Long before I started writing grants, my work was rooted in direct service: supporting families, navigating complex systems, and helping people feel seen in places that often overlook them. That work required translation, making the confusing clear and the overwhelming manageable. That same skill is what powers strong grant writing.

Languages in Grant Writing

Anyone in the nonprofit world knows that there are many “languages” to describe the work we do:

  • The language of community members, who are juggling needs, stressors, hopes, and everyday challenges. The mom who woke up at 4:30AM to catch the early bus to work on time. The student whose ADHD goes undiagnosed and untreated. The patient who skips checkups because they don’t have health insurance.
  • The language of program teams managing staffing constraints, endless email threads, evolving protocols, and ambitious goals that collide with limited resources.
  • The language of funders who are looking for clear outcomes, measurable impact, sustainable programs, responsible budgets, and evidence that the organization can deliver on its promises.
We take the time to understand nuance: the real barriers people face, the staff capacity required to overcome them, and what success looks like in the community.

Translating the Impact of Complex Systems

Working on the front lines, I’ve seen how these languages can miss each other. I know the pride (and the exhaustion) of being on “the Program Team.” I know what it’s like to read a narrative about work I’m doing and feel the disconnect when the words are technically correct but miss the reality of complex systems and human needs. And I know the feeling when someone gets it right, when every sentence makes me want to write “YES!!!!” in the margins because it captures true impact.

Human-Centered and Operationally Sound

Now, when I write for clients, my priority is crafting proposals that are both human-centered and operationally sound. At Fundraising for the Future, we take the time to understand nuance: the real barriers people face, the staff capacity required to overcome them, and what success looks like in the community.  We ask the right questions to uncover meaningful information and creatively position proposals. Then we translate these on-the-ground realities into clear, measurable strategies that funders can understand—and that truly reflect the work your team does.
‍
And for me, the best part will always be that moment of delight when a funder’s priorities click perfectly into place with an organization that is already changing lives. I translate vision into shared language so the people investing in the work and the people doing the work can move forward together. And hopefully, we get a “YES!!!!” in the margins along the way.
‍

‍Interested in working together? We look forward to learning more about your organization and helping you build a stronger, more sustainable funding future. Contact Us