Consultation
Approach
Initial
Consultation – We will
get to know you, your organization, and the goals for your project. After thoroughly discussing your
organization's funding needs, as well as your short-term and long-term goals,
we will research appropriate funding opportunities that align with your
organization’s strategic plan.
Opening
Research – Our research
team will conduct a thorough project assessment and gather the required
information. We will then develop a
detailed report of grant competitions for which you meet submission criteria
and review project budgets and validate the impact of the grant award
sought.
Concept
Review – After
completing our research, we will present our findings, prioritize funding
opportunities, and design a grant schedule with submission deadlines. Depending on the type of funding your
organization needs, our report will typically present multiple opportunities
for your consideration. We will
recommend an appropriate approach for each opportunity, typically one of three
options:
Letter
of Inquiry – Introduces
an idea to a funding source.
Proposal/Concept
Paper – Description of
the project, the organization and the request for feedback on the idea before
you create a long proposal.
Long
Proposal – Cover letter
and proposal summary with appendices.
Long
Proposal Development –
This process typically takes up to three weeks to complete, as we are required
to tailor our submissions to specific requirements of the granting foundation
or agency.
Proposal
Review & Submission
– Before we submit the final version, we will meet with you to thoroughly
review the proposal we have crafted.
Until the final award result is known, we will continue to track and
report on the proposal throughout the review process. If additional information or supporting
documentation is required, we will work with the grantor to ensure all
questions about the proposal are answered.
Award
Stewardship – Upon
receiving the grant award, we will review the award stewardship plan with you
to ensure the grantor’s wishes are fulfilled and the grantor is appropriately
acknowledged. Additional plans for
considering media exposure will also be reviewed, as required by the grantor.
Additional
Services
Proposal
Editing – If your
organization wants a completed proposal evaluated prior to submission, a
Watauga representative can review your written proposal, identify weaknesses,
make recommendations, and edit the final submission.