We are Storytellers
Grant Writing
The Policy Equity Group approaches grant writing as an exercise in strategic planning with the opportunity for funding. This strategy allows organizations to produce grant applications that not only demonstrate to funders the need for and importance of their work, but also provide a clear and effective roadmap for implementation when funds are awarded.
Preserving Head Start Grant Funding in Detroit
In 2014, the federal office of Head Start implemented the Designation Renewal System, a process for competing Head Start grants to ensure that the highest-capacity organizations serve Head Start children. In 2018–19, four Head Start grantees in Detroit had to compete for $50 million in Head Start funding. To support a coordinated approach to the grants and fundable grant applications, the Policy Equity Group provided city-wide grant writing support for all applicants. The support included data collection and analysis for the community needs assessment portion of the application; community meetings with the grantees and potential community partners; grant coaching; assistance obtaining letters of support; and a review and editing of grant applications. Each of the four grantees who received grant writing support received a grant, and taken together, the applications represented a coordinated high-quality approach to Head Start services across the city.