The city\u2019s first splash pad isn\u2019t scheduled for completion until June, but Candy Jones can\u2019t wait to see the kids\u2019 faces when the water playground becomes operational.<\/p>\n
Jones has been the city of Conway\u2019s grant administrator for less than a year, yet, she\u2019s 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.\u00a0Writing 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s first grant writer.<\/p>\n
Although success is never guaranteed, grant writers have a better chance of writing a good proposal if they\u2019re passionate about the causes for which they seek funds.<\/p>\n
Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com<\/a>, 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\u00a0sources and corporations.\u00a0 Not all government agencies or nonprofits have the time,\u00a0experience, staff or skills needed to prepare a winning proposal.\u00a0Our clients include nonprofits,\u00a0charitable organizations, museums, schools and small businesses.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0\u00a0Hikind said,\u00a0GrantWriterTeam.com<\/a>, is a service of GrantWatch.<\/p>\n