Build a Grant Program That Actually Works

Private training, grant readiness, and strategic consulting for organizations, foundations, agencies, associations, and tribes.

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Who This Is For

Organizations come to me when their grant program is not where they want it to be. Sometimes that means the team needs training. Sometimes it means the systems are not built yet. Sometimes it means a board or funder has asked hard questions, and there is no clear answer.

I also work with associations and intermediaries that are building capacity across their members or partner organizations. These engagements train multiple organizations at the same time, on a shared curriculum scoped to their work.

I work with organizations that are ready to do the work, not just talk about it. That includes nonprofits, community foundations, state and federal agencies, universities, industry associations, Tribes, and the consulting firms that serve them. Some of the organizations I have worked with include:

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KC Resources logo with stylized 'KC' in a green square and the word 'RESOURCES' in green capital letters
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Logo for Thriving Together North Central Washington with a leaf and wave design.
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School's Out Washington logo featuring a stylized person with a raised arm in front of a circular background.
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How I Work With Organizations

Private Training

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Custom grant writing training delivered to your team and partners. Sessions are scoped to where your people actually are, not a generic curriculum. Topics include:

  • Grant writing fundamentals

  • Budget design and budget narratives

  • Grant prospect research

  • Logic models and theories of change

  • Reviewer perspectives and scoring

Formats:

  • In-person workshops

  • Multi-part webinar series

  • Conference presentations

  • Recorded video content

Training clients include:

University of Washington Disability Resources for Students · Kitsap Community Resources · Twisp Works · Michigan State Housing Development Authority · Archdiocese of Seattle · Colorado Community Health Network · Travel Oregon · Alaska Recreation and Park Association · Falmouth Institute

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Grant Readiness & Strategy

Before an organization can win grants, the foundation has to be in place: a clear case for support, a working budget structure, defensible outcomes, and a prospect pipeline that fits your mission. I scope grant readiness engagements based on what your organization actually needs, not a one-size assessment, and not a deliverable you cannot use after I leave.

What we build:

  • A clear case for support

  • A working budget structure

  • Defensible outcomes

  • A prospect pipeline aligned to your mission

Optional follow-on:

One strong grant proposal that becomes your reusable template. Not ongoing writing — a controlled handoff that builds internal capability.

Strategic clients include:

Community Foundation of North Central Washington · Thriving Together NCW · Alesek Institute

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Grantmaker Services

For organizations that distribute funds — foundations, government agencies, and associations running grant programs — I work on the funder's side of the table. I review submitted proposals and identify the patterns reviewers see again and again. I help design or refine review processes and scoring rubrics that produce consistent, defensible decisions. And I train your applicant pool so the proposals coming in are stronger, more aligned with your priorities, and easier for your reviewers to evaluate.

This work often surfaces things a grantmaker already suspects but has not had time to test: where the application is creating unnecessary friction, where the scoring rubric is misaligned with the stated priorities, where applicants need clearer guidance to compete fairly.

What I do:

  • Review submitted proposals and surface patterns

  • Design or refine review processes and scoring rubrics

  • Train your applicant pool to submit stronger proposals

Grantmaker clients include:

Washington State Tourism · School's Out Washington · 4Culture

How We Work Together

Every engagement starts with a discovery call to understand what you are working on, what has and has not worked, and what success would look like.

From there, I write a scoped proposal: deliverables, timeline, and investment. Engagements range from a single training session to multi-month strategic partnerships. Pricing is conversation-based because your context is.

If we are a fit, we move forward. If we are not, I will tell you where to look instead.

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In Their Own Words

  • Photo of Claire Oatey

    Tangible and Actionable

    "Thank you for your excellent facilitation and teaching skills over the course of seven grant writing workshops. The practical framework, examples, and time to actually practice what was learned made your workshops both tangible and actionable — which is key for busy professionals. Looking forward to partnering in the future."
    — Claire Oates, Community Foundation of North Central Washington

  • Nancy Bacon headshot

    High Quality, Knowledge-Rich Instruction

    Allison delivers high-quality, knowledge-rich instruction to diverse nonprofit leaders across our region. Her commitment to staying current — including AI and changes in philanthropy — is what makes her classes all the more powerful.
    -Nancy Bacon, Nonprofit Educator

  • Portrait of Tylyn Newcomb

    A Reliable and Professional Partner

    We have consistently received positive feedback about her training sessions, and she has been very responsive about providing leadership on emerging topics like AI in grant writing. Allison is a reliable and professional partner.
    -Tylyn Newcomb, Montana Nonprofit Association

  • Portrait of Hannah Wiginton

    Contributes to the Grant Writing Community

    Allison regularly contributes to the grant writing community by mentoring new professionals and sharing her grant expertise through various training programs.
    -Hannah Wiginton, Grant Frog

  • Veronica Depotty headshot

    Challenged Me — In the Best Way

    "This course challenged me — in the best way — to carve out time I normally wouldn't have taken to develop a program idea my team has been envisioning for a while. The continued feedback and guidance throughout the process were incredibly valuable. Thanks to this course, I now have a well-crafted draft I'm confident presenting to my manager and director."
    — Veronica DePotty, MSHDA Housing

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    Four Year Partnership

    Allison has been a partner of the Idaho Nonprofit Center for the past four years, providing training workshops and participating in our statewide nonprofit conferences. Her workshops are highly rated and speak to her 25+ years of experience.
    -Betsy Ellsworth, Idaho Nonprofit Center

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About Allison

Allison Welch, M.Ed., GPC, is one of approximately 30 GPCI-approved trainers in the country. She has more than 25 years of experience in grant writing across all four roles that matter: writer, reviewer, nonprofit employee, and consultant. She is the author of The "Of Course" Factor: A Guide to Meaningful Grant Writing (October 2026).

Allison has also taught grant writing as faculty at The Evergreen State College, Western Washington University, Seattle Central College, Everett Community College, Olympia College, and other colleges and universities.

She founded Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes in 2008 and has trained students in all 50 states and internationally. Her institutional work is grounded in the same principle as her courses: centering purpose, not hustle.

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