GrantWriterTeam has found an instance where grant writing has become a candidate's political advantage in a race for Sheriff of Modoc County, California. 

If all goes well for Ken Barnes, he will be the new Sheriff in town. The former police chief for Alturas said he should be elected because he knows every responsibility that goes with being a county sheriff. And, according to the self-professed “grant writer,” that certainly would include grant writing.

Barnes, who is running against current Undersheriff William “Tex” Dowdy, said he likes “to write a lot of grants.” As chief of police for 15 years in Alturas, he wrote close to $3 million in grants for alternative funding and equipment for the city. If elected, he said he plans on continuing to write grants to reduce overhead and solve the need for more deputies.

Grant writing is an important responsibility in any local government agency and is more than just identifying available funding from federal, state, local, corporate, foundation and private grants.  It is also about building those important community relationships.

Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, said a successful grant writer should be able to develop relationships with funding sources and with local community organizations. Programs at nonprofits do not operate within a vacuum.  They need to attract the target population and work in consort with other agencies that supplement the program with other much needed and related services. 

Libby said, "Communication with the funding source provides a clearer picture of what they are most interested in and how your proposal should align with their area of focus. 

"While not every well written and crafted proposal is awarded  – building and maintaining relationships with funding sources will allow you to go back for a second try with the funding source, remembering you in a positive light. "

A simple phone interview or site visit with the funding source can often do the trick, but for organizations that are hard-pressed to allocate human resources, finding the time can be challenging. As a result, many nonprofits as well as small businesses and government agencies that cannot invest in hiring or training a grant writer will turn to GrantWriterTeam.com to hire a consultant grant writer. Proposal writers at GrantWriterTeam.com can translate your ideas to create a compelling statement that markets your organization and demonstrates the effectiveness of your product or service to the funding source.

Grant writing is a skilled craft that involves time, accurate management plans and well-packaged reporting mechanisms. The process and the ability to communicate a vision should not be underestimated.

Writers at GrantWriterTeam.com will collect your background data, articulate your concepts and ensure that your arguments are well-documented. Grant writing can be extremely puzzling and require multiple applications before achieving success. If you don’t have the time and energy to commit to a proposal, GreatWriterTeam.com will help you find a qualified writer who does.

Grant writers from all backgrounds who have the talent to craft a compelling grant proposal are encouraged sign-up on GrantWriterTeam.com, a service of GrantWatch.com. Joining GrantWriterTeam is easy. Create a profile, fill out the application and begin to bid on grant writing jobs.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch

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What kid will pass up a free meal, paid for with play money to “purchase” eight pounds of produce at a farmer’s market program?  The program preaches health and nutrition to low-income preschool and elementary school student populations across Yolo County, in California.

The free weekly Kids Farmer’s Market, hosted by the Yolo Food Bank and supported, in part, by a grant from the Walmart Foundation, has helped to distribute more than 224,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, rice and beans to county children, at least 70 percent of whom are eligible for free and reduced-priced school meals.

Now, to broaden the nonprofit’s ability to serve and enhance the common good of the community, the Yolo Food Bank is adding two grant writers to the organizational staff. Grant writers Cristina Larsen and Maggie Memmott each bring diverse skills – namely writing, research, project management, program evaluation and budgeting – to their new roles with the food bank. Both will be tasked with conveying to potential donors how poverty and homelessness affect individual health and the reverberating impact malnutrition has throughout the community.

Writing proposals is a big part of any fundraising campaign, said Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch and GrantWriterTeam. The more work put into each proposal, the better chance a request has to secure funding. But, not all nonprofits, entrepreneurs or small businesses can add a full-time grant writer to staff, much less two like Yolo Food Bank. Without the human resources or time to dedicate to grant writing, many of these fund-seekers turn to GrantWriterTeam.com to request an experienced grant writer to help with proposals.

GrantWriterTeam receives a high number of requests from organizations that seek qualified grant writers who will know how to communicate a message to different audiences; research funding opportunities; and build and maintain relationships with funding sources. Hiring a grant writer is simple. Click the Request a Grant Writer tab at GrantWriterTeam and answer a few short questions.  GrantWriterTeam will keep your organization anonymous until you choose the grant writer you want to work with. The goal of the grant writer is to gauge the potential impact an organization will have along with strategies to promote future growth.

