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Beginning Grantwriters can easily become overwhelmed by the complexity of funder guidelines and the many strategic requirements of a competitive proposals. But remember, the first requirement for  obtaining outside funding is simply representing an exceptional organization and conveying your passion for the organization's mission. As indicated below, many funders prefer the authenticity of a staff person to the polished prose of a professional grantwriter:

“While the Foundation respects the aid that grant writers provide, it has been our experience that proposals are less persuasive and thus less competitive when they lack the voice and do not directly reflect the thinking of those involved in the conception and responsible for the execution of the proposed project.” – Hewlett Foundation

“I often find the sparks of brilliance come from the rural areas, probably because the programs are entirely volunteer-driven. The feeling of passion and the great ideas that come through override the typos and the spelling errors.” – Candy Hanford, Vice President, Foundation Northwest, quoted in Foundation News & Commentary

“All things considered, most grantmakers would rather read the real words of the applicant, however inelegant they might be, than read the more polished but less authentic words of the contract grantwriter.” --  Joel J. Orosz. Senior Program Director of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Insiders Guide to Grantmaking, 2000

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