Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is a grant?
Grant is “free” money from the government and some private organizations that you’ll never have to pay back.
Who are eligible to apply for grants?
Some think that grants are only for the disabled, women, and the elderly; on the contrary, anybody is eligible to apply for grants… provided they qualify under these categories:
Organizations
- Non-profit (those with 501(c)(3) registration with the IRS)
- With programs that benefit the majority of people in the community, or promote medical, technological, or scientific advancements
Individuals
- U.S. citizen when applying for federal grants
- 18 years old and above
- With projects that benefit the majority of people in the community, or promote medical, technological, or scientific advancements
Can we spend grant money for other purposes?
Grant money should only be spent in accordance with the purpose stated in a proposal. If the money given is for building a house, it should be used for that very purpose and not for personal needs. That is why funding organizations require detailed budget plans to ensure that grant money will be wisely spent. Most foundations demand that the first month of operations be carefully monitored to make sure that everything is done as presented in the proposal.
Why is there a need to hire Professional Writers or Specialists?
Acquiring funds requires hard work. There are many factors to consider in order to be given support — and there’s a great need to get the attention of the funding organizations to approve your request over other hopefuls. Given these instances, one needs expertise in writing the proposal. Professional writers understand the need of every applicant for funding. They are trained and skilled to convert your ideals to effectively and efficiently written proposals.
Is a grant the answer to my entire financial problem?
No. Grants cannot be your answer to your financial difficulties such as personal loans and debts.
As previously stated, grant application requires hard work and tight competition. That is why, those interested in applying for grants should answer these questions first before applying for one:
- Can my problem be solved by fundraising?
Consider fundraising first before requesting for grants, this may get you faster results.
- Can I apply for loans?
Apply for loans before requesting for grants. Only individuals with bad credit aren’t given loan approvals.
Why do government and private organizations give out grants?
The federal government gives out money to people who can clearly point out the benefits of their proposed project such as generating more jobs and reducing homelessness and poverty in the country.
As jobs increase, more people will pay their taxes and these taxes will in turn be used in providing structures for the development of cities, states, and counties. These taxes help the government perform their programs like granting loans and providing assistance & service to the public.
Private organizations award grants to particular individuals and organizations that share the same vision and mission as theirs. These help them accomplish their mission better and enable them to utilize their resources more efficiently as they perform their social responsibilities.
What is an effective and winning proposal?
The federal government and funding organizations only award grants and financial assistance to individuals who have proposals which present interests in creating change and development within their communities and nearby areas. Therefore, in order to get one, you must have a carefully written grant proposal that can present this vision in full detail and win the approval of grantors.
What is included in a proposal?
A typical proposal includes the following:
- Executive Summary - presents the overview of the project
- Introduction – describes the organization or individual
- Needs Assessment – defines what is necessary for the project to materialize
- Goals and Objectives – states the main goal and purposes of the project
- Program Methods and Program Design – itemizes the activities involved in the project
- Budget Proposal – details the appropriate financial plan to accomplish the project at a given timeline
- Attachments and References – contains supporting papers and resources used in writing the proposal
Can we apply for funding anytime?
Most funds are only available at specific periods of time. Not all kinds of grants are obtainable throughout the year. It is advisable to know the schedule of each funding institution to accept, review, and approve proposals before considering applying for them.
How long does it take before we receive the funding?
Never assume that you could have the funds as soon as the grant is approved. Funding organizations follow a process for releasing funds which may take a couple of weeks or a few months.
What is included in your proposal?
The Cornerstone Professional Resources Grant Writers’ Proposal includes the following:
- Letter of Intent
- Cover Letter
- List of Potential Funding Organizations (for Basic, Deluxe and Premium Packages only)
The Proposal consists of:
- Executive Summary - presents an overview of the project proposal
- Introduction – gives a brief description of the organization
- Needs Assessment – defines the “need” and the necessity for the project to achieve and materialize
- Goals and Objectives – states the main goals and purpose of the project
- Program Methods and Program Design – describes the activities that will be included in the project proposal
- Budget Proposal – list of appropriate financial plans to accomplish the project
- Attachments and References – contains pertinent documents and list of resources used in completing the proposal
Where every part is given enough emphasis and specialization for the accomplishment of an effective and exceptional proposal.
How long will it take you to write the proposal?
It depends upon the package availed. The Starter to Basic Grant Proposal package would take a professional grant writer about two weeks to a month to write. The Deluxe Corporate Grant Proposal package, on the other hand, would take a month and a half to two months to finish because researching for the best funding institutions would require more time. The Premium Select Grant Proposal package can take about two to four months to develop. The process takes that long because aside from the rigorous analysis of the project and research for potential funding sources, the proposal has to be carefully organized to validate the need for funding.
How do you work on the proposal? Personal, online or by phone?
We work on the project online. Aside from being cost effective, working on the project online ensures proper documentation of correspondence details. It also limits loss of documents while assuring service delivery in real time.
How much assurance of winning a grant can we get from Allied Grant Writers writing service?
We promise to deliver a winning grant proposal! One that is well-written, with your need highlighted and provided with matching potential funding institutions that support your goals and interests. All these make a proposal that will surely get funding assistance.
Can we have a proposal and submit it to all organizations that we consider?
Foundations and grantors have different projects and missions to help the society. It is advised for applicants to determine the type of project they usually fund before considering submitting an application to them. Each funding organization’s funding activity should support or have the inclination to support the project you want to pursue. You should check their specific “Eligibility Requirements” or “Criteria for Funding” to see if you qualify.
Can I apply for different grants at the same time?
Yes. You can apply for different kinds of grants at the same time, provided your application matches the requirements in availing each grant type.
Who does Cornerstone Professional Resources, Inc. work with?
CPR, Inc. provides a full range of financial assistance services to non-profit, for-profit and government sectors.
Why doesn't Cornerstone Professional Resources, Inc. work on a contingent fee?
In almost all cases, grant preparation costs cannot be paid from a grant, unless such costs are included as eligible cost items in the Request For Application (RFA) budget instructions and your budget request. Grant preparation fees are usually paid out of other intuitional resources, such as reserves or indirect cost recovery.
Does Cornerstone Professional Resources, Inc. offer grant writing and grants administration seminars?
Cornerstone Professional Resources, Inc. does offer a variety of training seminars tailored to your organizations needs. One and two day in-house seminars are available to provide potential applicants and grant administration officials on both pre-award writing and submission of a grant application and the post-award grant management. However, we do not offer certification courses.
Please contact us for rates and availability.
How much will a grant proposal cost to prepare and does the amount being requested impact the fee?
Fees for most individual RFA responses including grant writing and submission ranges from $500 - $5,000 with an average fee of around $3,000. Our fees are based on the complexity of the application package and the time dedicated to completing the package to meet the submission deadline. Most applications have six week lead time for response to funding announcement. Shorter lead times may result in a higher fee due to a change in workload. Our fees are never based on the amount of funding dollars.
Does CPR, Inc. provide editorial assistance to clients who have already written their technical proposal?
Yes. We work with clients on an hourly basis with a three hour minimum on their proposals to ensure that they answer the requirements of the funding opportunity.
|