According to the USDA, more than 42 million people nationwide are food-insecure, which means that they may not know where they will find their next meal. In Yolo County, 31,000 residents in 19,000 households are food-insecure.

In the past, grant writers have crafted successful proposals for the Yolo Food Bank that have been used to purchase equipment needed to handle fresh food, including refrigerated vehicles; coolers and freezers for transporting, storing and distributing food; and thermometers and temperature calibration devices. To their credit, effective grant writers helped the Yolo Food Bank and its 70 partner agencies secure funds in the pursuit of ending hunger and malnutrition in the county, where one-in-seven people including 10,000 children struggle to access nutrition-rich food.

Grant writers who can help secure funds for projects from public and private foundations, government sources and corporations are always in high demand. Those who already possess a proven track record of grant writing, research, planning and budgeting combined with persistency and organization are encouraged to join the GrantWriterTeam.

Grant writers from all backgrounds who have the talent to craft a compelling grant proposal should sign-up on GrantWriterTeam.com, a service of GrantWatch.com. Joining GrantWriterTeam is easy. Create a profile, fill out the application and begin to bid on grant writing jobs.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch

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Walking across Highway 61 had never been a pleasant experience for locals, but the tragic death of a 17-year-old boy who was struck by a car on a stretch of the Minnesota roadway near East Lake Boulevard, shed light on the danger.

That’s also when one concerned Winona local decided to apply for a grant that would fund an estimated $3.5-million pedestrian walkway to connect the east end of Lake Park to East Lake Boulevard, at the base of Sugar Loaf, a bluff on the Mississippi River that overlooks the city.

The grant proposal, endorsed by the Winona City Council, requested funds from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, which makes recommendations to the Legislature on how to spend the lottery proceeds placed in Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, established for the preservation and enhancement of Minnesota’s natural resources.  

Anyone could apply for the grant. Lynn Carlson, a resident of Winona, did just that! Carlson had never written a grant. But, she believed her attempt would be a great way to improve the city.

Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWriterTeam said grant writers who have successfully written and been awarded grants can apply and join our team.  They are hired by nonprofits and individuals to research and complete grant applications that meet the needs of the client. Many of these applications from local, state and federal government agencies, corporations, and foundations can be found on GrantWatch.com, a search engine for grants, awards and other funding opportunities.

A good grant writers should possess a solid command of the written word and efficient research skills to craft a successful grant proposal that matches the interests of the funding source. The grant proposal is a document that makes a case for the request for money following all the requirements of the funding source. The task for the grant writer is to convey what the money will accomplish, who will benefit and why the funding source should support the work.

Hikind said the website GrantWriterTeam.com receives a high number of requests from organizations that seek qualified grant writers. Nonprofits, without the funds to hire a full time in-house grant writer often turn to GrantWriterTeam.  They complete a form to request a grant writer and the grant writers bid on their grant writing opportunity.

Winona City Council members appreciated Carlson’s grant proposal and were glad she took the initiative. In the city’s 2017 walking and biking plan, pedestrians and cyclist pointed to crossing Highway 61, in general, as one of the most troublesome areas.

Carlson began the research process by observing pedestrian bridges in neighboring cities, before turning her attention to writing a proposal. And while writing is only a small part of developing a proposal, Carlson said she relied on advice and feedback from funding organizations and agencies to articulate Winona’s problem.

“I would go through these little towns and see these beautiful recreation bridges,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why can’t Winona have that?’”

Libby invites Lynn Carlson, if she is interested and others, to pursue a rewarding career in grant writing.  After Lynn gets two more grants awarded, she would be eligible to join GrantWriterTeam. 

Libby Hikind said, "Passion to solve the need and a lot of spot-on research, speaks volumes to grant reviewers and is the advantage that propels one grant to be funded over any other."

Grant writers from all backgrounds who have the talent to craft a compelling grant proposal should sign up on GrantWriterTeam.com, a service of GrantWatch.com. Joining GrantWriterTeam is easy. Create a profile, fill out the application and begin to bid on grant writing jobs.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch.com

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Show him the money. That’s the directive Erie Mayor Joe Schember has given the city’s first full-time grant writer.

