About Me

Jennifer D. Valentine

I am a southern California native who moved to the Midwest after earning my bachelor's degree (1998) from the University of Notre Dame and my law degree (2001) also from the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish! I lived in the Chicagoland area with my husband and four children for many years before relocating to the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan in 2018. Prior to taking a "mom sabbatical" from law, I worked as a litigation attorney downtown Chicago and later volunteered my time as a legal aid attorney and board member for a local nonprofit.

Over 25 years ago, I started my journey in grant writing as a volunteer to local start-up nonprofits in Chicago as I found the work to be a fulfilling form of volunteerism in the midst of my busy life. Turning it into a business many years ago has been a welcome mid-life career shift which continues to offer much fulfillment. Nowadays, when I'm not writing proposals or connecting with clients, I'm rooting for my kids on the sidelines or backstage, reading a novel, or tap dancing.

Grant research and writing support will help your organization increase the chances of securing funding, pursue your aspirations, and make a greater impact in your community.

Freelance Support Services

The following services are available to help your organization achieve its grant goals. The services can be provided in an ongoing, freelance nature, or customized in whatever way suits your needs.

Fees can be structured as a monthly retainer with a defined workload, or in an hourly framework billed monthly.

foundation prospect research (grant support)
foundation prospect contact and communication coaching for best-fit and determination (grant support)
organizational and program-specific messaging development (grant support)
organizational and program-specific budget review for use in grant work (grant support)
drafting Letters of Inquiry and grant proposals (grant support)
preparation of grant application attachment documents (grant support)
management of all grant activity, including follow-up reporting requirements (grant support)
coaching through institutional giving strategies implementation (general development support)
board training, presentations, workshops on a variety of issues as needed (board support)
consulting for fundraising and development strategies (general development support)
project/program management as they relate to development strategies (general development support)

Successful Outcomes

Since Jennifer launched her grant/fundraising freelance and consulting business in the fall of 2015, she has served about 50 client organizations and written over 500 proposals/LOIs for them. While a freelancer's success rate is challenging to calculate because each client organization presents unique strategies, she has collectively raised several million dollars in that time.

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)

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

L'Arche Chicago USA (Chicago, IL)

[provides a lifetime residence in small family-style homes for adults living with intellectual or developmental disabilities using a 1:1 live-in assistant model of care]

Archdiocese of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

[among the many facets of the organization, the targeted support is focused on the Kolbe House Jail Ministry, which helps recently released individuals find urgently needed resources and support in housing, work, health care, clothing, and food, in addition to offering many programs supporting incarcerated individuals inside the jails]

Pandemic Parenting (Valparaiso, IN)

[offers innovative and accessible digital mental health support resources 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

The Write Words