Who is the Principal Grantwriter / Fundraiser?
Michelle S. Mazzola, Owner of Resource Solutions is our lead fundraiser. Ms. Mazzola has written many successful grant proposals for a variety of community-based organizations. She can help you identify funding sources, prioritize grant prospects, prepare letters of inquiry, write grant proposals, conduct program evaluations, and prepare progress reports for the funding entity.

Do we have to be an IRS approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in order to apply for grant funding?
Yes, a vast majority of grant funding entities do require that applicants have their federal 501(c)3 nonprofit status.  Some grantors allow those organizations with applications pending with the IRS to apply for grants.  Occasionally, but rarely, funders will allow organizations with State nonprofit status to apply for funding.  Another consideration, if your organization is not presently an IRS-approved nonprofit, is to obtain a “fiscal sponsor” for your project.  Resource Solutions may be able to assist you in funding a suitable partnership.

 

How do nonprofit organizations such as ours pay for grantwriting services?
Grant seekers must have money available to pay for a grantwriter to write a grant proposal. Grantwriting fees are for an agreed upon rate per hour or per project. Payment cannot be contingent upon receipt of grant funds – just as you would not expect to ‘only’ pay a doctor if s/he cured-you. Since payment for grant-related expenditures begins after the grant is approved, grantors will not pay retroactive costs associated with grant proposal writing.

What does our nonprofit organization need to do before a grant is written?
Ideally, grant seekers should have their own house in order – strong board, mission, and vision; matching funds and partners identified, before undertaking the writing of a grant proposal. Grant funding agencies usually have specific deadlines and by the time a new grant is advertised, preparation time may be limited. Therefore, it is often essential for nonprofits to be organized and ready to write a grant proposal on short notice.

How do we find grant funding opportunities?
Identifying potential funders whose interests match yours can be very challenging. Resource Solutions can research prospective funders for your organization, then provide you with a comprehensive listing of the funders, their deadlines and method of initial approach, and average size of grant awards. We will also rank funders as to their likelihood of funding your organization. Our hourly rate for grant research is lower than for grant writing.

What is the likelihood of our grant proposal being funded?
Grantwriting is a difficult and competitive process. Just filling out the forms and answering the questions is rarely enough. You need to set your organization apart from all of the other applicants. Resource Solutions is skilled in helping you accomplish this task. We have a proven track record, we are good listeners, and we know how to tell a compelling story that will grab the attention of funding agencies. Our principal grantwriter has a 95% grantwriting success rate in past staff positions. Whereas we cannot guarantee you that your grant proposal will be funded, we can give you better than average odds that proposals submitted on behalf of your organization will be successful.

How long does it take to write a grant?
Grant applications can range from 2 pages to 70+ pages, depending on the funding entity. Thus, it can take anywhere from two hours to 80 hours to complete these proposals. In addition, a great deal of research must be conducted in compiling data, statistics and “story” for the first grant application. Therefore, it will likely take longer and cost more to write the first grant proposal than subsequent applications. Once a specific grant has been identified Resource Solutions can provide you a timeline and price estimate for writing and submitting a specific grant to that funding entity.

How involved does our nonprofit entity need to be in the proposal development process?
Resource Solutions views our work with you as a partnership. We need to be able to obtain detailed knowledge of your organization, your community, and your compelling story in order to craft a successful grant proposal. Your active assistance in providing data to us also helps you to contain costs. In addition, by reviewing written drafts you will ensure that the specific project you want funded, is what is being proposed to the funder. Together we can achieve your organization’s goals for a sustainable funding supply.

Once our grant application has been submitted how long do we have to wait before we get our money?
Generally it takes a minimum of six months after your application is submitted before you are notified of success and the money starts flowing to your organization. Sometimes this money will come up-front as a large check, and other times you will need to spend the money first, then obtain reimbursement.

What does the funding agency expect from us?
Once a project has been accepted for funding a contract is usually signed between the grantor and the grantee. Generally these clearly outline a list of “deliverables.” In addition the funding agency will very likely ask for written quarterly budget & accomplishment reports, annual progress descriptions, and a final project report. Resource Solutions is adept at grant administration and working with our clients to establish evaluation criteria for easy grant reporting.