Grant Support

Good projects don’t start with a grant application.

They start with a clear idea, a realistic budget, and a funding strategy that makes sense.

Some of the funders I’ve had success with include…

Services

  • Many clients come to me when they have a great project but don't know where to look for funding. I conduct comprehensive prospect research to identify the funders and programs best aligned with the project, assess where an organization stands today in terms of grant readiness (capacity, systems, track record), and map out a phased strategy for pursuing the right opportunities, including identifying potential sources of matching funds.

  • Strong applications start with strong projects. I work with clients to shape early ideas into fundable projects—clarifying the scope, defining measurable outcomes, establishing available matching funds, identifying the right partners, and testing whether the concept holds up before significant time and resources go into pursuing it.

  • Once your project concept is ready for prime time and we have identified a viable funding opportunity to pursue, I write compelling, technically sound proposals, develop detailed and defensible budgets, and coordinate all the pieces that go into a competitive submission.

  • Winning the grant is only the start. I support clients through the full lifecycle of managing an award—setting up the systems to track spending and progress, meeting federal and funder compliance requirements, producing clear and accurate reports, and troubleshooting the inevitable challenges that arise during implementation.

I specialize in large, federal economic development grants for rural Appalachian communities. I’m best known for my successful track record with the Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER Initiative. I also have extensive experience writing and managing private foundation grants for nonprofit clients.

Grant specialties

ARC POWER Initiative

Established track record with the Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER Initiative, ARC’s flagship program for coal-impacted Appalachian communities.

OSMRE AMLER

Proven success with OSMRE's Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, which supports economic development projects in coal-impacted communities.

Private foundations

Longstanding work with nonprofits in New England, handling ongoing proposal writing and reporting for 30+ private foundation funders.

Range of engagements

My grant writing engagements vary widely in scope. Some clients come to me for help with a single federal grant opportunity, or for prospect research to identify the right funders for a specific project. Other clients prefer to have a contracted grant writer on board. I have clients I've worked with for many years, handling all of their grant reporting, strategy, and management on an ongoing basis.

Grant compliance and reporting

Securing the grant is only the start. Where projects actually succeed or fail is in the implementation and administration work that follows.

  • Are you following procurement guidelines? 

  • Are you on track spending your grant funds, and your matching funds? 

  • Are you meeting your deliverables and achieving your anticipated impacts? 

  • Do you have your documentation in order?

  • And are you ready for an audit, should the funder call today to check on your project? 

Many grant-funded organizations can’t answer these questions. That’s where contracted grant support comes in. 

I work with clients to track their grant progress across their project window. I track project outcomes and budget performance at regular intervals so that clients have a clear picture of where their project stands as it progresses. 

I work regularly with state, federal, and foundation funding sources, and I understand the documentation and compliance expectations that come with public funding.

My goal is to help you flag course corrections early and avoid last-minute disasters. Done well, this ensures that your project fulfills its promises and builds trust with funders. 

How clients fund my work

Working with a professional grant writer is transformational for many organizations. But it can also be expensive. The good news is, there are resources available that help organizations pay for professional grant support. 

Many of my clients are small, rural communities, and in many cases I’m able to help them fund my work.

Learn more about how clients fund my work

Contact

If you'd like to talk about a grant or potential engagement, please reach out via the contact form.