Abby Skinner, who the city hired to successfully access local, state and federal funding resources, said addressing this priority is a grant writer’s dream. After all, she loves reading grant guidelines and has a database of funding opportunities to prove it.

Writing is just a small component of crafting a winning grant proposal. Skinner said before she starts writing, she must first determine if the grant is a good fit for Erie. That starts by understanding the parameters and guidelines attached to each opportunity and adhering to deadlines.

Skinner said templates and outlines can be helpful tools to gather information from colleagues and expedite grant applications. Her background reminds her that not all organizations have a full-time employee devoted to the process.

Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, said organizations with limited human resources that don’t have the time or staff to identify funding sources and follow through on applications are always looking for qualified grant writers. These requests can be found on GrantWriterTeam.com, a service of GrantWatch. Applicants must first create a profile on GrantWriterTeam.com to review these positions at no cost.

Grant writers can earn upward of $100 an hour; however, most entry-level positions offer compensation around $25 per hour. Successful and reliable grant writers are often invited to enter into long-term contracts with many of these organizations.

Skinner was destined for Erie City Hall after building her grant-writing resume with the Warren County Historical Society, the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. She says the city has a plan and now a position in place to identify grant opportunities. It’s up to her to secure the money.

Grant Writers from all backgrounds who have the talent to craft a compelling grant proposal can search for grant writing opportunities at GrantWriterTeam.com, a service of GrantWatch.com. Joining the GrantWriterTeam is easy. Create a profile, fill out the application and begin to bid on grant writing jobs.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch.com

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Preparing food, bagging non-perishable items for distribution, and delivering meals to homeless shelters, halfway houses and community centers proved to be an ideal way for Emily Francis to make the most of Spring Break.

Little did she know those humble experiences at a food bank in between semesters at Ithaca College would eventually reward her with career in grant writing.

Francis is a foundations relations associate for the Capital Area Food Bank, in Washington, D.C., where she writes grant proposals for the nonprofit she had volunteered at, a few years ago. And while writing all the time is her dream job, Francis said helping to provide healthy and nutritious foods to people in need really resonates with her.

For wordsmiths like Francis who paired her background in journalism with a passion for charitable causes, grant writing can be a good fit.

Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, said the website GrantWriterTeam.com receives a high number of requests for qualified grant writers. Nonprofits that have internal grant writers on overload or new organizations that can’t afford the annual salary of a staff writer turn to GrantWriterTeam.com to post available opportunities.

FREE GrantWriterTeam Membership

GrantWriterTeam.com has 34 grant-writing jobs open for bids. Applicants must create a profile that illustrates their writing experience and includes a list of 3-5 grants awarded, writing samples, and references. During February, grant writers can bid on any or all of these jobs without a fee.

"Potential clients are seeking qualities beyond great grant writing skills," said Hikind. 

Grant writers can earn upward of $40 an hour. Successful and reliable grant writers are often invited to write additional grants under long-term contracts with many of these organizations.

About the Author: Staff Writer at GrantWatch.com

I am a federal grants reviewer and have been for approximately seven years. There are very specific reasons why federal grants fail to get funded — and those reasons can go well beyond poor program design or not following the rules. I can therefore bring the perspective of a grants reviewer — whose job is to assign point values based on the rubric provided for each section of a grant.

Grants writers who are not clear and concise consistently lose points in program design, sustainability, program goals and objectives, and sections dealing with community partnerships.

Have you ever wondered what causes one reviewer to score a grant application high, while another receives a lower score? What makes each perspective differ?  What guidelines can I follow to ensure that I have written the strongest grant application possible given my writing style. Does it matter that I lose points in some areas of the grant that may not be weighted as heavily as other sections? Why? Why not?

The 21st Century Learning Grant is, perhaps, one of the largest federal after-school program grants in the nation. I have served on a state vision team for this grant for many years (these are half-million dollar, multi-year grants). The current emphasis is on community partnerships because they reflect long-term relationships, authenticity, and true sharing of resources.

