Services

How I work with clients, and what it costs.

Fixed fees, agreed in advance · Free initial consultation · Two rounds of revisions included

1. Securing Resources: Grant Writing & Funding Strategy

I learned to write grants the hard way, as the new executive director of a financially struggling nonprofit. I also studied it formally, earning a Master of Social Work focused on grant writing under Francis K.O. Yuen, PhD, co-author of Practical Grant Writing and Program Evaluation. My thesis was a federal grant proposal that garnered an award from my graduate school department. The training shows up in results — over half the proposals I have written have been funded, including a highly sought-after Mother Cabrini Health Foundation award in 2025.

Potential activities you may require include needs assessment, finding good prospects, attending preliminary informational sessions, research on best practices, developing program plans, writing letters of inquiry, creating evaluation strategies, developing budgets and staff biographies, and submission. Each individual project is scoped after careful review based on the work involved, with a cost estimate provided in advance. This is a general overview of price ranges:

Service	Fee	What it covers
Funding strategy & prospect research	$1,500–2,500	Funder identification, fit analysis, and creating a prioritized pipeline of grant opportunities. This fee is credited back to you toward the cost of a full proposal if you subsequently request one.
Letter of inquiry	$1,200–2,000	Short-form inquiry, often the gate before you are invited to submit a full application. This fee is credited back to you if you subsequently order a full proposal from me.
Standard foundation proposal	$3,500–5,000	Typically applies to a grant requesting an expansion of an existing program, and includes a narrative, straightforward budget, and required attachments.
Complex proposal	$7,000–12,000	This applies to highly competitive foundation applications or state and local government grants. Often requires a logic model, detailed budget development, evaluation plan, and full attachment package.

The prospect research and letter of inquiry fees are both credited back toward a full proposal, so you can start small.

2. Developing Innovation: Program Design & Development

Designing programs is a passion, and I have done this work from three vantage points: as a policy expert at the California Senate Office of Research, authoring policy reports and drafting legislation; as a policy leader with state and county mental health systems, designing new programs and building stakeholder consensus on hundreds of millions of dollars in funding priorities; and as a consultant to more than 85 nonprofit and provider organizations, designing programs that are built to be funded and implemented.

I specialize in program design that is grounded in evidence, community values, and fundable structure. This may include conducting the research and design for a new program, writing a provider application to secure a contract for a new line of business, or developing consensus among stakeholders on spending priorities, as just a few examples.

Policy and design work varies depending entirely on the scope of the project. A single new program built on an existing service model is a different undertaking than a multi-partner initiative. Engagements begin at $6,500, and I will give you a fixed fee before the work starts.

3. Ensuring Quality: Compliance, Reporting & Evaluation

Outstanding implementation and excellent reporting are foundational to success, and I have in-depth experience creating practical systems and reports that satisfy boards, funders, and oversight agencies. I have personally administered 13 awarded grants and demonstrated successful programs to SAMHSA, the California Departments of Mental Health, Developmental Services and Rehabilitation, as well as private foundations. As a consultant I have helped other executive directors manage successful implementation of their programs.

This is the work after the award. It includes analyzing contracts, developing reporting calendars and monthly reporting systems, assessing compliance with requirements, analyzing operational risks, writing and disseminating best practices and findings, and measuring and reporting on your impact.

This work runs on a retainer, beginning at $3,500 per month with a three-month minimum term. The activities covered will be agreed on a case-by-case basis depending on your needs and requirements, but typically may cover ongoing reporting, funder communication, documentation systems, and the steady attention and support that keeps your award in good standing and positions you for success.

4. Strategy Intensive: When you just need to think it through

Sometimes what you need is a chance to think through your options with someone who has seen a similar situation before, and consider how to move forward.

A strategy intensive is a focused working session on a single challenge — a new direction, a dissatisfied funder, a program that is not working, a reorganization you are weighing — followed by a written summary of what we concluded and recommendations for next steps. $1,200–2,500, fixed price, depending on length and preparation required.

You will know the full price of the engagement before the work begins.

How We Work Together

1 · Initial consultation. We talk about your goals, your audience, and what the project actually has to accomplish. The initial consultation is free, there is no formal intake process and no obligation.

2 · Project review and cost estimate. I look into your request, assess the complexity, and develop an estimate for your approval, before we sign an MOU that defines the terms and the scope of work.

3 · Research and planning. I dig into the substance and come back with an outline or project plan for your approval. Nothing gets written before I understand your goals and we agree on a direction.

4 · Drafting. I write the first draft that reflects the approved plan.

5 · Review and revisions. You read it and send me your edits, feedback and further instructions. Every engagement includes two full rounds of revisions to ensure the final product meets with your full approval.

6 · Finalization and delivery. Polished, proofed, and delivered in the format you need.

7 · Follow-up. I stay available afterward for questions and minor adjustments. If a funder comes back with clarifying questions on a proposal I wrote, answering them is part of the job.

What Shapes the Final Cost

Three things impact the cost of the work:

How much already exists. A program with a written model, current data, and a recent needs assessment is faster to write about than one that needs to be created from scratch.

What the funder requires. Some applications want six pages. Some want a logic model, a memorandum of understanding with every partner, and a lengthy appendix. The complexity of the work determines the price.

Timeline. I can work quickly. Urgent requests and compressed timelines do cost more because they displace other work.

You will always have a fixed fee in writing before I begin. If the scope genuinely changes mid-project, we will talk about it before anything is billed, so that there are no surprises at the end.

Please Note: I do not work on a contingency basis

I do not work for a percentage of awards, and I do not take payment contingent on a grant being funded.

This is a professional ethics standard in grant writing. Funders object to the practice, and if they find out an award has been used to pay a percentage fee, they may disallow the cost or, in serious cases, seek repayment.

My pricing structure reflects expertise and delivery of a high-quality product, at a price agreed in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of policy issues do you specialize in?

I am an MSW with a focus on health and human services, particularly Medicaid, home and community-based services, behavioral health, aging, disability, long-term services and supports, substance use recovery and related issues.

What if the proposal isn’t funded?

Grants are a competitive process, so an award is never guaranteed — though over half of the proposals I have written were funded. I encourage those who are new to applying for grants to understand that it is a capacity you build, with increasing chances of success over time, through perseverance, clarity of purpose, and organizational maturity. A well-built proposal is also useful beyond the single application: the needs assessment, program narrative, budget structure, and other sections can often be adapted for other proposals.

How far in advance should I contact you?

Six to eight weeks before a deadline is comfortable for a complex proposal; three to four for something simpler. I can take on rush projects when I have the capacity.

Do you have a geographical focus?

I work nationwide, with recent projects in California, New York, Arizona, Nevada, and Maine. I am available to meet across all U.S. time zones.

Can you work with materials we already have?

Yes, and it can help save you money. Existing program descriptions, evaluation data, prior proposals, and board materials can often be adapted to shorten the research. Please provide these materials in the early phase so they can be reviewed and incorporated into your estimate.

Time to Get Started?

If you are facing an organizational dilemma and you need support, please send me an email for a free consult. I’ll give you my best assessment of the situation and let you know whether I think I can be helpful.

Laurel.Mildred@doright-enterprises.com

I read every message personally and typically respond within two business days.

Based in Sheridan, Wyoming · Serving mission-driven organizations nationwide · Deep California expertise

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