Grant Writing
Service description
Grant writing is researching funding opportunities and preparing the proposal that asks for them. A writer finds programs that fit, reads the funder's requirements, and drafts the narrative, budget and attachments. Funders include federal agencies, state governments and private foundations, and each has its own rules and format.
Common industries
Applies to nonprofits, research and technology companies, schools and other organizations that qualify.
ROI
Non-dilutive capital for organizations that qualify; success-weighted value, though awards are competitive.
Benefit
Research and write competitive grant proposals — nonprofit, foundation, or federal (e.g., SBIR) — to win non-dilutive funding.
Why get it
Grants are funding that does not have to be repaid or exchanged for ownership. Funders score proposals against published criteria, so a clear, compliant proposal improves the odds, though no writer can guarantee an award.
When you benefit
Recurs with each funding cycle. A proposal is written for a specific deadline, and organizations often apply to several programs each year.
What it costs
Typically a project fee.
When you pay
Providers usually charge a fixed fee per proposal, or an hourly rate or retainer for ongoing grant work. Price depends on the length and complexity of the application and how much research the provider must do.
Other costs
Internal staff time for budgets and letters of support, any registrations a funder requires, and the work of managing and reporting on an award if one is won.
Risks to know
A proposal can be rejected for missing a requirement, even a strong one, and most applicants are not funded. An award comes with rules on how the money is spent and reported, and not following them can put the award at risk. A writer cannot promise an outcome.
When risks arise
A rejection arrives after the funder's review period. Compliance problems with an award tend to appear later, when spending is reviewed or reports are due.
The process
The provider confirms eligibility and identifies programs that fit the project. It reads the funder's notice, outlines the proposal and drafts the narrative and budget. The organization reviews the drafts, and the provider prepares the final package for submission.
Your commitment
The organization provides its mission, programs, budget and financial statements, and describes the project it wants funded. It completes any required registrations, supplies letters and attachments, and reviews drafts in time to meet the deadline.
Documents to gather
- Mission statement and a description of the project to be funded
- Project budget and the organization's financial statements
- IRS determination letter, for a nonprofit
- Letters of support and reports from past grants
Helpful reading
- Grants 101 — Grants.gov
- Grant-Making Agencies — Grants.gov
- About SBIR — SBIR.gov, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Grants — U.S. Small Business Administration
Further research
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