Reviewers examine budgets to determine the overall quality and strength of a proposal, but differ on what makes a strong grant versus a mediocre one. What will carry weight with any reviewer is how much detail the applicant provides in terms of the what are you planning to do, where, how, when, and how will you measure your success. Reviewers don't make final funding decisions; but their individual scores on any application factors in heavily. An understanding of how they score and what matters to them in distinguishing one application from another is essential.

"A grant writer's job is to fully respond to every single point raised by the funding source," said Libby Hikind, CEO of GrantWriterTeam. "The weight of a score for a particular section is for guidance purposes, only. Never, ever do you leave out any question or point. The weights are subject to change. At the time of review, a section can be deemed unfair or not clear and then all weights are readjusted."

"If your organization cannot respond with experience and clarity to a specific question or point, consider a partnership with an organization that you have an established understanding of referral or some working relationship," said Hikind. "Their experience and expertise will strengthen your proposal and touch on the point." 

About the Author: Elaine Rose Penn is an experienced and successful reviewer of federal grants.

All nonprofits are created to serve the needs of a target audience.

Funding organizations want to know what these needs are in grant applications. The money a funding source will allocate for projects and services will be determined by how effectively nonprofits can convey these needs in the grant proposal process and how they will use the requested funds to meet the need. 

All grant applications must always include a needs statement. The purpose of a needs statement in a grant proposal is to present both facts and stories to support the needs for a project or program. How well the applicant addresses those needs will determine the success of the proposal.

Prior to writing a needs statement, the grant writer should understand what the problem is and its nature, reasons and causes. The needs statement should define why this problem is both important to the applicant and of interest to the funding source. Compelling needs make for compelling projects worthy of funding. 

According to Libby Hikind, CEO and founder of GrantWriterTeam.com, "A grant writer works with the organization to determine the needs of the target audience and research the current data to support the need within the application. The need may be supported through newspaper articles, data sources, surveys, maps, literature, published research and or interviews."

An effective needs statement must grab the attention of the funding source and communicate the urgency of the problem in terms of human interest anchored by hard facts. To do so, a needs statement should

1. clearly relate to the mission and purpose of the applicant;
2. describe the problem and the people who would be served;
3. and be supported by evidence including statistics, expert views, and current events.

Libby Hikind explained, "The grant writer should review their draft needs statement with the organization's Board.  While the grant writer may be happy painting the dimmest picture of the target community to increase the chances of being awarded the grant, the Board may not want the application to be as severe.  There is a fine line between stating the urgency and defining a population in the grimmest of terms.  Be careful what you write and how you write it!"

About the Author: Staff Writer for Grant Writing Institute

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The city’s first splash pad isn’t scheduled for completion until June, but Candy Jones can’t wait to see the kids’ faces when the water playground becomes operational.

Jones has been the city of Conway’s grant administrator for less than a year, yet, she’s already knocking projects out of the park including the proposal she wrote that won a $165,000 matching grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to build the splash pad in Laurel Park. Writing with a purpose has been gratifying for Jones, who has helped the city acquire almost $900,000 for projects that will help to improve the quality of life for the community. Proven grant writers, like Jones, are in demand.

Bonnie Houk, the director of grants management for the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush, says her history background prepared her with the essential research skills she needs to perform her job. As a grant writer, Houk said she tells the story and history of the organization she is writing for to the funding source. Her work has obtained more than $70 million in grant funding for school districts, municipalities and organizations.

Grant writers come from all backgrounds. Nicole Ambrosio told a skeptical audience at the Westerlo board meeting that she had been working in education before she was hired on as the town’s first grant writer.

Although success is never guaranteed, grant writers have a better chance of writing a good proposal if they’re passionate about the causes for which they seek funds.

Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, says she built GrantWriterTeam in response to the steady stream of requests from grant seekers who are looking for grant writers to help secure funds for their projects from public and private foundations, government sources and corporations.  Not all government agencies or nonprofits have the time, experience, staff or skills needed to prepare a winning proposal. Our clients include nonprofits, charitable organizations, museums, schools and small businesses.

Grant writers at GrantWriterTeam are sometimes required to do any of the following: assist in creating a nonprofit, nonprofit grant research, draft and submit proposals, write curriculum and or create a UHelp.com crowdfunding fundraiser.  Hikind said, GrantWriterTeam.com, is a service of GrantWatch.

