Working With Me

Establishing expectations is critical for any relationship, including the one between a client and consultant. Here are some things that are important to consider when thinking about working with me (or any other grant consultant).

• Grant development requires a team approach! It is critical that members of the organization’s staff are available to provide the information needed to prepare competitive proposals. Grant professionals are experts in securing grant funding, but not in your organization or programs or in highly specialized subjects, so we must rely on your staff.

• The amount of time needed to prepare proposals for submission varies based on many factors, including:

  • • Are the standard documents needed for grant submissions kept up-to-date and easily accessible? 

    • Are organization staff available to provide information in a timely manner?

    • Is the proposal being prepared for an existing program, or are we starting from scratch?

    • Has a grant been submitted for the project/program in the past, and content needs to be updated/revised and aligned to a new RFP, or is this the first request?

    • Does the application require Letters of Support or Commitment from partners, and if so, are those partnerships well-established?

    • Is this application for funding through a state or federal agency? Even within these categories, the complexity of proposals varies significantly.

• Government applications often require 2 or more months to prepare, and usually require even longer planning periods. Plan on 50+ hours for even the simplest of federal proposals for existing programs.

• Final grant submissions are the responsibility of the organization. I will draft proposals, complete revisions to the organization’s specifications, and prepare applications in online portals. Final review and submission should be completed by designated organization staff (usually an authorized signatory).

• While I can assist with preparation for meetings, calls, or site visits with funders, it is important that the organization “own” their relationships with funders. Generally, the consultant’s direct communication with funders should be to seek clarification about funding priorities and application components or processes, rather than to discuss details of potential projects or the organization as a whole.

I am committed to practicing the highest ethical and professional standards and abide by the Grant Professionals Association’s Code of Ethics.