Grant Writers, Aaron Rome
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Blog Post

11
SEP
2012

Wait for Grants or Start Program?

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Comments : 0

Consider this scenario: You are an energetic social entrepreneur with a great idea to help your community. So you register a non profit 501c3 organization (may take 2-8months) and are ready to go. So you figure the next step is to write a grant, right? Wrong. Wrong for two reasons:

(1) Before you write a grant ALWAYS know your audience. Every grant maker has different criteria and requirements. You will need to tailor your grant proposal to each specific funder you apply to.

(2) Most grant makers will not  fund startups (one exception is the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation) so you are in a bit of a pickle.

How do you overcome these challenges?

First, identify and contact some local foundations who’s criteria your organization will fit with. Contact the program officer and candidly discuss your idea and ask what it will take for you to get a grant considered for funding.

Next, get some experience under your belt. Grantmakers look favorably upon initiative and determination. Sorry for the downer – but plan on implementing your program – even a micro version of it – on a small scale for 6-12 months. This will provide a valuable learning experience to help you deliver more effective services to your target demographic and also demonstrate results and a commitment to the work you are proposing.

If you need help with the research, let me know. I charge $300 for this service and can complete the work in 1-2 weeks providing a fundraising blue-print as you forge ahead.

 

 

About the Author
Aaron has over 23 years of experience in non-profit management, organizational development and fundraising. He is considered among the most successful independent grant writers in the country.

