What does your grant writing service include?

We have a 3-step process for this work. Outlined on the Our Services tab, you can read about the three steps: Grant Readiness, Grant Research, and Grant Writing.

In the Grant Readiness stage, we will review your organization's reference documents, identify any missing documentation, make recommendations for improvement on existing documents, and if needed, connect you with the right resources to create any missing documentation.

In the Grant Research phase, we identify funders who’s funding priorities align with your mission and vision. Utilizing our access to extensive grant directories, we will compile a detailed report of all available grants that are most worth your time and effort.

In the Grant Writing stage, we partner with your organization for a 6-month commitment which includes Grant Readiness and Grant Research depending on the level of preparation you’re coming into the experience with. We commit to writing and submitting 12-15 grants over the course of those 6 months, ensuring a steady flow of funding for your nonprofit.

We do provide additional resources including our virtual courses on grant writing and preparing your nonprofit’s budget. Get in touch with us to discuss what the best fit for your organization is!

How do you ensure the grants you write align with our mission and goals?

During the Grant Readiness stage of our services, we meet with you to thoroughly understand your organization's mission, goals, programs, and funding needs. We work closely with your team to ensure all proposals reflect your strategic priorities and highlight your strengths and impact.

Our grant writing strategy ensures that the content is well-supported by facts and data while skillfully weaving in a broader narrative about your organization’s work. We connect your nonprofit's strategy to larger societal challenges demonstrates why this work is essential for making a meaningful impact. We share our advice on how to craft a powerful Problem Statement in our blog. 

What is your success rate with grant applications?

Lifetime total dollars won: $900,500 

Average gift size: $47,400

Median gift size: $15,000

2024 win rate: 29% (8 out of 28 proposals) with 46% of those proposals pending

How long does it typically take to complete a grant application?

The timeline for completing a grant application depends on the complexity of the grant and the responsiveness of your team. Generally, you can expect 4-6 weeks for thorough preparation. 

You can also generally expect grant applications of similar length to take less time as we become more familiar with your organization’s work.

What information and resources will you need from us to get started?

We will need detailed information about your programs, financial statements, organizational history, and any previous grant applications. During Grant Readiness we will review these documents with key staff to gather additional insights and data that we will use to inform the Grant Writing process. 

If you would like to DIY-Grant Readiness, you can do so by using our FREE downloadable Grant Readiness Checklist.

You can find some templates to help you to further develop your program descriptions and strategic goals in our Online Shop. 

Can you help us identify suitable grant opportunities?

Yes - we can do this in the Grant Research phase of our offerings. This involves extensive research on grant opportunities available through private foundations and state and federal programs. We use a variety of grant databases to explore these options and compile a list of the primary and secondary opportunities in addition to the list of grants we have determined are a poor fit for your organization. We do this so that you don’t have to go back and dig into the opportunities we’ve already reviewed.

The Grant Seeking Report compiled by our team will provide all essential grant information including contact information, deadlines, funder priorities, regional eligibility requirements, and notes on their funding history.

Do you provide training for our staff on grant writing?

Yes! We are currently in the process of developing our own grant writing course which will be available online by the end of Summer 2024. This grant writing course will include:

• LIVE in-depth workshops taught by Beckie

• Content designed specifically for grassroots nonprofits

• Weekly office hours with a grant writing expert

• Community of grassroots nonprofit pros

• Supplemental readings, worksheets, and webinars

• Discounts on all templates available on our website store

Find out more about what’s covered in this course on the GrantCraft Pro course webpage.

Upon request, Beckie is also available to host trainings for audiences of:

• Nonprofit staff

• Development teams

• Program managers / coordinators

• Boards of Directors

• Grantees

Pricing depends on a number of factors. *Please email Beckie (beckieirvin@gmail.com) directly for pricing. When you reach out, please include topics of interest, number of attendees, audience type, preferred dates and times, IRL or virtual, and any other relevant information.

What are your fees for grant writing services?

This information is available on the Our Services page of our website. If you are looking for a service or some support that is not explicitly mentioned on Our Services page, please get in touch with us and we will determine if we are a good fit for your project.

Do you offer any guarantees on the success of the grants you write?

While we cannot guarantee funding success due to the competitive nature of grants, we do ensure high-quality, articulate, engaging, professional proposals that will maximize your chances of success. In the grant writing process it is critical to remember that grant writers cannot control what other organizations or projects are applying for funding, and a denied application does not necessarily reflect issues with the written proposal or the project itself. 

Applying for grant opportunities that are well aligned with your organization’s mission, vision, and long-term goals is an essential part of our approach, and this is why we spend a significant amount of time and energy in the Grant Research Phase, ensuring your organization is putting its resources towards grants that are well aligned with your mission, vision, and offerings.

How do you handle communication and collaboration throughout the grant writing process?

We will establish regular communication through scheduled bi-weelymeetings and email correspondence during normal work week hours. 

Grant writing is a process that requires engagement from all parties. Not only will you be kept up to date on our progress on the project, but as a partner in the grant writing process we expect you to thoroughly review all grant applications before they’re submitted, share feedback and in a timely manner, and participate in our communication agreement by limiting communication to emails, scheduled meetings, and limited emergency communication (in we are working on a time sensitive project) within normal work hours.

Can you assist with grant reporting and compliance after we receive funding?

No, this is not a service that we offer. If you’d like a recommendation for a great grant manager we would be happy to refer you to one of our trusted colleagues. 

What happens if we don't win the grant?

If your application is not successful, we are always willing to review an application and participate in strategic discussions guiding future grant writing efforts. Grant Writing is a competitive process that cannot be relied upon to fund your entire organizational budget. Funders are often reviewing hundreds if not thousands of applications, and the reason for being denied a grant is most likely due to other existing projects that are simply better aligned with their funding priorities.

To clarify, although we cannot guarantee your application will be selected by a funder, we can guarantee that your application will ensure that the content is well-supported by facts and data while skillfully weaving in a broader narrative about your organization’s work. We connect your nonprofit's strategy to larger societal challenges demonstrates why this work is essential for making a meaningful impact.

Do you have experience working with organizations similar to ours?

We have experience working with a wide range of nonprofits, including those in various sectors such as education, health, environment, recreation, conservation, and social services. We can provide references and case studies relevant to your field.

How do we get started with your grant writing services?

To get started, fill out THIS FORM. We will take the information provided and assess whether your organization’s needs, goals, and timeline are a good fit for our services. If we come to the conclusion that we are not the best fit for your organization’s current needs then we will happily refer you to one of our trusted colleagues.