I do grant writing for nonprofit and public agencies, along with some research-based businesses, and people interested in getting into this sort of thing will contact us, or people like us.

We're a little like lawyers: it is possible to do everything right, but it's very hard and unlikely if it's your first rodeo.

To take one small example: when you submit a budget, is it a program budget or a total project budget? Err and your application may be disqualified. Or consider indirect cost rates: http://seliger.com/2016/05/16/federally-approved-indirect-co... .

Again, either of these things are small, but multiply them x1000 and suddenly you'll understand why organizations hire us!