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Every once in awhile you have the pleasure of meeting someone who excels at what they do. I had that opportunity when Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) engaged Aaron Rome as a grant writer.  Aaron was exceptionally quick at translating the complex world of behavioral health and academic medicine into a professional, easily understood grant application. His ability to weave timelines and milestones to budget into a comprehensive Gantt chart was the best I have seen. Aaron has an uncanny ability to develop both outcomes and a return on investment. Aaron was easy to communicate with, has a delightful wit and never missed a deadline.  API was awarded $2.5 million dollars in grant funding as a result of Aaron's effort.
- Maureen Womack, CEO, Alvarado Parkway Institute
Working with Aaron has proven to be a positive, easy, beneficial process.   He is professional and efficient, and, in our first year of working together, he assisted in securing $1.3 million in federal project funds for our 501c(3) youth development nonprofit. Aaron is knowledgeable, fair and pleasant and we look forward to working on more projects in the future.
- Jerod M. Morey, Executive Director, About Our Kids, Inc.
I really appreciate Aaron’s approach to grant writing. He is with the PI throughout the entire process from development to submission, which is critical. He takes the time to really learn about the science that is being proposed and then helps with the technical parts - the writing, organization, etc. to make the proposal make sense from the first page to the last. This is very different than an editor. We just scored in the 6th percentile on our first NIH R21 grant together, so if that isn’t proof he is excellent at his craft, I don’t know what is!
- Dr. Sarah Messiah, Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health
Aaron was amazing and helped me organize writing my first U01 <NIH grant, $3m+ which we won!]. I would highly recommend working with Aaron, he is fantastic!
- Dr. Paula Busse, Associate Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Aaron helped us tremendously in getting started with our proposal. He had a nuanced sense of what each organization was looking for in their specific SBIR and therefore offered us a variety of ways to tailor our proposal. He also counseled us as to how to get the best advice from Program Officers. For an academic with no experience in a start-up, I cannot overstate enough how helpful he was. We are still in the early stages of our proposal but I am very relieved that we are in great hands.
- Professor Beste Yuksel, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of San Francisco
Last year I became aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs released a notice of funding for their Grant Per Diem program, which was just the help we needed to sustain and grow our organization. However, the level of technical expertise needed to navigate the requirements, develop program services and write the grant, caused me to hesitate. Luckily, I found Aaron and he explained the process and requirements, setting me at ease. He walked me through the entire process, patiently counseling and offering suggestions on how best to express our program. This month, we received notice that organization has been selected for the Grant Per Diem award, at 100% of the funds applied for. Throughout this competitive process we were recognized for the quality of the proposal submitted - We owe many thanks to Aaron for his help!
- Leonard Ramirez, Veterans Accession House
Aaron is the most knowledgeable, skilled and competent proposal writer I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. His strategic approach, innovation, highly evolved intellect, humor, great character and experience are the best qualities the industry has to offer. After losing our State contract, which had been renewed each contracting period for over 24 years, Aaron wrote the most compelling and well crafted proposal that landed us a State Contract to provide Family Preservation Services to our community. Not only did he help save our business, but he assisted in creating jobs and providing much needed services in our communities in Lake County, Indiana. We owe a debt of gratitude to Aaron - THANK YOU SO INCREDIBLY MUCH
- Toya Dumas-Robinson, Metropolitan Oasis CDC
Thank you Aaron for all your help. I would recommend you to anyone.  You are a very personable person... we came to you during the eleventh hour and you were able to get the job done with the end result in our organization obtaining the grant ($100,000).  You never know what you are going to get when you simply use Google.  We took a chance and we cannot be anymore satisfied in the professionalism you offered from day one.
- Rochelle Dukes, Calvary Baptist
I am a solar sales and installation company.  I had the pleasure of hiring Aaron to apply for a first time, new, State of California solar grant.  My solar client was easily approved for the maximum grant of $300,000.  Aaron is easy to work with, knowledgeable and reasonably priced.  I hope to have the chance to use his services again.  He is well worth it.
- Jim Bowman, Renewable Solar Inc.
We received the best news yesterday. Vigo County Drug Court was awarded funding for the next five (5) years from the grant that you prepared for us. With this funding the Drug Court Program will be able to help so many more people who desperately need the help. So, on behalf of Judge Rader and his staff, the Vigo County Prosecutor’s office, and the Vigo County Drug Court, we want to thank you for all of the hard work and dedication that you gave this project.
- Terri Allen, Vigo Superior Court
I am so happy to have found Aaron to help prepare a healthcare grant application with a very short turnaround. My apprehensions about hiring someone I had no former relationship with soon dissipated as Aaron quickly proved to be not only a great writer, but trustworthy and insightful -- helping us to refine our business model and craft our strategy -- and fun to work with. He walked into a high-pressure situation, hit the ground running and engaged with our staff seamlessly. Within less than 2 months of meeting Aaron he helped our company win a $363,000 contract. I can't believe how smoothly the process went once Aaron joined our team, and can't wait to work with Aaron again on a future project.
- Emmi Chen, Xincon Home Health Care Services, Inc.
We had the pleasure of working with Aaron for our Cancer Prevention Grant.  Without his help, we could not have gotten it done!  Aaron is prompt, knowledgeable, and great team player.  He punctuated the project with a high level of sophistication.  Thank you Aaron!  We hope to work together soon."
- Dr. Suman Sinha, Pulmonologist, CHRISTUS Medical
Working with Aaron was like working with someone who has been my colleague for years. We called on him to work on a moment’s notice and he jumped in with both feet; availing himself to us exclusively. The ease with which Aaron translated our program’s complex needs into the intricate language of two federal grant proposals was remarkable. Through his impressive communication and steadfast work ethic, Aaron emerged as a teacher and mentor on the intricacies of grant writing for our team. I will not hesitate to recommend Aaron Rome to any organization in need of top-notch, comprehensive grant writing services!
- Amy Middleton, Regional Resource Development Director, The Salvation Army of Central Maryland
Our organization is quite pleased with the grant written by Aaron Rome. In fact, the grant review committee member expressed that of all the grants that were received, ours was the most clear and concise. This is specifically attributed to Aaron's professional experience and we are grateful to his contribution in securing the highest grant award in our organization's 20 year history.
- Ann Burnett, FreeD.O.M. Clinic USA
Aaron was hired at the 11th hour to complete a grant with no prior knowledge of our organization. He worked seamlessly with me to acquire the necessary information in guiding the process – a first for me – from start to finish. Aaron did not flinch in his organization or responsiveness. Needless to say, we submitted on time and were successfully awarded our grant request ($126,000).
- Robert Basile, Psy.D., Director of Clinical Services, Metropolitan Center for Mental Health (NY, NY)
Aaron steered us through the complexities of the STTR (SBIR) grant submission process, coaching us and communicating directly with our research institution.  Given a narrow 4 week time frame Aaron delivered with days to spare.
- David Cooper, Stairbuilders & Manufacturers Association
CME contracted with Aaron  to assist us with writing 2 grant proposals and from the start Aaron was fully engaged in the project and was not only responsive to any of our requests but was proactive in anticipating our needs and managing the very tight timelines associated with the proposal process. Without Aaron taking the point position on this project we would never have been able to submit a proposal much less successfully secure $175,000 in grant funding. Aaron was truly an integral part of our team.
- Eric Robinson, Claflin Medical Equipment
We are an association with a specific mission that many often know very little about.  Aaron took the time to understand our organizational history, focus and needs.  When it came to writing the grant, we were happy that he worked with us to create something that fulfilled our current needs and, I believe, laid a foundation for future opportunities.
- Cameron McEllhiney, National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
I cannot tell you how great you have been and how much I value your guidance.  I have learned a great deal.  You showed as much concern for the success of the grant for the college as someone from an in-house grants office would.  I did not expect that level of care from a contractor.
- Dr. Alan Jackson, Vice President, Hiwassee College
Aaron exceeded all of our expectations! He worked with us to understand our vision and effectively communicated it in every grant that he successfully wrote (so far we are 2 for 2!). He was always available, flexible, and easy to work with. We will continue to consult Aaron Rome, and you should too.
- Cici Osanma
Absolutely  you were a great help to me!
- Elke, Business owner
Aaron wrote a great economic feasibility study that was integral to our receiving a $200,000 federal farm grant.  He is highly competent and professional, and was a pleasure to work with.
- Zachary Zises, Big Head Farm
Right from the start, Aaron impressed us with his efficiency and professionalism - an approach that not only inspired confidence, but generated the results we were looking for. We needed an effective plan for soliciting grants and donors for our "Barbershop Boys" program for our non-profit. By partnering with Aaron, we have been able to consistently increase both our capacity and our funding sources to provide effective programming.
- Ragan Johnson, Imagine Me, President
We found Aaron easy to work with. He gathered and quickly absorbed the literature describing our operations and timely wrote the website and grant narratives. He was very efficient and his fees were extremely reasonable.
- John, Foundation for Eldercare
Right from the start, Aaron impressed us with his efficiency and professionalism - an approach that not only inspired confidence, but generated the results we were looking for. We needed an effective plan for soliciting grants and donors for our "Barbershop Boys" program for our non-profit. By partnering with Aaron, we have been able to consistently increase both our capacity and our funding sources to provide effective programming.
- Ragan Johnson, President, Imagine Me, Inc.

Contact Info

Aaron Rome
North Kingstown, RI
401-368-2401

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