The Grant Lab specializes in serving community colleges, regional universities, and public-sector organizations, with particular expertise in rural and smaller institutions. We also selectively partner with nonprofit organizations pursuing complex, high-impact funding initiatives. Our services are best suited for organizations seeking strategic guidance and experienced support for competitive federal and state grants.
Our expertise spans federal and state funding opportunities in higher education, workforce development, student success, community development, and public services. We have experience with programs administered by agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, the National Science Foundation, and various state agencies. We focus on aligning institutional priorities with funding opportunities, particularly competitive six- and seven-figure grants.
Map + Compass is more than a list of potential funders. Our signature service combines institutional assessment, comprehensive funding research, opportunity analysis, and strategic prioritization. Clients receive a customized decision matrix and actionable funding roadmap that considers organizational goals, eligibility, competitiveness, available resources, and application timelines. The objective is to pursue the right opportunities, not simply more grants.
Absolutely. We assess potential opportunities based on program alignment, eligibility, competitiveness, funding requirements, organizational readiness, and available resources. Our goal is to help clients make informed go/no-go decisions before committing significant time and resources to an application. Sometimes the most valuable advice is knowing when not to pursue a grant.
For complex federal and state grants, we recommend beginning planning at least 60–90 days before the application deadline, preferably earlier for projects requiring extensive partnerships, budgets, or institutional approvals. Early engagement allows time for thoughtful project development and competitive positioning. We occasionally accept projects with shorter timelines, depending on scope, readiness, and availability.
Yes. The Grant Lab provides independent, reviewer-informed assessments of draft grant proposals. Drawing on federal peer review experience, we evaluate applications against published selection criteria, identify strengths and weaknesses, and provide actionable recommendations for improvement. Reviews can range from targeted feedback on specific sections to comprehensive assessments of complete proposals.
An independent evaluator helps National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) projects assess their progress, measure outcomes, and identify opportunities for improvement. Services may include evaluation planning, development of performance indicators, data collection and analysis, formative feedback, and summative reporting. Evaluation provides project leaders and funders with credible evidence of project implementation, effectiveness, and impact.
Our services are priced according to project scope, complexity, timeline, and anticipated level of effort. Depending on the engagement, we offer fixed-fee agreements, hourly consulting, and defined retainer arrangements. Each project begins with a discussion of institutional needs and deliverables, followed by a customized proposal outlining services, responsibilities, timelines, and fees.
Yes. We offer ongoing consulting arrangements for organizations seeking sustained grant strategy, funding opportunity monitoring, proposal development, review, or technical assistance. These engagements are tailored to institutional priorities, internal capacity, and anticipated funding opportunities, with clearly defined services and expectations. Our goal is to complement existing institutional resources and provide specialized expertise where it adds the greatest value.
That's often where we can make the greatest difference. We work collaboratively with leaders and staff to provide the specialized expertise needed to pursue competitive funding opportunities. While we can lead substantial portions of the grant development process, successful projects require an institutional point of contact and timely participation in planning, budgeting, approvals, and other essential decisions. We help institutions build capacity without requiring staffing expansion.
Need something else that's not on the Services page or FAQs? You can always reach out to us as well - we'll get back to you as quick as we can!