Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Principal Grantwriter/Administrator?
Michelle S. Mazzola has written many successful grant proposals, and then administered them, for a variety of community-based organizations. She has also successfully implemented fundraising programs that included soliciting individual, business and corporate contributions, implemented planned giving programs, as well as conducting grantwriting activities. Ms. Mazzola can help you identify funding sources, prioritize grant prospects, prepare letters of inquiry, write grant proposals, conduct program evaluations, and administer your funded projects.

What are the major types of grants that are available?
Government: The federal government administers 1,000 grant programs offered by the 26 federal grant making agencies within its jurisdiction. These grants are designed to accomplish many different purposes, such as delivering services to a specific population, or conducting scientific research. These are advertised in the form of RFP’s (Request for Proposals) or RFA’s (Request for Applications) and generally have very rigid formats, specific purposes, and strict deadlines. Sometimes formula grants are awarded by federal agencies based on a criterion prescribed in legislation or regulations. Often this is federal money that is passed through to the state, which is then re-distributed on a competitive basis to nonprofit entities. The State of Washington also administers a significant number of grant programs. Applications are generally accepted once per year by each funding entity for a wide variety of community-based projects.
Foundations & Corporations: Many large foundations and corporations look for projects which have national impact. Most foundations restrict their giving to projects within a specific geographic area and for very specific content areas.
Community Foundation – foundations involved in grant giving within a specific community or region, (e.g. Community Foundation of North Central Washington).
o Corporate Foundation: foundations which receive contributions from a profit-making entity, such as a corporation (e.g. Citigroup Foundation). Many corporate foundations fund programs which directly impact communities located near their company operations-only.
o Private Foundation – foundations which receive income from an individual, family, or group of individuals. Funding priorities of private foundations are usually based on the personal philosophies of the founding members.


How do we find grant funding opportunities?
Identifying potential funders whose interests match yours can be very challenging. Resource Solutions, LLC LLC 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.

How long does it take to write a grant?
Grant applications can range from two pages to 85+ pages, depending on the funding entity’s requirements. It can take anywhere from two hours to 100+ hours to write these grant proposals. In addition, a great deal of research must be conducted in compiling data, statistics and “story” for the first grant application. It will, therefore, generally take longer and cost more to write the first grant proposal than subsequent applications. Once a specific grant has been identified we can provide you a timeline and price estimate for writing and submitting a specific grant to that funding entity.

What does the grant seeker need to do before a grant is written?
Often it is essential for nonprofits and governmental entities to be organized and ready to write a grant proposal as soon as (or before) it is advertised. Grant funding agencies usually have specific deadlines and by the time a new grant is advertised, there is often not enough time to come up to speed and still write the grant. Ideally, grant seekers should have their own house in order – mission, vision, matching funding, strategic plan and partners identified beforehand. Matching funds usually take the form of cash or in-kind support (nonmonetary contributions made by the grantee representing such items as equipment, supplies, services or technical expertise, or volunteer hours).

How involved does the grant seeking entity need to be in the proposal development process?
Resource Solutions, LLC LLC staff needs significant input from the grant seeker in order to write a successful proposal. Your active assistance in providing data to us also helps to contain costs. We need to have detailed knowledge of your organization, your community, and your compelling story in order to craft a winning grant narrative. In addition, you need to be actively involved in reviewing written drafts to ensure that the specific project that you want funded is what is being proposed. We view our work with you as a partnership. Together we can achieve your organization’s goals efficiently and effectively.

What is the likelihood of our grant proposal being funded?
Grant writing 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, LLC LLC 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 and specializes in community-based projects. Whereas we cannot guarantee 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.

Once an 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 from government grants. 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 funder 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, LLC, LLC is adept at administering funded projects.

 

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