Discovery

Evaluating whether I may be able to help your organization starts with a Zoom or in-person meeting. I see the process as collaborative with you or a key staff member working to identify, target, describe the project and potential funders. 

You may have a foundation in mind, or not. You may have a contact with various foundations, or not. And you may have some ideas of projects you would like to have funded, or not.

We can start wherever you like or need. I’ve written proposals for long-established organizations and for start-ups. I can, of course, assist in the identification of potential funding sources or write a grant for a long established foundation partner. I can also work your budgetary information – or translate it into the format desired by the grantor.

Process

Our process begins with discovery of the organization. All historical information is important as are recent audits, organizational structure, donor impact statements, web pages, annual reports, and program brochures – but do not worry – it is not time consuming as it sounds.

To ensure a smooth collaboration, I’ll need key staff members to spend about 15 minutes on the phone with me. Additionally, I’ll require a designated contact person who can provide insights into the program and budget, as well as how they align with your mission. I’d also like you to show me around if possible: I love to hear stakeholders speak with passion and see your important work.

When I present the draft to you, you’ll have the opportunity for reasonable rewrites before we submit it. I typically use Google Docs to facilitate collaboration and ensure we’re aligned before the final submission to the grantor.

Fees

• Phone calls, interviews, Teams, and Zooms with client before beginning work are free of charge.

• $70/hour for research, communications, zoom, writing, and review. This is billable the first of each month and is due by the 15th.

• Illinois travel must be with Lake, and Cook counties and will be billed at $30/hour. Meeting time will be billed at $70/hour.

• There is a fee of 7.5% of the gross gift for successful grant applications. The previously-billed hourly rates for work and travel will be incorporated as part of the 7.5% in case of a successful application. Sorry, there can be no “hold back” against the possibility of a successful application, though we all wish that to be the outcome. 7.5% fee will be due upon receipt of the client.

Contractor will keep careful track of time spent on Client business and submit an itemized invoice on a monthly basis. Billable hours will include all above mentioned activities, as well as telephone consultations and information exchanges via phone and email, communication with prospective funding agencies to clarify guidelines/instructions or to request information, and travel time to/from meetings and to deliver proposals if necessary. Time will be rounded to the nearest quarter hour. 

Contact

• David Gendel
• GrantHelper.net
• [email protected]
• 312-208-1942
• 680 Park Avenue West, #1
• Highland Park, IL 60035
• Payment by Zelle, Venmo, or check

Services

• Research
• Staff consultation
• Writing
• Budgets
• Story telling
• Easy to work with
• Multiple drafts