grant research and writing support for nonprofit organizations

About Me

Jennifer D. Valentine

Jennifer is a Southern California native whose path led her to the Midwest after earning both her bachelor’s (1998) and law degree (2001) from the University of Notre Dame. Following a career as a litigation attorney in Chicago, she dedicated her time to nonprofit legal aid and board service before shifting her focus to family life and, ultimately, to grant writing.

What began over 25 years ago as volunteer support for grassroots nonprofits has grown into a thriving consulting practice. Today, Jennifer partners with mission-driven organizations to design compelling proposals, build sustainable systems, and translate data into donor-ready impact stories.

Now based in the Detroit suburbs with her husband and four teenagers, Jennifer finds joy in balancing professional purpose with personal passions—cheering from the sidelines, diving into novels, or even tap dancing.

Jennifer provides grant research and writing support that empowers your organization to secure funding, advance your mission, and expand your impact in the community.

Freelance Support Services

Jennifer offers flexible support designed to help your organization achieve its funding goals. Services can be provided on an ongoing freelance basis or customized to fit your unique needs.

Fee Options

Monthly retainer with a defined scope of work
Hourly billing, invoiced monthly

Available Services

Foundation prospect research
Coaching on foundation outreach and communication strategies
Development of organizational and program-specific messaging
Review of budgets for grant readiness
Drafting Letters of Inquiry and full grant proposals
Preparation of required grant application attachments
Management of grant activity, including reporting requirements
Coaching on institutional giving strategies
Training for fundraising staff in development roles
Designing fundraising systems and workflows for teams of all sizes

Successful Outcomes

Since launching her grant and fundraising consulting practice in 2015, Jennifer has partnered with nearly 70 organizations and crafted more than 750 proposals and letters of inquiry. While success rates vary by client strategy, her work has collectively helped secure several million dollars in funding, advancing missions across diverse sectors.

Grant Support Packages for Shorter-Term Support

Prospect Research

Services include information interview, database research, list of strongest prospect matches, summary report for each match that includes relevant contact information, links to funder details, deadlines, and outreach recommendation strategies

Grant-Ready Assessment

Services include initial interview, 2-3 follow up information interviews with staff, materials review (past grants grant history, financials), baseline prospect research to determine general fit (no matches shared), and a report of findings and recommendations to become fully grant-ready

Grant Proposal (Boilerplate) Template

Services include initial interview, 2-3 follow up information interviews with staff, materials review (grant history, grant attachment docs, financials, program information), draft of general proposal narrative, and two rounds of editing

LOI or Proposal Preparation

Services include writing and editing the narrative in collaboration with staff guidance and participation, preparation of attachment documents, and final submission support

Ongoing support for LOI or proposal preparation can be structured in a per project flat fee or a monthly retainer framework for a defined period of time.

Representative Clients (small sample of past and present)

For a complete list and description of all client organizations supported, please request.

Green City Market (Chicago, IL)

[provides year-round farmer's markets in multiple city locations, allowing thousands of the patrons to use their SNAP vouchers at 3X value, and giving local farmers and producers a year-round business operations platform]

Opportunity Knocks (Chicago, IL)

[supports 70 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("Warriors") in a variety of day program activities, including social enterprises where they have meaningful, paid employment operating three business ventures around town]

Renee Davis Consulting (Nationwide/Remote)

[support the nonprofit clients of Renee Davis Consulting through project support roles and project lead roles in capital campaigns, major gift program development, fundraising assessments and plan developments, grant system and operations design, and coaching. Please visit reneedavisconsulting.com for details.]

Pandemic Parenting (Valparaiso, IN)

[offers innovative and accessible digital mental health support resources (designed tools, video recorded tips and strategies, and full -length podcast episodes) to parents and caregivers trying to manage the challenges brought about by the pandemic;]

Evolve Giving Group (Nationwide/Remote)

[support institutional nonprofit clients of Evolve by offering grant support assistance. Supported clients include a social services community center, a summer camp for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, an education enrichment program, a social entrepreneur support organization for Jewish ventures, a home-based primary healthcare education and training center, an orthodox Jewish day school for students with learning challenges, a mental health intervention support organization for youth in crisis, a national art school, and a foundation supporting families with children in the NICU]

Client Testimonials

"I have worked with many grant writers in the past and Jennifer is the VERY best that I have ever worked with. She is hard working, prepared, and our staff really felt she took the time to understand our organization as she was putting the grant together. Really good grant writers are hard to find and I think we hit the jackpot with Jennifer."

Jimmy Lee, current Managing Partner of Ion Jets, former President of Mission Create; Former Executive Director White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Special Assistant to the President

Jennifer: Thank YOU! You really made this process very easy – you were great to work with; very organized and meticulous on follow-up. I would love to work with you again.

Elizabeth Mason, CFRE, V.P. of Development, SGA Youth & Family Services

Qualifications | Experience | Associations

Past Vice President and Volunteer Legal Aid Lawyer at Pro Bono Network, a Chicago-area nonprofit, 2015 - 2020

Executive Director of Pandemic Parenting, a start-up 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, 2021-2022

Member Nonprofit Leadership Lab, 2018-current

Member Grant Professionals Association, Chicago Chapter, 2016-2019

Member Association of Fundraising Professionals, Chicago Chapter, 2017-2018

Resume - Jennifer Valentine (pdf)Download

Contact

The Write Words

jennifer@writewordsgrants.com

(773) 415-2020