Grant writing and funding support
We get good ideas funded by identifying grant opportunities, aligning on strategies, and developing compelling and actionable applications.
Empowering rural communities
Our team of seasoned grant writers and strategists bring an informed perspective to the grant writing process. We understand that grants are an essential funding source for many of our partners, which is why we collaborate with them through the entire life-cycle of grant-funded projects. After spending time learning about our partners’ long-term goals and vision, we work together to identify mission-aligned funding opportunities and assess the feasibility of new ideas, opportunities, and programs.
Once our discovery process is complete, we help our partners win grants by offering further grant research, writing and editing support, workshops and training, and grant administration and management.
How we work with communities
Grant strategy and research
We help our partners understand how their projects and capacity fit into the timing and availability of funding sources. We help them build a strategy around pursuing the right opportunities at the right time, and develop a competitive approach that will result in them meeting their strategic goals.
Grant development and writing support
We provide a full range of services that help clients navigate and manage the grant-writing process. We help partners design winning projects that can adapt to their funders’ priorities, build project management plans, provide workshops to improve our partners’ internal grant writing capacity, and help ensure proposals pass technical reviews and are not disqualified based on errors, omissions, or technical flaws.
Grant administration
We support the integration of outside funding sources into our partners’ management system. We ensure the recipient organization meets the award’s terms and conditions, objectives, and accountability requirements. Whether the need is for a full-service grant manager or a technical consultation to set up a new grant administration system, our team helps with ongoing grant administration needs.
Use the next/previous buttons to view a series of network testimonials.
Testimonials
RISI's grants team provided tools, context, and expertise to help us move from construct to concept, supporting us with research, real-life experience, and analysis to inform our project development. Trying new things is scary! Having access to a team that works exclusively with other communities in this space provides models, best practices, and a sounding board for ideas.
White River Junction, Vermont
Testimonials
Rural communities are limited both in terms of human and financial capital. Without the assistance of RISI and its entire team, we would never have been able to submit a proposal for the RISE grant. The team not only provided technical support – but recognized the need for emotional support as well. Regardless of the outcome of the RISE grant selection, we in Cochise County are well positioned to better carry out our mission.
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Testimonials
I've had the distinct pleasure of working with the Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc team on many projects. Their professionalism and knowledge of rural systems are second to none, and they've become a key ally in our organization's development. Most recently, we worked with RISI on our EDA Build to Scale application. Their guidance and attention helped us to navigate a complex project narrative and its corresponding budget documentation, and I can confidently say that we had a stronger application because of our collaboration.
Springfield, Vermont