Grantwriters, Grant Consultants, and Grants Capacity Building: Why Working with Experts Matters
How can we get more grant funding?
Navigating the complex landscape of grants can be a daunting (and time consuming) task, requiring expertise, research, and meticulous planning. The process of finding, applying for, and managing grants can be daunting, especially for teams that are already stretched thin. This is where partnering with grant writing consultants can make a transformative difference. In this blog post, we will explore the role of grants consultants like us, and shed light on why it is more beneficial to hire an expert team that builds your grants capacity rather than relying solely on a grant writer.
A grants consultant is a professional who specializes in providing strategic guidance and assistance throughout the grant-seeking process. A grants consultant acts as a partner, working closely with organizations to develop a comprehensive grants strategy that aligns with their objectives. As grants consultants focused on capacity building for our clients, we have a deep understanding of the funding landscape, including the different types of grants available, application requirements, and compliance regulations. Our founder is a former federal grantmaker, and we bring that understanding of both sides of the funding landscape to all of our engagements.
We’ve seen how a structured approach—combining research, strategy, collateral development, and project-managed outreach—can help nonprofits and other mission-oriented organizations not only secure funding but also build lasting internal capacity for grant success.
ground your approach in research
We have never been fans of the “throw spaghetti on the wall” approach to grant applications. We also know that only applying to grants you’re invited to apply to, or to only the grant funders you already know will limit your long term sustainability and success.
Effective grant seeking starts with truly understanding your funding landscape.
An expert grants consultant team like ours brings expertise in identifying the most promising funding opportunities for your mission. This involves:
Funder alignment: Matching your organization’s goals with funders who share your vision.
Trend analysis: Staying on top of evolving priorities in philanthropy and grantmaking.
Customized prospecting: Developing a curated list of potential funders based on your unique programs and needs.
Solid research, vetting, and prioritization ensures that your team isn’t wasting time chasing opportunities that aren’t the right fit. Instead, you’ll be positioned to pursue funders who are more likely to say "yes."
Next, create an effective strategy
Once the research is in place, the next step is strategy. This involves defining your goals, priorities, and approach to grant funding. Our team can help you answer key questions and guide the subsequent actions your organization takes, including:
Which programs or initiatives should we prioritize for funding?
Which funders are a good match for the work we do?
What are realistic short- and long-term goals for our grant funding pipeline and how should we prioritize and allocate resources accordingly?
How can we best position ourselves as a compelling partner for funders?
By developing a clear and actionable strategy, you’ll avoid a scattershot approach and instead focus your efforts on opportunities that align with your mission and capacity.
Build your “Off the Shelf” collateral:
One of the biggest challenges nonprofits face is the time and effort required to create compelling grant proposals.
Our team can help you build a suite of ready-to-use materials that streamline the application process, including:
Organizational overviews: Clearly articulate your mission, vision, and impact.
Program descriptions: Develop detailed yet concise narratives about your key initiatives.
Budgets and financials: Prepare funder-friendly formats that instill confidence in your organization’s fiscal management.
Standardized attachments: Ensure that documents like board lists, IRS determination letters, and audited financials are always ready to go.
Having this "off-the-shelf" collateral not only saves time but also ensures consistency and professionalism in your applications.
Project-managed outreach
Successful grant seeking requires persistence and consistency.
It’s not enough to submit a few proposals and hope for the best. A team like ours can help you implement a project-managed, effective, and consistent approach to outreach, including:
Tracking deadlines and planning ahead: Stay ahead of submission dates and reporting requirements and ensure you have enough time to pull together strong applications.
Regular engagement: Build relationships with funders through consistent communication and outreach to new funders.
Proposal follow-ups: Ensure that every application is followed by outreach to answer questions and express gratitude.
By treating grant seeking as an ongoing, consistent, managed process, your organization can build a sustainable pipeline of funding opportunities over time.
The long-term value of grants expertise
Working with a grant writing consultant is about more than securing immediate funding. It’s about equipping your organization with the tools, knowledge, and processes needed for long-term success. Ultimately, the goal is to build your internal capacity so that your organization is empowered to pursue grant funding with confidence and success.
When it comes to winning grants for your organization, for less than the cost of a full-time grant writer, you can optimize your chances of success and maximize the impact of your grant applications by hiring a grants consultant like Capacita to be your outsourced grants team and build your internal grants capacity.
Ready to win more grants?
If your organization is ready to take its grant funding efforts to the next level, let’s talk. Our team specializes in helping nonprofits build the research, strategy, collateral, and outreach systems they need to thrive. Together, we can create a roadmap to sustainable grant success.