Grant writing and proposal support for NGOs
We help NGOs and community organisations write proposals to the EU, embassies and other government donors, from the first read of the call to the final check before you submit.
Winning funding is getting harder
Donors are receiving more applications than ever, and many of them are now written with AI. Some funders are changing how they accept bids as a result. One UK trust ended online applications in 2026, saying AI had "ruined the process".
The proposals that stand out are built on local evidence, a clear line from activities to results, and the voices of the communities they serve. That is how we write.
Source: Civil Society, September 2026.
Experience on both sides of the grant
Brenda designed, wrote and won a five year €8M proposal for the European Union and a five year $7M proposal for the Royal Swedish Embassy while at ForumCiv. Earlier, at the Kenya Girl Guides Association, she won and managed a five year $3M USAID award for marginalised girls.
She has also sat on the other side. As a regional manager she held compliance accountability for a $15.5M grant portfolio, and as a board member she approved budgets and held fiduciary oversight. She knows what grant managers look for, because she has been one.
What we can do for you
We can write the whole proposal with your team, or step in where you need help most.
- Read the call and map every eligibility rule, scoring criterion and annex
- Write a concept note or full proposal narrative
- Build a theory of change and logframe with measurable indicators
- Prepare the budget and budget narrative with your finance lead
- Add a gender equality and social inclusion analysis
- Write the risk, safeguarding and Do No Harm sections
- Score the draft as an assessor would and fix the gaps before you submit
How we work together
We start by breaking down the call into a checklist your team signs off. We then hold a workshop with you to agree the problem, the change you will deliver and who benefits.
From there we build the results logic, so the narrative and the budget tell the same story, and write the draft in your voice using your evidence. Before you submit, we review the draft against the scoring grid and check every figure and citation.
Your team makes the decisions at every step. The proposal stays yours.
Common questions
Which donors do you write for?
Brenda has designed, written and secured proposals for the European Union, the Royal Swedish Embassy and USAID, and managed a Sida funded programme. We also support bids to other government donors, embassies, multilateral agencies and foundations that use a logframe or results framework.
How much notice do you need before a deadline?
Four to six weeks suits a full proposal. We can take on shorter deadlines for concept notes or a final review. Get in touch as soon as the call for proposals opens.
Do you write the budget as well as the narrative?
Yes. We write the narrative and build the budget with your finance lead, so costs match activities and donor rules.
Can you guarantee our proposal will be funded?
No consultant can. We give you a proposal that meets every requirement, reads well against the scoring criteria and rests on your own evidence. That gives you the best chance.
Do you use AI to write proposals?
Only for tasks such as checking requirements against the call, and never with beneficiary data in public tools. A person checks every figure and citation. We follow each donor's rules on AI use and disclosure.
Book a call about your proposal
Tell us the funder, the deadline and what you have so far. Brenda will tell you what it will take.