By Dr. Lori Brown 

Over the past 15 years, competition for grant funds has become more and more fierce. In the last GrantProse newsletter we explored the edge that nonprofits can create for themselves in partnering with a for-profit organization.

Here, I'd like to expand on the advantages that a for-profit can bring to the table during the actual grant writing process. With the nonprofit acting as the lead applicant and fiscal agent, a for-profit can support the grant writing process in four key areas.

Writing Support

As discussed previously, many larger for-profit corporations have internal grant departments with experienced grant writers often well versed in federal grants. While legal concerns around ownership prevent a for-profit from writing the entire grant from start to finish, its internal grant writers can at minimum write short sections, edit, hunt for additional text, and provide the nonprofit writer with advice and support.

Boilerplate Text

For-profit organizations regularly maintain databases with stock text about their products or services. They use this text to respond to client needs. While this boilerplate language may seem a little formal or impersonal for the nonprofit's purposes, a good grant writer can tweak the text to personalize it and create ownership of the concepts.

Research and Case Study Data

Due to their sales focus, for-profits also maintain case study data, client testimonials, or other qualitative and quantitative research to demonstrate the value of their offerings. These inputs are invaluable to grants, and nonprofits should always request them from for-profit partners. Additionally, for-profits can provide current client references, which lend credibility to the nonprofit's claim that it carefully vetted the for-profit grant partnership.

Budgeting and Financial Assistance

Finally, never forget that for-profits are experts in fiscal matters; the largest ones may operate with international budgets in the millions of dollars. These organizations maintain full-time accountants or fiscal managers who use current accounting software. At a bare minimum, the for-profit can create a budget for their products and resources, and may offer to help create or at least review the entire grant budget. Engaging their fiscal and/or sales experts will make your grant stronger.

For-profits can bring many assets, besides just cash, to the table in grant partnerships. Never be shy about asking them to be more involved in your vision.

Dr. Lori Brown is Senior Proposal Writer at Pearson School Achievement Services. You may contact her at news@grantproseinc.com. 

Maps, Maps, Maps 

Grant writers who need graphics for their proposals can turn to NationalAtlas.gov, an interactive atlas and website of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Site users can create and print maps of the U.S. with self-selected information such as geographic features and data from various categories: agriculture, government, climate, plant and animal species, climate, and more.

Grant Writing Guides 

Visit the GrantProse Resources page for free guides and videos to help you in your grant writing, including two new additions:  

• Common Characteristics of Grants. What exactly IS a grant? This 14-minute YouTube video discusses the conceptual basics.  
• Starting a Grant Writing Business. Thinking of branching out on your own and not sure where to start? This PDF offers lots of tips and considerations.