Have you done any grant writing?
I have written literally thousands of successful grant proposals to almost every major foundation and corporation in the community and to several national donors as well as government agencies.

I’ve learned that grant writing is not “paper magic.” Grants derive from relationships developed with potential funding sources who have an interest in your cause and believe you have the capability to address the issue in question.

My grant writing mantra is, “Talk first, write later.” This means make yourself and your cause known to potential funders preferably through an in-person conversation before you even put fingers to computer keyboard. You may find out how your interests and theirs match, what their funding cycle is, and how much they might give to an effort like yours. Or you may find out your organization or timeline doesn’t fit their priorities, in which case, you haven’t wasted time writing a proposal.

I have also served as a grant maker for the Milwaukee Arts Board and the UPAF Small Groups Allocations Committee, so I have some sense of what potential donors look for.