Some things to consider before applying for Grants ----

Only about 10% of all grant proposals are funded.

Individuals are rarely eligible for grants unless they are students applying for financial aid or creative artists.

It can take 6 to 18 months to receive the grant money.

Most grant-funded projects require a lot of time and effort.

Some grants, especially government grants, have strict reporting and detailed accounting requirements.

Grants are usually not renewable.

Your idea must be a good fit" with the funder's priorities for grantmaking.

Can your organization handle a grant?  

Who will manage the project?
 
How will your bookkeeping records be maintained, and who's responsible?
 
Who will see that the terms, conditions, and outcomes (what you say you'll accomplish) of the grant contract are met and delivered on time?
 
Who will gather the data you need to evaluate the results of your project?
 
 Who will write the periodic evaluation reports?
 
 Who will prepare the financial reports?

Nonprofit --- or Not? Nonprofit agencies have access to large amounts of funding simply because of their status in serving the community.

Consider your budget.

Do I have budgeted funds to have a grant written or seek consulting services? Many people contact us and want to pay for services if grants are funded. There are many factors related to funding. There is never a guarantee to receive funding. But there are guidelines for each and every funding source that must be closely adhered to. If you make a mistake, it can be costly. The mistake can be as simple as signing in black ink when blue was requested. (NO KIDDING!) Our fees average $100.00/hour.

We can't pay you now, but when we win the grant/contract, we'll pay you a commission or a percentage of the amount.
This is called "working on a contingency basis," and it's something that we don't do. That is, I get paid at the time that we do the work, whether or not my client wins the grant or contract. The primary reason for this is that a proposal is only one of several factors in an award decision. Many excellent proposals do not get funded despite everyone's hard work and best efforts. And although there seem to be many rumors to the contrary, in actuality there are very few proposal writers who will agree to work on a contingency basis. With Government contracts, you cannot include the cost of proposal preparation in your budget as a direct cost -- it must be part of your company's overhead or G&A, or it must be paid out of your profits. With regard to grants, most foundations and other grantmaking organizations will not permit you to use grant funds to pay a grantwriter.

What problem or need in the community are you addressing? Who is the target audience (the people who will benefit from your services)? What are the goals of your project? What activities will take place? Are you duplicating an already existing service/program?

Consider your assets . It's a good idea to inventory the resources your organization can bring to the project.  Bottom line: you should have the skills necessary to run the program effectively.  Only promise what you're sure you can deliver.
 
Examples of strengths: experts, dedicated volunteers, secretarial support, tools/equipment, meeting room, past successes-- and more importantly, passion and commitment!
 
Include your needs, such as a coordinator, program supplies, printing, special equipment, in the grant budget.

It's time for research. Decide what you need from us. (See About Us section). According to your contract with us, we can locate a funding source or write from the Request for Proposal you provide. There is a fee for research. This is one of the time consuming factors of grant writing. You can do the research yourself and forward the RFP. Be careful to pay close attention to deadlines. You need at least a month (which is cutting it close!). We prefer a 3-6 month deadline.

The RFP is located you match all of the requirements and now you have made the decision to apply . You must provide us with any supporting documentation (preferably electronically). Any statistics from surveys, annual report, quarterly, or annual close out reports (for re-funding).

Sign a contract with us . And we begin working on the project immediately. 50% of the fee is payable upon signing the contract and the final payment is due upon receipt. (You may have decided to do this at the time research is needed.

Apply for funding. The proposal will now be written utilizing the guidelines of the RFP.

Waiting . . . it can take 1-6 months to be contacted for funding status.