Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a range of grant-related services, including annual packages, that can help your organization successfully navigate the entire grant cycle, including:

• Grant Assessment and Gap Analysis

• Creation of program descriptions

• Prospect research

• Grant writing and editing

• Grant reporting

• Development of Performance Measurement Frameworks

• Monthly grant strategy sessions

• Training and coaching

Click here for more information about the services we offer.

Determining which service is right for you depends on how established your organization is, the challenges you are facing and your current funding needs.

If you don’t have enough information to start writing grants, you might need a Grant Readiness Assessment.

If you are having trouble finding grants, prospect research would be the best fit.

If you lack the time or staff to keep up with grant applications, we can help with grant writing. We are happy to discuss your needs and ways we can work together to overcome your challenges.

There is never a guarantee of being awarded a grant, given all the variables that determine a funder’s decision. However, having an experienced team of grant writers providing you with strategic advice and expertise for your application definitely increases your chances. We bring industry knowledge, experience with a range of funders and expert writing skills - providing you with a competitive edge to your proposals.

Our team has experience writing grants for a wide range of causes to a large number of funders. We can assist with:

• Federal, provincial, and municipal government grants

• Foundation grants

• Corporate funding proposals

• Requests for Proposals

• Letters of Intent

• Concept papers

We can also help with initial funder contact to determine if the grant is a good fit.

A Grant Associate is a YellowTree staff member who manages client projects and works with you to develop and write the grants. Clients are assigned to them based on the Associate’s background and expertise. A Grant Associate will be your regular point of contact when working on grant-related projects with YellowTree.

A Research Associate works closely with clients to understand their funding needs and conducts meticulous prospect research to determine the best-aligned funding sources. They also conduct research to find reliable and relevant evidence to support the highest quality grant applications.

This depends on the complexity of the grant. Ideally for a full application we will need a minimum of 2-3 weeks notice. For government applications, 3-4 weeks of notice is ideal. For letters of intent, 1-2 weeks notice is preferred. Having advanced notice also ensures that we can allocate the appropriate resources to support your application.

Our main office is located in Ottawa, Ontario but we work virtually, serving clients across Canada and internationally. We collaborate with our clients through Zoom/Teams/Google Meet, e-mail, and phone calls - whichever way suits you best.

We serve registered Canadian charities and non-profit organizations working in Canada or internationally - but we do not write grants for individuals. Our staff has expertise with environmental, social service, arts, social justice, education and other organizations who have unique needs and programs. We work with organizations operating for at least two years and typically have an annual budget of at least $300,000. If you don’t meet these requirements, we can still help! Contact us to find out more, and we also encourage you to check out our training options here.

YellowTree staff are paid for their time and extensive expertise when providing grant services. Being paid on commission is considered an unethical practice and is prohibited by the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Grant Professionals Association (GPA). In Canada, claiming pre-award costs (such as grant-writing) are almost always prohibited in a grant application.

There are many variables that determine the success of a grant application. Most of these variables are out of a grant writer’s control, including:

• Alignment of an application with funder’s priorities.

• How much the project is needed and the ability of your organization to meet that need.

• Program partnerships.

• Organizational capacity.

• Organizational history of managing funds and delivering on grant outcomes.

• Competition for grants.

As a result, YellowTree Associates do not work on commission.

• You can access grant opportunities that you might be unable to find on your own – YellowTree has access to five databases with thousands of funding sources;

• You get assistance with clarifying how grants can support your existing program goals and/or your strategic goals for the future;

• Your proposal will be an excellent fit for the funder's criteria because we understand the nuances of grant writing;

• You will be able to track your grants’ success as we work with you to craft useful, achievable performance measures;

• And, if for some reason you are unsuccessful in achieving your first grant, you will still have:

o clarified how grants fit into your funding strategy;

o identified which grants align with your strategic plan;

o refined your program planning;

o received a professionally written, grant-ready copy to use in your next application.