fundraising and Non-Profit Resources
Georgia Center for Non-Profits: http://www.gcn.org/
Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org
American Grant Writers' Association: http://www.agwa.us/
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: http://www.cfgreateratlanta.org/