Writing Capacity Projects

Elevate’s Writing Capacity Projects provide the know-how and extra capacity to help nonprofits pursue large grant opportunities or manage a staffing gap.

For nonprofits that want to apply for a large grant, or have a planned calendar with no writing capacity in sight, we provide the expertise and personpower needed to take on these projects. We’ll work with you to develop strong, compelling requests and accurate grant reports.

Our Process

Writing Capacity Projects are best suited for organizations that have identified a funding opportunity as a strong fit and have existing programming that is aligned with the work, but need help to pull all those pieces into a proposal. We provide a dedicated grant writer to draft and submit proposals, based on your organization’s needs. Unlike our Comprehensive Grant Writing Services, these projects focus exclusively on proposal drafting, editing, and submission — meaning a laser focus on creating a compelling proposal or report.

YOUR ELEVATE WRITER WILL SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS FROM THE START OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT BY:
  • Carefully reviewing proposal guidelines and requirements
  • Scheduling a kickoff call to discuss the project and timeline together
  • Introducing you to Elevate’s processes and systems
  • Creating a workplan that establishes key dates for each step of the project and assigns responsibilities
  • Drafting and editing the proposal narrative and abstract or summary, including up to 3 rounds of revision
  • Reviewing attachments such as organizational charts, logic models, and letters of support (Note: we do not typically prepare project or organizational budgets)
  • Submitting the final proposal

Our Track Record

Our writers have experience writing winning grants for a variety of government agencies and private foundations across a range of issue areas, and we specialize in getting up to speed quickly so we can write effectively about your work. Below is a sampling of the agencies and foundations to which Elevate has submitted reports or proposals through Writing Capacity Projects:

Public agencies: 

  • AmeriCorps
  • California Workforce Development Board 
  • DC Commission on Arts and Humanities
  • DC Community Schools Incentive Initiative Grant
  • DC Fund for Children, Youth, and Families
  • Department of Health and Human Services – Centers for Disease Control 
  • Fairfax County 
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency 
  • U.S. Department of Education 
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of Labor

Private foundations: 

  • Annenberg Foundation
  • Annie E Casey Foundation
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York
  • Clark Winchcole Foundation
  • Democracy Fund
  • Lois and Richard England Foundation
  • Morningstar Foundation
  • Public Welfare Foundation
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 
  • Unihealth Foundation

Pricing

Writing Capacity Projects begin at $2,500. Fees are determined based on the complexity of each report or proposal. Typically, local, state, or federal public grants start at $7,000. Our pricing is project-based and all-inclusive – we do not charge by the page or by the hour, but rather on a project basis.

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