Frequently Asked Questions

Because every project is different, we encourage you to contact us about rates based on your particular needs.  LCF Grant Consulting offers all clients competitive rates based on the following: funding agency, complexity of the application or project, your organization's experience with grants, availabiltity of prior draft or existing verbiage, and amount of time until the deadline.

Every project we do is customized to your exact needs. If we have never spoken before, please click here to book a free consultation with Liz. Usually these meetings last 30 minutes. If you are looking at one particular grant, please tell Liz that before the meeting so she can review the funder's RFP (Request For Proposal). During the call, Liz will ask about your funding needs, your budget for grant writing, and provide advice about possible approaches to achieve your grant goals. After that call, Liz will do a little more research on the funders you are looking at and will send a proposal that outlines the work plan and pricing options.  

We offer the following types of contracts: 

• Project Rate: Set rate for pre-determined project, typically a specific government proposal or small number of foundation proposals.

• Monthly Retainer: A monthly contract which includes ongoing grant research, grant calendar and pipeline management, grant writing for a specified number of grants, and grant reporting (if desired) 

• Hourly: On a limited basis, we offer services on an hourly basis when the client hasn't yet determined a full scope of work (which grants they need help with) 

No. While we understand that organizations have limited resources, commissions are considered unethical by almost all professional organizations and funders. You can read the Grant Professionals Association Code of Ethics Item #19 on this topic.

On a more personal level, Liz opposes commission-based grant writing for two reasons. First, it prevents innovation and growth because grant writers who need to pay their mortgage do not want to take a risk on smaller organizations or new ideas. Second, it can put the grant writer in an ethical quandry if there are bumps along the way - commission-based grant writers may feel pressured to stretch the truth so that the grant is successful.

There are also a number of elements out of the grant writers control when it comes to how successful a proposal will be. Among these are:

• The strength of the project: its feasibility, whether it meets a clear community need, and whether it has a well-planned budget

• How well the project fits the funder’s interests

• The applying institution’s reputation, track record and financial history

• Relationships: how well the funder knows and trusts the non-profit’s board and staff

• Competition: how many other requests the funder has received, and from whom

• Funds and Timing: how much money the funder has available in this cycle

If you want to make sure that you hire a grant writer who is likely to be successful, check the track record of grants funded (see our Success Stories page!) 

As a general rule, funders typically do not award grants to brand new non-profit organizations. Funders are interested in a track record of effective programs and solid individual donor support. The best solution is to use individual funding first, establish your programs, collect solid data on the effectiveness of your programs with your propulation, then look into applying for one or more grants.