Decades in television news and advertising means I know what attracts stakeholder interest...and what doesn't
People think the number one rule of television news is "If it bleeds it leads," but it's not. The number one rule is never be dull. Number two is never miss a deadline.
These cardinal rules translate directly to effective grant writing. Foundations read dozens of applications that start the same way: a tentative introduction, a roundabout ask, and a weak case for need, all wrapped in dense, hard-to-follow text. I wrote the same way when I started in news. My first story was a two-alarm fire, a paragraph thicker than a Big Mac that didn't get to the point until the second patty. I thought it was brilliant. My news director showed me some past copy so I could see how it was done. I've never stopped thanking her.
Before discovering grant writing, I wrote and produced television news in the San Francisco Bay Area for KPIX, KRON, KTVU and KGO, and advertising copy for Wolfe-Doyle San Francisco (now New York). Different mediums, same core job: research a subject thoroughly, find the vivid detail that makes it real, and write toward the stakeholders who need to act. Viewers who need to know. Consumers who need to be persuaded.
And now, foundation program officers who decide what to fund. If you're a program or individual looking for someone to help make the case for your program—clearly, concisely, and on deadline—or you're juggling projects under pressure, let's talk. Details are at the bottom of this page.
John Grabowski | SF Grant Writer - food security, health, education
Services
From initial content discussions to completed files for submission, I work with you to produce:
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“Letter of Intent” templates to customize for prospective funders
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Full grant proposals meeting all funder requirements
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Attachments and Appendices (budgets, bios, vision statements, etc.)
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Grant reports to current funders
Grant Research & Writing
Your project deserves funding —and thanks to a career in journalism and advertising, I know how to make the case. Drawing on years of research and persuasive writing, I craft grant copy that pairs hard data with compelling narrative to show exactly why your work can't wait.
Strategy & Planning
Winning a grant starts long before you write a word. I help you identify the right funders, map your project's goals to what they actually care about, and build a strategy that sets your application apart before the first sentence is written, saving time and money.
Relationship Development
The best funding relationships don't start with an ask. I research and prospect for funders aligned with your mission, then help you build the kind of authentic, lasting connections that turn first-time donors into long-term champions.
Content & Communications
Every touchpoint with a donor is a chance to deepen their belief in your work. I bring professional advertising copywriting to the full spectrum of nonprofit content — from case statements and annual reports to website fundraising pages — crafting stories of impact that don't just inform, but inspire action.
Adjacent Fundraising
Not every funding opportunity looks like a grant—and not every ask is the same. I write across the full spectrum of fundraising, from major gift proposals and capital campaign materials to crowdfunding copy and corporate sponsorship, tailoring the language and strategy to match the stakes of each.
