Upping Your Grants Game in 2024: In Sickness and In Health
Last year when I left my job, I never dreamed 2023 would throw so many curveballs into my plans. Curveballs for me and my family, and curveballs for the consulting business I had decided to start as the next phase of my career.
So what happened?
In grant sickness and in grant health
You know that vow you say when you get married? In sickness and in health? Well, that happened. And so business took a back seat to healing, first for family members, then for me…meaning an extended absence from building my business. And others, particularly my spouse, had to step up to carry the load.
Sort of like how a grant writer may need to carry the load for overworked program staff.
Your organization may be suffering from too much work and too few staff. Or you may be having a hard time finding good hires to fill those vacant funded positions. Especially in the Human Services/Social Services sectors, this is what I hear universally from the Board Room to the front line: we are tired. We need time for planning, time for self care, time just to fulfill the basic obligations of our jobs.
A contract Grant Writer can be the solution to overwhelmed and overworked staff…and for a great ROI.
Here are a few examples of what a savvy and experienced Grant Writer can do:
Figure out program goals, objectives, and outcomes for that new program your CEO and Senior Program Officer have been talking about for a while.
Conduct background research on best practices in program design to cite the evidence base for that pitch to the funder your VP of Development has been cultivating for the last 12 months.
Hone your evaluation skills by creating a Measurement & Evaluation Plan to go along with the new activities your Program Team wants to pilot.
Pull together the grant report so that it serves as a learning tool and plan for moving forward with a particular program or for your grants program as a whole.
Yes, a good Grant Writer–actually I prefer the term Grants Professional, because so much of what we do goes way beyond writing–can do all of that with grace, poise, and accuracy. That person can be a dedicated staff member, whether a Grant Writer, a Director of Development, a VP of Advancement, or a CEO. Or it can be a consultant.
Organizations can get a fantastic return on investment (ROI) by hiring a contract Grant Writer. A contract Grant Writer…ahem Grants Professional…can focus their expertise on exactly what your organization needs.
Proposal Coordination:
Do you need a quarterback (QB) to manage that complicated federal RFP? The best QBs can throw short passes, run the ball, or prevent an interception amongst overtaxed Subject Matter Experts and land the proposal in the end zone for a touchdown AND a one- or two-point conversion. Good consultants are master QBs.
Expert Grant Writing and Editing or Proposal Review:
Even as we are learning about new ways AI can help the grant industry, we are affirming that a human touch–whether it be a grant review or a fantastic content edit–can make the difference between getting funded and getting a decline. Good consultants write, edit, and review to get you a higher win rate.
Training Up:
Sometimes your development staff needs some coaching on how to cultivate funders, or maximizing feedback on a declined grant so that the next submission turns into a YES! Good consultants are versed in how to navigate delicate workplace relationships.
Recovering from an Extended Absence from Your Grant
Just like a neglected grant award, an extended absence from a new business means that some things fall through the cracks. Luckily, most funders I’ve worked with respect and understand that life happens. Plans get delayed. Honesty about program progress–or a lack thereof–is generally met with understanding and a desire to work together to get back on track.
I am so grateful to all those who supported me in 2023, both personally and professionally. Thank you for your kind words, your acts of care, and your business. Together, in 2024, we will go far! Contact me if you want to know more about my services. And stay tuned for some upcoming announcements about the direction I hope to take Niki Wanner Grant Solutions in the year ahead.
