Complete Grant System

The backstory

After spending 18 years serving the community as a nonprofit leader and volunteer, I thought it was a great time to step out and take the risk of starting my own business based on what I knew the most about-nonprofits. The timing was right because, as a single mom, my nest was empty. It was just me, and if I had to eat ramen noodles to make a go of it, I would. Year one was great. I had plenty of business and really felt like my work was making an impact in the community. Year two...not so much. I have been back to the drawing board multiple times only to discover grant writing has been and is now my bread and butter.

I have been fortunate to partner with a wide variety of nonprofits, mostly in the early stages of growth. I love the passion and motivation behind new ideas, how people truly desire positive change in our world. From a behavioral health clinic in Oregon to a charter school in Texas, to the local workforce investment board to an engineering company wanting to make affordable housing, it is never a dull moment.

Being a small business owner is NOT for the faint of heart. I have never worked as much or as hard as I do now. I have learned so much in the last two years, enough to earn a business degree. Well, maybe. Work smarter, not harder. I have watched the grant writing industry for way longer than two years and noticed specific trends and characteristics. I saw a lot of turn over. I noticed the average salary for both full and part-time grant writers. In my own work, I have heard more times than I care to remember how a nonprofit cannot afford my services. I also noticed a substantial increase in membership and subscription-based services. Then came the thought bubble, and this question, “I wonder what would happen if I created a membership for grant writing services”?

It really could change the grant writing and nonprofit industry. I know that’s an incredibly bold statement, but I believe it. Grant Writing Memberships are extremely cost-effective when compared to hiring a part-time or full-time grant writer. Grant Writing Membership offers a low-risk alternative to traditional contract or freelance grant writers, making it accessible to many more nonprofits. For those who operate nonprofit consulting firms, it can become a strategy for retainer clients and for scaling your business. For the soloprenuers dreaming of how to scale and do your thing full time without working 70 hours a week, Grant Writing Memberships could literally be THE method.

 ...