Grant expertise that keeps more dollars in our communities.
United Way of Harvey and Marion Counties now offers grant consulting to the nonprofits, coalitions, schools, and community organizations working alongside us. When our neighbors win more grants, more resources flow to the families and priorities we all care about.
Reach out to us to get started!
Real grant help, from a team that lives this work
For years, United Way has done the hard, hopeful work of raising money and putting it to work close to home. We write grants, manage them, and lead coalitions that turn funding into results for Harvey and Marion Counties. Along the way, we have built real expertise — and a lot of organizations have asked if we would share it.
Now we do. Our Consulting Program offers grant strategy, writing, review, and management to mission-driven organizations across the region. The goal is simple and a little ambitious: help good organizations tell their story well, win more funding, and do more good.
Every dollar you win is a dollar working in our community. And the fees from this program help sustain United Way's own mission, so support for local families rests on more than one source of funding. It is a partnership that pays forward in both directions.
How we can help
We focus on what we know best: grants. Four core services cover the full arc of a funding opportunity — from deciding whether to pursue it, to submitting a strong proposal, to managing the award once it lands. Start wherever you need us.
Grant Alignment & Framing
Not sure whether an opportunity is worth the effort? We help you decide. Together we research the funder, test the fit, sharpen your theory of change, and give you a clear, honest go or no-go recommendation. It is the best place to start if you are weighing your options — and it saves you from pouring energy into the wrong grant.
Grant Proposal Development
When you have found the right opportunity, we help you make the case. We draft the narrative, build the logic model or measurement plan, support your budget, and assemble a polished, submission-ready proposal. You bring the program knowledge and data; we bring the writing and structure that funders respond to.
Grant Review & Editing
Already have a draft? Let us strengthen it before you hit submit. You get a substantive edit, a check against the funder's priorities, and a written feedback memo you can act on. It is a fresh, experienced set of eyes when it counts most. (This is a review, not a rewrite from scratch.)
Full Grant Management
For organizations without in-house grant capacity who plan to pursue several opportunities, we can be your grant team. This multi-month or annual partnership covers strategy, proposal development, post-award reporting, and compliance — so you can focus on your programs while the grant machinery runs smoothly behind you.
Capacity-building add-ons
Beyond the core four, we take on a limited number of capacity-building projects — logic model and measurement plan development, funder research briefs and prospect lists, board or staff training on grant strategy, and select coalition facilitation. Tell us what you need and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
How it works
We keep the process clear from day one, so you always know what happens next.
Reach out. Tell us what you are working on through a short inquiry form, an email, or a referral.
Discovery call. Within about five business days, we set up a 30-minute discovery call to understand your needs and make sure we are a good fit — at no cost to you.
A clear proposal. We send a written scope, a fee estimate, and a service agreement so there are no surprises.
Kickoff. Once the agreement is signed, we hold a kickoff to confirm the timeline, points of contact, and how we will work together.
The work. We do the work on the agreed schedule, with regular check-ins and quick, reliable communication.
Delivery. You receive your final deliverables with a short summary and any recommendations for next steps — plus a chance to tell us how we did.
Fair, transparent pricing
We believe good grant help should be within reach, not just for the largest organizations. So we built pricing to be honest and accessible from the start.
A hybrid model. Flat-fee projects for clearly scoped grant services, with hourly rates for non-standard work — so you know what to expect before you commit.
A sliding scale. Reduced rates for smaller organizations, based on your annual operating budget. The smaller the budget, the greater the reduction.
Pro bono commitment. Each year we set aside a limited number of pro bono engagements, prioritized for grassroots organizations serving families who are working hard yet struggling to make ends meet.
Everything in writing. You receive a written estimate and scope before anything is signed. No hidden fees, no surprises.
Because every project is different, we give you a specific quote after we understand your needs. Ask us — we are happy to talk numbers early.
