By Alison Stein Wellner

Q. I am really interested in fund raising and, as an expectant mother, I'm looking for development work -- such as, perhaps, grant-proposal writing -- that I can do from home. I have either volunteered for or worked at charities for six years and recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in management, including an American Humanics certificate. Any suggestions on getting started?

A. In fund raising, there aren't too many positions that are easily handled from a home office. Among your options: graphic design, some data-processing positions, and writing, including grant-proposal writing, says Kevin Courtney, chief development officer at the May Institute, a nonprofit organization that works with special-needs children and adults, in Norwood, Mass. "Other positions in fund raising would be hard to do from home because the majority of the job is face-to-face contact with people," he says.

Even in writing, design, or data processing, you might still find it tough to work out a telecommuting arrangement with a new employer, because many charities delegate these tasks to independent contractors, says Mr. Courtney. On the other hand, if you're interested in working for yourself, setting up shop as a grant-proposal writer might be the easiest way to get started. You could establish yourself by offering to do a small project on a pro bono basis, he says. Skilled volunteer grant-proposal writers are always welcome, especially by small nonprofit organizations that are usually in need of fund-raising help, says Monica Elsbrock-Boyd, executive director of Arts for People, a charity that provides art therapy in Dallas.

To find out more about the life of a grant-proposal writer, check out the American Association of Grant Professionals. If you decide to hang out your own shingle, you might be interested in Mompreneurs: A Mother's Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success, by Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano (Perigee, 2002, $14.95). The authors also have a Web site, where they answer questions from readers personally. If you decide to negotiate for a telecommuting position, check out The Home Office Solution: How to Balance Your Professional and Personal Lives While Working at Home, by Alice Bredin and Kirsten M. Lagatree (John Wiley & Sons, 1998, $14.95).