What is EIS Funding Readiness?

An intelligent readiness assessment tool that helps organizations evaluate their preparedness for grant and contract opportunities with actionable insights.

How long does the assessment take?

10 to 18 minutes depending on whether you assess grants, contracts, or both.

Do I need to be a nonprofit?

No — the assessment works for nonprofits, for-profit businesses, sole proprietors, churches, government agencies, and fiscally sponsored projects, and it only scores you on what applies to your structure.

What do I get at the end?

A score, a rating, your specific gaps, recommended documents for your structure, and next steps — on screen and emailed to you.

Does a high score guarantee funding?

No — readiness matters, but alignment with a funder's priorities matters just as much.

What happens to my information?

It's kept private and used only to send your results and follow up if you request it — see our Terms & Privacy page.

What exactly is a grant?

A grant is a sum of money awarded by a funder — a government agency, a private or community foundation, or a corporation — to support a specific project or organizational goal. Unlike a loan, it does not have to be repaid, but it almost always comes with requirements: a defined use of funds, reporting, and measurable outcomes. Think of it as an investment in your mission, not a gift with no strings.

Who is eligible to apply for grants?

Eligibility depends entirely on the funder, not on a single universal rule. Government grants often require a specific legal status (like 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, a tribal designation, or a small-business registration), while foundations and corporations set their own criteria. Nonprofits, for-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, and government entities all have grant opportunities — but each funder defines who qualifies. The first step is always reading the eligibility section of a funding announcement before you do anything else.

Where do I actually find grants?

Start with Grants.gov for federal opportunities, your state government's grant or procurement portal for state funding, and foundation directories like Candid's Foundation Directory or local community foundation lists for private funding. For corporate grants, check the community-giving or CSR pages of companies aligned with your mission. The best searches combine your location, your issue area, and your organization type — and the strongest grant-seekers build a tracked pipeline of opportunities rather than chasing one listing at a time.

What's the difference between government and foundation grants?

Government grants tend to be larger, more competitive, and heavily regulated — long applications, strict compliance, detailed reporting, and sometimes cost-sharing or matching requirements. Foundation grants are usually smaller, more flexible, and relationship-driven; many foundations prefer to fund organizations they know or that come recommended. Government funding rewards process and precision; foundation funding rewards relationships and mission alignment. Most successful organizations build a mixed portfolio across both.

What do I need to have ready before I apply?

At minimum: a clear, fundable project description; a realistic budget; proof of your legal status (such as your 501(c)(3) determination letter or business registration); strong financials or a recent audit; a board or leadership list; and any required registrations like SAM.gov or a state vendor profile. Funders also want to see evidence of impact — past results, data, or stories that show you can deliver on what you are promising. The assessment on this site tells you exactly which of these you are missing for your structure.

How long does the grant process take from start to funding?

It varies widely, but plan for it to be slow. Federal grants often take 6 to 12 months from application to award decision, and sometimes longer before funds are released. Foundation grants can move faster — sometimes 3 to 6 months — but the relationship-building that precedes a strong application can take a year or more. Build your timeline around the funder's cycle, not your own urgency, and never count on grant money to solve a crisis that is already at your door.

What are the most common mistakes first-time applicants make?

The biggest one is applying to a funder whose priorities do not actually match your work — that is an automatic no. Others include vague project descriptions, budgets that do not add up or do not match the narrative, missing required attachments, ignoring the funder's formatting rules, and submitting at the last minute with no time to proofread. The fix is simple and unglamorous: read the guidelines carefully, follow every instruction, and have someone else review your application before you submit.

What's the difference between a grant proposal and a solicitation?

A grant proposal is a written response to a funder's published opportunity — you are making the case for why your project deserves their grant dollars. A solicitation is an ask you initiate, usually directed at an individual donor or a corporate partner, where you are inviting them to invest in your work. Proposals are reactive and structured; solicitations are proactive and relationship-driven. Both require a clear case for support, but the audience and the approach are different.

How do I approach an individual for a major gift?

Major-gift fundraising is built on relationships, not cold asks. You identify someone who cares about your cause, cultivate them over time through genuine connection and shared values, and make a specific, well-prepared ask when the moment is right. That means knowing what you are asking for, why them, and what their gift will make possible — and being able to tell the story of your impact in a way that moves them. The ask itself is often the easiest part; the relationship-building beforehand is the real work.

How do I solicit corporations and businesses?

Corporations give for a mix of reasons: community impact, brand alignment, employee engagement, and sometimes a direct business return. The strongest corporate asks offer a clear value proposition — what the company gets in return, whether that is visibility, a cause their customers care about, or a meaningful community partnership. Start with companies that already have a footprint in your issue area or your community, and approach sponsorship as a partnership, not a favor. A sponsorship package with clear benefits and tiers makes the conversation concrete.

What is a sponsorship and how is it different from a grant?

A sponsorship is a funding arrangement where a business provides money (or in-kind support) in exchange for defined recognition or benefits — logo placement, event naming, speaking opportunities, and so on. A grant is given to support a project or mission without an expectation of commercial return. Sponsorships are transactional and benefit-driven; grants are mission-driven. Many organizations run both side by side: grants to fund the work, sponsorships to fund events and visibility.

What makes a strong solicitation pitch?

