Grant Writing Consultant and Grant Strategy for Nonprofits
Most nonprofits want grant funding more than they're ready for it.
Grant funding tends to arrive at the end of a lot of unglamorous groundwork: a board that functions, financial systems that can show where the money went, policies that prove you can manage what you're given. The organizations that grow sustainably put that groundwork in place before they apply, and their applications are stronger for it.
Blue Heron Nonprofit Consulting works as a grant writing consultant and strategist for nonprofits, wherever you are in that process: deciding which funders to pursue, getting ready to apply, or writing the application for a specific project. Tell us where you're starting from, and we'll meet you there.
Three Ways We Help You Get Grant Ready
Grant Strategy & Prospecting: $1,800
For organizations that don't have a specific grant in hand yet and want a plan before they start applying. You walk away with:
- A prioritized list of funders worth pursuing, based on what you actually do
- A sequencing plan: when to apply, how to stack multiple grants without overextending your team, and which programs to fund first
- A realistic timeline built around your actual capacity and program needs
We managed the full grant strategy and submission for Orange County Parent Child Center's competitive Northern Border Regional Commission award.
Grant Readiness Assessment: $1,000
Wondering whether you're ready to apply at all? Start with our free grant-readiness checklist for a quick, self-guided read on where you stand.
When you want an outside, expert read, that's the Grant Readiness Assessment. It's a focused look at whether you're ready to apply, with clear recommendations and next steps, scoped to grant readiness specifically. It does not require our full Organizational Assessment.
Project-Based Grant Writing: $3,500 to $4,500
Writing and submission for a defined set of grants tied to a specific project: a capital campaign, facility expansion, or program launch. The base package covers up to three grants. Where the price lands in that range depends on length and complexity. Additional grants beyond the base three are $750 each. Federal or otherwise complex grants add $1,000.
For capital campaigns in particular, we bring campaign tools built and tested in the field, from committee structures to planning worksheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you do ongoing or annual grant writing?
No. Every engagement here has a defined scope and a specific end. We can pick up the next engagement when you have one, but we don't manage grants on an ongoing or annual basis.
Can you guarantee we'll win the grant?
No credible grant consultant can guarantee an award. The funder makes that decision. What we can do is build a strong, well-positioned application: the right funder fit, a clear case, and a proposal that meets every requirement, so your application has the best possible chance.
Do we need to be grant ready before we start?
For project-based grant writing, yes. Grant readiness comes first, before writing begins, and we recommend the Grant Readiness Assessment as part of that process. Grant Strategy & Prospecting can start before you're grant ready. If you want a quick read on where your organization stands, start with our free grant-readiness checklist.
Talk About a Grant
We work with a small number of organizations at a time, so each grant gets the attention it needs. If you have a specific grant or capital project ahead, or you're still figuring out which funders to pursue, we'd like to hear about it. We respond within one business day. Email: margot.holmes@blueheronnpconsulting.com.