Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do before I contact you? Read as much about the grant writing process as you can and how you can go about hiring a professional should you need one. I highly recommend you read the linked article by Tony Poderis of the Fund Raising Forum for some great pointers in this process.

Are your services available beyond Arizona? Yes. I can and have worked with grant seekers in other states, particularly in the western United States. Because I now reside in Arizona and inasmuch as there aren't very many independent grant consultants in this state, I chose the name of Grant Writing Services Arizona.

Can you guarantee funding? No, no grant writing service can guarantee funding from an independent or government service.

Can you assist with letters of inquiry? Yes. A letter of inquiry is usually the first step in approaching a foundation funding source.

Can you help me just do the research part of a grant application. Yes.

Can you help me just do the grant application part? Yes.

Can you assist us in writing our "background" and mission statement? Yes. An organizational background statement and mission statement are essential to the proposal presentation. Background and mission statements must be proportional to the length of the proposal. In other words, a ten page background and mission statement shouldn't be a part of a twelve page proposal.

Can you assist us in creating a realistic budget for our proposal? Yes. The budget is probably the most important part of your proposal. Budgets set priorities for the over-all success of a grant award.

Can I get a grant to help with my personal expenses such as mortgage payments and credit cards? No, there are no grants for personal expenses that I'm aware of today.

Can I put the fees charged by Grant Writing Services Arizona in the proposal? No, federal law prohibits up-front proposal preparation fees be included in a funding award. It's also unethical by the standards of the grant writing profession.

Who can apply for a grant? Anyone can apply for a grant. However, most funding agencies require that the applicant be a for profit corporation or a non-profit 501c3 organization. a student seeking scholarships is a major exception to this rule.

Are you the only person employed with Grant Writing Services Arizona? Yes. I do consult with other grant writers across the country and with agency and foundation directors. Should the need arise, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you that we will require other participants to best complete the project and the submission of a grant application.

What are your fees? The fee schedule link is here. Fee schedules charged by grant writing services such as mine are all over the ball park. I've seen fees as high as $2,000 a day to $75,000 or more as a flat fee for complicated proposals. I believe my fees at $50 an hour and $400 a day are competitive and reasonable. After checking my fees, I urge you to search the Internet for comparable services available in Arizona and elsewhere to see how we stack up. Your initial telephone call or e-mail inquiries are free without any fees attached.

How long does it take to prepare an application? I've seen applications completed in one day inasmuch as they are "fill-in" applications and as long as thirty days, depending on the complexity of the project.

How long does it take to know if my application has been funded? I would say on average it takes two to four months before all the applications are read and scored and notifications are sent out. Remember, grants are very competitive and agencies and foundations might receive as many as ten or more applications for each grant awarded. A well researched, strongly worded background statement, a well thought-out program, reasonable timelines, a reasonable budget, and a convincing evaluation scheme are the keys to success in obtaining a grant. Keep in mind, too, that the real work isn't in the grant application but in executing your project once funding is secured.

These are but a few of the thousands of questions raised in securing the services of a grant writer. I will be happy to answer any other questions you might have when you call or e-mail me with your project goals. Initial inquiries are free.