Let's help your next grant go further
Whether you are chasing a specific opportunity or building your grant strategy for the year ahead, we would love to help. Start with a free, no-pressure conversation and let's see what is possible together.
Consulting Program FAQ
Straight answers to the questions organizations ask us most. Do not see yours here? Reach out — we are glad to talk it through.
What kinds of organizations do you work with?
Nonprofits, coalitions, schools, libraries, and local governments; tribal and faith-based organizations running community programs; and mission-driven for-profits whose work delivers clear community benefit. If you are doing good in our region and grants could help you do more of it, we want to hear from you.
What areas do you serve?
Our neighbors come first. We give priority to organizations serving Harvey and Marion Counties, then the broader South Central Kansas region. We consider other Kansas organizations case by case, depending on our capacity and how well the work fits our mission. At this time we do not take on out-of-state clients.
What does it cost?
It depends on the service and the complexity of the work, so we give you a specific written estimate before anything is signed. We use flat fees for clearly scoped grant work and hourly rates for non-standard projects. We are always happy to talk about cost early in the conversation — just ask.
Do you offer reduced or pro bono rates?
Yes. We use a sliding scale based on your annual operating budget, so smaller organizations pay reduced rates. We also set aside a limited number of pro bono engagements each year, prioritized for grassroots organizations serving families who are working hard yet struggling to make ends meet. If cost is a barrier, tell us — we will see what we can do.
Can you guarantee we'll win the grant?
No, and you should be cautious of anyone who says they can. Funding decisions rest with funders, not consultants. What we can promise is strong, strategic, well-crafted work that gives your proposal its best possible shot. Our fees pay for that work, never for a specific outcome.
Why don't you charge a percentage of the grants we win?
Professional grant ethics — the standards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Grant Professionals Association — do not allow success-based or contingency fees, and we follow them. You pay for services rendered, which keeps our advice honest and focused on what is genuinely best for your organization.
We're applying for a United Way Community Investment Grant. Can you help us with that application?
Not on a paid basis — and that boundary is intentional. To keep our grantmaking fair, we do not accept paid work to write, edit, or manage a client's Community Investment Grant (CIG) application. Any help United Way offers on CIG applications is free, limited, and available equally to every applicant, such as an annual information session, an open grant-writing workshop, and published guidelines. Paid consulting clients get no special access or advantage on the CIG. We are glad to help you pursue other grant opportunities.
How do you handle conflicts of interest?
Carefully and in writing. Because United Way makes grants, convenes coalitions, and advocates on community issues, we maintain firm firewalls between our consulting work and those roles. Staff who consult for an organization step away entirely from any decision about that organization's Community Investment Grant, and those relationships are disclosed to our review committee and Board before any decision is made. The integrity of the process comes first, every time.
We're part of a coalition United Way convenes. Can we still hire you?
Yes. Paid consulting is available to coalition members, with a few common-sense conditions: our paid work won't duplicate the support United Way already provides free to all coalition members, we are clear in writing about our different roles, and anything you share with us as a client stays confidential and never surfaces in coalition settings.
Who owns the work you produce?
You do. Final deliverables we create specifically for you — proposals, narratives, logic models, and the like — become your property once the project is paid in full. We keep our own pre-existing templates and methods, and you get a license to use them as part of your deliverable.
Is our information kept confidential?
Yes. Every engagement includes a mutual confidentiality agreement. Your documents live in a secure, access-controlled environment open only to the staff working with you, and we never use your name or your project in our marketing without your written permission.
How quickly can you start?
After your discovery call, we typically send a scope and agreement within about a week, and we get going once the agreement is signed. Timelines depend on our current capacity and the deadline you are working toward, so reach out as early as you can — especially if a funder deadline is close. We can sometimes accommodate rush timelines.
How do we get started?
Send us a short inquiry, an email, or a referral, and we will set up a free 30-minute discovery call to understand what you need and confirm we are a good fit. From there, we will put a clear scope and estimate in writing. No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation about how to help your next grant go further.