The
first thing to do is talk about your idea -- need for the work,
objectives, budget, partners, etc. Once we have reached an
understanding of the scope and
feasibility of the proposal, we can move forward
with specific plans. The first of these is to document need for the
project.
2. Do we meet in person or can we arrange everything via email
and phone calls?
Initially the best way for Grants Gateway is to talk with you about the
broad contours of the project ideas. Many brainstorms turn into
concrete applications,
but most also go through many iterations -- of
both substance and scope.
The best case scenario is this:
we agree to the project scope and other details; we agree to contract
terms; we agree to a site visit for G.G. to meet with
project principals; you proceed to
document need; you furnish me with gobs of background info re your
institution and project ideas; I go home and begin to
rough out a draft.
3. Would you be willing to take a draft and turn it into a
finished product ready for submission?
We
often work this way. In fact, many grant seekers like to be
involved in their proposal, so some back-and-forth is quite productive.
4. Within what type of time frame do you work? For example,
do you need lots of lead time or can you take on so-called "11th-hour"
projects?
Last-minute projects that require
research, partner commitments, and lots of reciprocal correspondence
necessarily require more time. Having said that you
should know that most grants are not
even started until a month or so before due date.
Grants Gateway would like to stand
for something more than haste!I prefer at least 3 months or more
before deadline. Why? Title VI-B grants require a formal
Letter of Agreement [with at least one
partner], documentation of need, resumes of key personnel, detailed
[line-item] budgets - including full explanations, as
well as extensive plans of operation
and evaluation. Can this be done in one month? Of course, but I've seen
many of these and very few are funded. Haste
is evident in too many lapses,
omissions and incredibly poor syntax, organization, and writing style.
In a word -- sloppy.
5. If funded would you be willing to manage the project?
Project management is an assignment that we have undertaken twice in
eight years. Twice because it was only in those situations that an
agreement was reached
that satisfied both parties. So, my
inclination is to hedge . . . and simply say "let's see what happens
with the application first."
6. Do you work on a commission or fee basis, or some combination?
Long
story short: fee basis only! I never want to say no to a
client, and despite how much I like what I'm doing, I still enjoy being
paid for what I do. When
Grants Gateway contracts to write a
grant proposal to be submitted for funding, I have completed my work. I
can live with this because my track record
speaks for itself: a 75 percent success
record.
7. Does Grants Gateway do the "needs assessment" work as well?
We
will do what it takes to help you. However, we do not know the local
market. Nor do we know your clients and partners. So, needs assessment
work is
best done by you. However, we will be
more than happy to help IF we
get enough lead time, and that means at least 6-8 weeks JUST to
ascertain interest in
your proposals.
Translated: if you want us to do the needs assessmet
work, we want to be notified at least 4 months before due date. If you
want to
positively document need, you must show
that clients will come if you
deliver services. Easier said than done.