Building relationships that make a lasting difference.
SFL Consulting develops meaningful relationships with clients and works with organizations and projects that will have a deep and lasting impact on the community. Our work is not transactional or quick fix, but rather our intent is to help your organization build capacity for lasting impact.
Our Services
Strategic Proposal Development and Grant Management
SFL Consulting works with clients on a regular, monthly basis to develop and write proposals, refine programs, manage grantseeking calendars and reports, prospect for new funders, and develop strategies. We work with you in the trenches. We are your partner and ally. This is a good fit for your organization if you are a small team, but have a strong or burgeoning grantseeking program and prepare 10 or more proposals a year.
Special Projects and Proposals to Government Agencies
Throughout the year, SFL Consulting works with local and national nonprofit organizations, arts and culture organizations, and small universities to pursue federal grant opportunities and complex applications to private funders. These projects typically involve intense work for a period of three to four months and are best for organizations who are seeking expertise with a specific funding agency, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities or the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. We serve as your project managers, demystify funder guidelines, and work with your organization to develop compelling written narratives, attachments, and project budget. SFL Consulting can also work with your organization on short-term or collaborative projects in response to a new or extraordinary RFP (Request for Proposals) that falls outside your normal grantseeking calendar and requires additional expertise in project management and proposal writing.
Coaching and Proposal Reviews
We know that grantseeking is nuanced, stressful, and often frustrating. SFL Consulting provides one-to-one coaching sessions for individuals or organizations who are new to grantseeking or desire to explore ways to improve their current grantseeking practices. SFL Consulting can also provide a thorough proposal review and feedback session as part of the coaching. These sessions can be tailored to meet client needs, but do not involve original proposal writing or prospect research. If your needs fall outside these areas, SFL Consulting is happy to refer you to other grant professionals in the community.
FAQ
Are you a good fit to work with SFL Consulting? Learn more about our services and clients below.
We are a small or new organization that is new to grantseeking, and we need help with a few proposals. Can you help us?
All grant consultants work differently. SFL’s Consulting Team specializes in working with clients on an on-going monthly basis, and organizations that have the capacity to submit at least 10 to 12 proposals a year.
We need help with only one or two small proposals a year. Do you work on an hourly rate?
No. SFL Consulting loves investing in your organization to make a lasting impact internally and externally with the community, which is why we focus on longer term and high impact work with clients.
Are there any services you provide to new nonprofits or people new to grantseeking?
Yes. Often, newer and small nonprofits need to build internal capacity to be “grant ready.” Building this foundation and cultivating these skills are important for a sustainable grantseeking program. Through coaching and proposal reviews, SFL Consulting can help your team be grant ready and more competitive with funders. Coaching packages are flexible and can be tailored to meet your needs, but do not include writing, research, or on-site travel.
We are a for-profit, start-up company and need help with grants for small businesses. Can you help us?
No, we specialize in working with nonprofit and community organizations, typically those with a 501(c)3 tax-exempt status.
Do you accept payment after, and only if, the grant has been awarded?
No. This violates the Grant Professional Association’s Code of Ethics. Read more here. All our services are fee-based and invoiced at regular, agreed-upon intervals.
Do you work with clients based outside of Indianapolis?
Yes. SFL Consulting can work with clients remotely on special projects, such as an intense application to a private funder or governmental agency. Typically, out-of-town work is conducted through regular conference calls, e-mails, and file sharing. See our Client page for a list that includes our experiences working with specific foundations and governmental agencies.
We are applying to a large federal agency or private funder, but the turn-around time is about 30 days. Can you help?
Typically SFL Consulting likes a minimum of 90 days from the deadline to work with a new client on a special project. However, we also know funders sometimes release RFPs late or simply require a short-turnaround time. Contact us to learn if we can make the short timeline work. It often depends on our current workload and your organization’s grant readiness.
We know there is more money out there for our organization. Can you help us with prospect research?
SFL Consulting does not provide prospect research as a stand-alone service, as there are many on-line resources and databases for this work. Moreover, through the years, we have learned that the most effective prospect research occurs on an on-going basis in partnership with the organizations we work with monthly.
Do you write grants for public, private, or charter schools?
The most effective grantseeking approach for schools is at a district- or corporation-wide level and funders often desire this coordinated approach; therefore, SFL Consulting does not work with individual schools. However, if your school or school district is working on a special initiative or part of a collaborative project, SFL Consulting may be able to help.
Do you work with youth sports leagues?
No, SFL Consulting does not specialize in working with local, youth sports leagues.
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