Joining the GrantWriterTeam is easy. Create a profile, sign your contract with us, pay your membership fee and enter your PayPal email (to receive payments),  When all is complete, you will be able to bid on as many jobs as you want as long as your membership is current. Whenever a grant seeker chooses you, be it while you are a paid member or a few months down the road, the job is still yours.  Membership is only required to bid, and your contract, however remains in effect.

Like all self-employed occupations, finding enough work can be challenging and it disrupts the writing process. Hikind said GrantWriterTeam consolidates the imposing search-for-work process and the need to market yourself.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch.com

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Grant writers are always looking for new clients. Fortunately, there is a large pool of clients from which to choose. We have 10 new clients seeking grant writers. Get an added week or month on GrantWatch.com when you sign up and bid on any of these grant writing jobs.

Professional grant writers working with GrantWriterTeam increase their client base. A GrantWriterTeam grant writer has many benefits, such as the convenience of creating your own schedule and the freedom to write whenever, whatever and wherever. 

The perks don’t stop there! If you’re on the fence about joining GrantWriterTeam.com. As a grant writer, you are always looking for the next clients. 

Look no further, because with GrantWriterTeam, we get new clients daily.

All grant writers are paid through our easy-to-use contract and deliverables system. If a payment issue arises, we intervene on your behalf.

Grant Writer Jobs Available for Bids

About the Author: Staff writer for GrantWriterTeam

Melissa Breeden, (left), senior director of YWCA Young Wonders, and Savanna Steck, ’18, collaborated on a $500 grant proposal enabling the YWCA to purchase an industrial sink and faucet.

The kitchen update looks like a new industrial sink and faucet, but to staff at YMCA McLean County, the recent purchase will not only save money on catering costs, but help provide for the preparation of nutritious food onsite for more than 330 young children in their care throughout the year.

Mellissa Breeden, senior director of the YMCA Young Wonders program, said the nonprofit organization owes a debt of gratitude to Savanna Steck, a student at Illinois Wesleyan University who wrote the proposal for the kitchen project that earned the $500 award.

Grant writing is easier said than done for many nonprofits that don’t have designated staff or the human resources to perform the bulk of the work involved in winning a competitive award. The task is made more difficult considering that, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, more than 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States – including public charities, private foundations, chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues – are competing for funding dollars from limited sources.

YMCA McLean County was fortunate to obtain the services of Steck and her classmates, who competed against one another on behalf of the local nonprofit for the $500 grant funded by IWU’s Action Research Center. But, not all nonprofits are as lucky to have a qualified writer at their disposal. Those that continue to struggle to produce a highly competitive grant proposal will stand to lose out on opportunities that can be few and far between.

Nearly $390 billion in grants were awarded to charitable organizations in 2016; up 2.7 percent from the year before. Individuals accounted for 72 percent of all gifts, but foundations and corporations made significant contributions as well.

Human services charities like the YMCA Young Warriors program accounted for 12 percent of all donations. These awards are considered the lifeblood of nonprofits of all sizes that depend largely on grants to continue operations.

Every successful proposal begins with a thorough review of opportunities. Finding these funding sources can dramatically impact a nonprofit, but Identifying a grant writer that can convey the mission of an organization to the focus of a donor can be equally as challenging.

Many nonprofits as well as small businesses and government agencies that cannot invest in hiring or training a grant writer will turn to GrantWriterTeam.com. Proposal writers at GrantWriterTeam.com can translate your ideas to create a compelling statement that markets your organization and demonstrates the effectiveness of your product or service to the funding source.

Grant writing is a skilled craft that involves time, accurate management plans and well-packaged reporting mechanisms. The process and the ability to communicate a vision should not be underestimated.

Writers at GrantWriterTeam.com will collect your background data, articulate your concepts and ensure that your arguments are well-documented. Grant writing can be extremely puzzling and require multiple applications before achieving success. If you don’t have the time and energy to commit to a proposal, GreatWriterTeam.com will help you find a qualified writer who does.

About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch.com

Sources: