Frequently Asked Questions about Grants

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 proposals 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 organizations as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
• With grant projects/programs that benefit a larger part of the population of a certain community; or promote medical, technological, religious, human welfare and animal rights, intellectual or scientific advancements/innovations and/or general goodwill.

Individuals

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at the time of application; for federal grants -- 18 years old and above
• With grant programs/projects that benefit a larger part of the population of a certain community or promote medical, technological, environmental, religious, intellectual, or scientific advancements, and/or general goodwill

Can we spend grant money for other purposes?
Grant money should only be spent according to the purpose stated on the proposal. If the money given is for building a house, it should be used for that very purpose and not for personal needs. This is the reason why funding organizations require detailed budget plans to guarantee that grant money will be wisely spent. Most foundations demand that the first month of operations, or the entire funding period, be carefully monitored to make sure everything is done as presented on the proposal. They usually require the grant recipient to submit a report on how they have spent the grant money.

Why is there a need to hire Professional Writers or Specialists to write proposals?
Acquiring funds requires hard work. There are many factors to consider in order to be given grant 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 the writing of the proposal. Professional writers understand the need of every applicant for grant funding. They are trained and skilled in converting your ideas into effectively written proposals.

Is a grant the answer to my entire financial problem?
NO. As previously stated, grant application requires hard work and tight competition. For this reason, 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.

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 and services to the public.

Private organizations award grants to particular individuals and organizations that share the same mission and vision as theirs. These help them accomplish their mission better and enable them to utilize their resources more efficiently as they perform and carry out their social responsibilities.

What is an effective grant proposal?
The federal government and funding organizations only award financial assistance to organizations and individuals that have proposals presenting interests in creating change and development within their communities and nearby areas. Therefore, an effective grant proposal explains, in full detail, the worth of a particular project. It intellectually captures and converts into words the ideas and/or plans of organizations or individuals. Here at Elischa Campbell Consulting Services,LLC we are trained and committed to deliver just that.

What is included in a grant proposal?
The Elischa Campbell Consulting Services, LLC writers’ proposal includes the following:

1. Executive Summary - presents an overview of the grant project
2. Introduction – gives a brief description of the organization
3. Needs Assessment – defines the “need” and the necessity for the project to materialize and for the goal to be achieved; also establishes the significance of the grant project in the community
4. Goal(s) and Objectives – states the purpose(s) of the grant project
5. Program Methods and Design – describes the activities that will be included in the accomplishment of the proposed grant project
6. Budget Proposal – presents the list of appropriate financial plan(s) to accomplish the grant project
7. Attachments – contains pertinent lists of required documentation used in completing the grant proposal

Every part is given enough emphasis and specialization for the accomplishment of an effective and exceptional proposal.

Bonus Materials

• One Letter of Intent
• One Cover Letter, and
• A List of Potential Funding Organizations (Not available for Starter package and those with specific funder already)

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 grant proposals before applying to them.

How long does it take before we receive the funding?
Never assume that you could have the funds as soon as the proposal is approved. Funding organizations follow a process for releasing funds that may usually be after a couple of weeks or after several months.

How long will it take you to write the proposal?
It depends upon the package you purchased. The Starter Package would take a professional grant writer about three weeks to a month to write. The Basic 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 Deluxe Package may take about three to four months to develop, while the Premium Package requires about four to five months to complete. (We will discuss various packages with you upon initial consultation and further evaluation of your specific needs).

We also accept quick grant writing projects and those with a specified grantor already. If you need to meet a grant application with a specific deadline, we can work on that. But we will not be accepting projects that have deadlines set less than two weeks from the time you place your order with us. We do not want to accept projects in such a short notice because this may affect the quality of our service.

The entire grant writing process takes that long because aside from the rigorous analysis of the project and the intensive research for potential funding sources, the proposal has to be carefully organized and thoroughly checked to validate your need for funding and ensure its effectiveness.

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 credible is Elischa Campbell Consulting Services,LLC in delivering an effective proposal?
We have been in the business for over twenty years, now. Within that period, we have had clients, many are even repeat ones, who have expressed their full satisfaction on the proposals we wrote for them. (References are available upon request).

Our expertise in the field is built on various programs and projects, ranging from charter schools to faith-based and general human services. Equipped with skills and talents, our grant specialists are committed to write an effective proposal, worthy of 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. We advise applicants to determine the type of project they usually fund before considering submitting an application with 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 with their grant making programs.

Can I apply for different grants at the same time?
Yes. You can submit application to different grant programs all at the same time, provided your project matches the requirements of each program and that your application is made within the schedule funders set, should there be any.

OK! I'm interested! What should I do next?

Call Us Today!

Phone: 832-439-3542
Fax: 281-754-4003
Email: Info@elischacampbell.com