A strong pitch is specific, personal, and tied to impact. It opens with the problem your work solves, shows why your organization is the right one to solve it, makes a clear ask tied to a concrete outcome, and tells the prospect exactly what their support will make possible. It should be short enough to deliver in a conversation, flexible enough to adapt to the person in front of you, and backed by materials (a one-pager, a case statement) you can leave behind. The goal is not to close on the first conversation — it is to earn the next one.

Do I need a written case for support?

Yes. A case for support is the foundational document that explains why your organization exists, what you are raising money for, what difference it will make, and why a donor should give now. It is the source material for every solicitation conversation, every proposal, and every campaign appeal. You do not hand it to every donor verbatim, but everything you say and write should trace back to it. If you cannot articulate the case clearly on paper, you will struggle to articulate it in person.

How do I ask an organization or institution for funding?

Approaching another organization — a university, a hospital, a government partner, an association — is part research and part relationship. Start by understanding their goals and constraints: what they fund, who makes decisions, and what cycle they follow. Find the right internal champion who can carry your request forward, and frame your ask in terms of shared outcomes rather than your needs alone. Institutional gifts often move slowly and require formal proposals, so patience and a clear, documented track record are your best assets.

What does a fundraising and advancement consultant actually do?

A consultant helps you build the systems, strategy, and capacity to win funding sustainably — not just write one proposal. That can include identifying the right funding opportunities, building a grant pipeline, writing or reviewing proposals, strengthening your case for support, coaching your leadership on solicitation, and building the internal processes that let you compete repeatedly. The best consultants transfer skill to your team so you eventually need them less, not more. It is capacity-building, not dependency.

How do I know if my organization is ready to work with a consultant?

You are ready when you have a clear mission, basic organizational infrastructure (legal status, financials, leadership), and a genuine commitment to doing the work — not just a hope that someone else will land the money for you. A consultant can sharpen a rough strategy, but they cannot invent readiness that does not exist. If your books are not in order, your leadership is not aligned, or you are chasing funding unconnected to your mission, address those first. The assessment on this site will tell you honestly where you stand.

What does an engagement with a firm like EIS look like?

It usually begins with a readiness review — an honest look at where you are and what is realistic — followed by a scoped plan tied to your goals and timeline. From there, the work might include opportunity research, proposal development, case-for-support writing, solicitation coaching, or building your internal grant and development systems. You should expect regular communication, clear deliverables, and a partner who tells you the truth even when it is not what you hoped to hear. The relationship is collaborative, not transactional.

How are consulting fees structured?

Fees vary based on scope, but reputable consultants and firms typically charge either a flat project fee, a monthly retainer for ongoing support, or an hourly rate for specific deliverables. Ethical fundraising consultants do not work on commission or take a percentage of the funds raised — that creates a conflict of interest and is discouraged by every major professional association in the field. You should get a clear written agreement that defines the scope, the deliverables, the timeline, and the fee before any work begins.

How long does a typical engagement last?

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. A single proposal or a readiness review might take a few weeks to a couple of months. Building a grant pipeline, strengthening your development operation, or supporting a campaign usually spans six months to a year or more. The most valuable engagements are ongoing relationships, because grant-seeking and fundraising are long games — the organizations that win consistently are the ones that build capacity over time, not the ones that chase one-off opportunities.

Can a consultant guarantee I will get funded?

No — and you should be wary of anyone who promises that. Funding decisions depend on funder priorities, competition, and factors outside any consultant's control. What a good consultant can promise is that your applications will be stronger, your strategy will be sharper, your systems will be more sustainable, and your odds will improve materially over time. The work is about building your competitiveness and your capacity, not about a single win. Anyone who guarantees an award is selling you something, not partnering with you.

What should I expect from a good consultant relationship?

Honesty, expertise, and a focus on your long-term capacity rather than a quick transaction. A good consultant asks hard questions, tells you when an opportunity is a poor fit, helps you say no to distractions, and builds your team's confidence and skill. You should feel like you have a trusted advisor in your corner — someone who knows the landscape, has done this work, and is invested in your success beyond a single engagement. If you are not getting that, it is fair to ask for it or to find it elsewhere.

How do I get started with EIS?

The fastest path is to take the free readiness assessment on this site — it gives both of us a shared, honest picture of where you stand and what would actually help. From there, you can book a 30-minute consultation directly on Dr. Elbert's calendar, and we will talk through your goals, your timeline, and whether an engagement makes sense for you right now. There is no pressure and no obligation — the goal of the conversation is clarity, whether or not we end up working together.

Frequently asked questions

Practical answers about the assessment, plus a working knowledge base on grants, proposals, and what it takes to partner with a fundraising consultant.

About the assessment

The practical questions about what the tool does and how it works.

Grants & grant-seeking

The fundamentals of pursuing grant funding, no matter what kind of organization you run.

Proposals & solicitations

How to ask individuals, corporations, and organizations for funding beyond grants.

Working with a consultant

What it looks like to partner with a firm like EIS for fundraising and advancement support.

Take the readiness assessment Book a consultation

Still have a question? Ask Dr. E.

Couldn't find your answer above? Send your question directly to Dr. Shawnté Elbert. You'll get an instant draft reply in her voice, and she'll be notified to follow up with you personally.