Grant Writing Services for Nonprofits, Businesses & Agencies

There is more grant money available than there are organizations able to write a competitive application for it. That gap is the whole business — funders are not short of causes, they are short of proposals that answer what they actually asked.

GERC writes federal, state and foundation grant applications for nonprofits, small businesses, tribal entities and public agencies. We are based in downtown San Bernardino and work across the Inland Empire, California and nationwide.

What we do

Funding research. Finding the programmes you are actually eligible for, rather than the ones everyone has heard of. This is where most of the value sits and where most organizations skip straight past.
Eligibility screening. An honest read on whether you qualify and whether you are competitive, before anyone writes a word.
Narrative development. Statement of need, project description, goals and objectives, evaluation plan — written against the review criteria in the order the reviewer scores them.
Budget and budget narrative. Numbers that match the activities described, with justification a reviewer can follow.
Logic models and workplans where the funder requires them.
Attachments and compliance. Letters of support, organizational documents, certifications, registrations — the parts that disqualify applications quietly.
Submission through Grants.gov or the funder’s portal, with time to spare.

Where grant applications lose

The need is asserted, not evidenced. Reviewers want data about your population and your service area, not conviction about your mission.
The narrative answers a different question. Funders publish review criteria with point values attached. Applications that do not follow that structure lose points they never had to lose.
The budget contradicts the narrative. Activities described but not funded, or costs with no visible purpose.
No evaluation plan. Funders increasingly want to know how you will demonstrate the money worked.
Registrations not in place. Federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration, and organizations discover this with days to go.
The wrong programme. A strong application to a funder whose priorities you do not match is a wasted cycle.

Who we write for

Nonprofits — federal, state and foundation funding. If you are not yet incorporated or exempt, we handle formation and 501(c)(3) too.
Small businesses — SBIR and STTR research funding, workforce and modernization programmes.
Tribal governments and community entities — funding streams commercial applicants cannot access.
Public agencies and special districts — infrastructure, transportation, water and resilience funding.
Housing and infrastructure developers — among the most procedurally demanding money available.

See the sectors we work across for detail.

How we work

Bring us the opportunity as early as you can. We can work to a short deadline, but the quality of an application is largely set by how much time exists to gather evidence, secure letters of support and revise.

We write alongside your team, not instead of it. The programme knowledge has to come from the people who will deliver the work — our job is to turn that into something that scores well.

We do not invent data, outcomes, partnerships or letters of support. Funders verify, and an application that does not survive verification costs you more than the grant was worth.

Common questions

Do you work on contingency?

No. Contingency fees paid from grant funds are prohibited by most federal funders and considered unethical across the profession. We charge a fixed fee for the work, regardless of outcome. Anyone offering you a percentage of the award is telling you something about how they operate.

Can you guarantee we will be funded?

No, and nobody can. Grant competitions are decided by reviewers against criteria and a finite pool of money. What we control is that your application is eligible, complete, evidenced and written to score.

How much notice do you need?

Four weeks is comfortable for most applications. We take shorter timelines where the scope allows — call and ask rather than assuming it is too late.

Can you just find the funding, without writing?

Yes. Funding research and eligibility screening can be commissioned on their own, and for some organizations that is the right first step.

What if we are not funded?

Request the reviewer comments. Most funders provide them, and they make the next application materially stronger. We help you request and interpret them.

How much does a grant writer cost?

Fees vary with the complexity of the application and how much research is needed first. We quote a fixed fee once we have seen the opportunity, so you know the cost before committing. We do not charge a percentage of the award — that is prohibited by most federal funders.

How do I choose a grant writer?

Ask three things. Will they tell you when an opportunity is a poor fit? Do they charge a fixed fee rather than contingency? And will they write from your evidence rather than inventing it? Any of those answered badly is a reason to keep looking.

Do I need a grant writer, or can we do it ourselves?

Plenty of organizations write their own successfully. It takes real time — typically thirty to sixty hours for a substantial federal application — and the first one is always the slowest. If that time does not exist, or the deadline is close, that is when it is worth paying for.

Where we work

We deliver nationwide, remotely. Federal registrations, federal and foundation grants, and proposal work are not tied to geography — most of our engagements never require anyone to be in the same room.

In California we work across Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and the wider Inland Empire, plus San Diego, Ventura and the Central Valley. State-specific programmes such as Cal eProcure and California SB certification are, by definition, California only — everything else travels.

Our office is in downtown San Bernardino. See all service areas.

Further reading: Grants or government contracts: which path fits you?

Get Proposal Support

Call (909) 454-7076 — the fastest route. Monday to Friday.
Book a consultation — pick a time that suits you.
Email us about Grant Writing — opens a message already titled, so it reaches the right person.

If you only want to know whether you need this at all, ask. There is no charge for that conversation.

GERC is a woman-led advisory firm led by Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, a PhD legal economist with more than 14 years of experience. Registered in SAM.gov under CAGE code 11SD2, certified as a California Small Business (Micro) and for Public Works.