My experience is with tribal nations, governments, businesses, churches, individuals, and non-profit organizations. I want to help people with exciting projects that can make a difference. I've specialized in humanitarian industries, project management, project design, systems and operations, and partnership. I engage in impactful work.

Typically, I meet with clients over video calls or phone to learn more about their organizational needs. From there, I propose options for my involvement. We agree on a best-fit option, sign a contract agreement, and begin.

It honestly depends. I’ve worked on projects that took anywhere from 3 hours to 100 hours to complete. Even small one-page applications can have pesky, time-consuming steps. “Writing a grant” involves far more than writing the proposal. Time depends on a couple of factors:

1. Availability of accurate organizational language & relevant attachments

2. Readiness of an organization to invest time in managing a program, developing a budget, or maintaining tracking systems of grant fund expenditures

3. The complexity of application requirements like site visits, long-range financial plans, involved collaborations, or various endorsements

Bluntly, nope. Unlike competitors, I do not accept incentive pay, contingency fees, commission-based page, or finder’s fees. They are considered slipshod in the grants community, unethical in the eyes of funders, and generally a bad idea for organizations. I abide by the Grant Professionals Association code of ethics and recommend further reading on this topic here.

This varies based on the organization, types of grants I’m writing, and fundraising goals. Keep in mind that I do much more than write grants, so I stay busy helping you become more competitive for grants, finding new grants, and reporting on the grants you’ve already won.

I’ve found that organizations unable to work with a consultant are often unprepared to apply for or manage grant funds. And that’s okay. Take a look at my grants checklist for starters. Your responses will be a good indicator of your readiness to venture into the grants world. Check out this resource for more info. Also, let me encourage you that grants are not the end-all-be-all in many cases.

A good grants consultant will dissuade you from “chasing dollars” and give you honest recommendations for the best use of your time.

CopperTop was a childhood nickname from the old Duracell battery slogan "going the distance, extra life, extra power." A combination of an outgoing personality, classic red hair, and being a long-distance runner who dreamed of going to the Olympics. Bee was the other childhood nickname my little brother gave me, and it caught on throughout the years for all the attributes of a bumblebee. It was also my grandmother's nickname, and she was smart, savvy, and feisty, so I came by the name honestly. The logo embraces, well, me!

I prefer to determine success less quantitively and more qualitatively. Although I have received several millions of dollars worth of funds, I’ve found that a numerical marker isn’t a helpful measurement of success and can be misleading. Every proposal is different. Funding is never guaranteed—even for the most qualified projects. And receiving funding is not synonymous with long-term organizational success.

Success is getting clients in the best position possible for grants seeking and stewardship. Success is different for every organization depending on where they are on the grants “spectrum.”

Often, I’ve found that grant awards follow organizations willing to learn & change. Other times, I consider a client relationship highly successful when we discover that grants maybe aren’t their funding sweet spot after all.

An organization’s likelihood of getting funding is usually determined by its overall readiness. Grant writing is a highly competitive process, and funders can see straight through even the most persuasive of proposals if the organization is not ready or a good fit. I help position you for success in the world of grants based on your readiness and fitness with the current grants landscape.

You will have to dedicate some time to work with me. I check in with my clients bi-weekly to keep you updated and to ensure clear communication while applying for funding. These meetings are customized for every client. On the front end of our relationship, you can expect to spend time sharing documents and information about your organization, securing MOAs/MOUs or letters of support from partners (if needed), and reviewing final drafts of all grant proposals. On the back end, we work as a team to meet deadlines and cultivate relationships with funders.