Strategy & execution
Grant writing consultants who show their work.
Directories list hundreds of consultants; almost none publish results. We do: $27M+ secured for 56+ organizations at an 80% success rate, led by the two founders you’ll actually work with.
When it’s time
Four signs you need a consultant, not luck.
Applications keep losing, and nobody knows why
A consultant's first job is diagnosis: wrong funders, weak evidence, or objectives that can't be measured. Usually it's fit, and fit is fixable.
The ED writes grants at 10pm
When leadership time goes into applications, programs pay for it twice. A consultant returns those hours and usually raises the win rate at the same time.
You won something big and reporting is due
Awards come with obligations. A consultant who covers post-award keeps the funder relationship healthy through the first reporting cycle and into renewal.
You're grant-ready but have no pipeline
Programs, data, and documentation in place, but no calendar of matched opportunities. That's a research and strategy gap, the fastest one to close.
Recognize one of these? A free 20–30 minute call is the fastest way to find out what to fix first.
How we consult
A method, not a mystery.
Diagnose before prescribing
Every engagement starts with your funding landscape: programs, budget, documentation, and history. If grants aren't the right move yet, we say so on the free call.
Strategy owned by a named person
You work directly with our founders, not a rotating network. Matios leads grant strategy; Michael leads partnerships. The people on our about page are the people on your calls.
Selective by design
We submit only applications we believe can win. That discipline is where the 80% success rate comes from, and it protects your name with funders.
Accountable in writing
Fixed fees agreed before work starts, engagements scoped in writing, and outcomes you can audit on our results page.
The full delivery, from research to reporting, is described on our grant writing services and grant management pages.
Consulting questions
Before you choose.
What does a grant writing consultant do?
A grant writing consultant diagnoses your funding situation, identifies the funders that fit, plans the application calendar, writes and submits proposals, and often manages post-award reporting. The difference from a freelance writer is scope: consultants own strategy and outcomes, not just documents.
How much does a grant consultant cost?
Typical consultant pricing runs $50 to $150 per hour or $1,500 to $5,000 per month on retainer, with complex federal work priced per project. Our plans run $1,500 to $6,500 a month, with full management including reporting from $3,000, published on our pricing page; our grant writer cost guide covers the full industry picture.
How do I choose between grant consultants?
Ask all candidates the same four things: documented results (dollars and win rate, not years), fee structure (fixed and ethical, never percentage-based), who actually does the work, and whether they cover post-award. Anyone who promises awards before understanding your programs is selling, not consulting.
Do small nonprofits need a consultant, or just a writer?
If you already know exactly which funders to approach and only need prose, a writer is enough. Most small organizations don't have that map, and applying to the wrong funders with excellent writing still loses. Strategy is usually the missing piece, which is why our engagements include it by default.
Can't AI do what a grant consultant does?
AI drafts; it doesn't choose funders, gather your local evidence, know a program officer's history, or take responsibility for results. Reviewers increasingly spot generic AI prose. Use AI for speed where it helps; hire judgment for the decisions that determine whether you win.
What does working with a grant consultant look like month to month?
A good consultant runs on a rhythm: researching new opportunities, keeping the funding calendar current, drafting and submitting applications, and checking in with you on regular strategy calls. Your team supplies program details and reviews drafts; the consultant handles the rest. You should always know what was submitted, what's pending, and what's next.
Should we hire a grant consultant or a development director?
A development director is a full-time staff role that usually covers individual donors, events, and board fundraising as well as grants, with a full salary and benefits. A grant consultant focuses on grants and costs a fraction of that. Many organizations start with a consultant and add a development director once revenue supports the hire.
When should a nonprofit hire a grant consultant?
When your programs are running, your finances are documented, and grants are going unapplied for because nobody has the time or expertise. Other signs: repeated rejections, missed deadlines, or reporting that keeps slipping. If you're still very new, a short readiness engagement is usually a better first step than a long retainer.
Can a grant consultant work remotely?
Yes. Most grant work happens in documents, funder portals, and video calls, so location matters less than local funder knowledge. We're based in Columbus, Ohio, and work with nonprofits in Atlanta, Miami, and nationwide. What matters is that your consultant researches the funders in your region, not just the national ones.
Do grant consultants guarantee funding?
No ethical consultant can guarantee an award, because funders make the final decision. Treat any guarantee as a red flag. What you can ask for is a documented track record: our success rate is 80% against an industry average of 10–30%, and our Grant Sprint for newer organizations includes a full refund if no funding is secured.
Get a second opinion on your funding strategy.
Free, 20–30 minutes, and honest. If you don’t need a consultant, we’ll tell you that too.