u/runner5126

Pretty sure it is against the TOS. There was a whole thread where that was discussed. Also I don't know how they got my email, but they did, and their rep was extremely rude to me, and they eventually blamed it on their AI. So whether it's their rep or their AI, I wouldn't do business with someone who behaves so abhorrently.

Edited to add: "innovation" can be a somewhat subjective term. If you haven't already, you may want to consult with a professional grant writer to see how you can highlight the novelty of what you already do. Innovation doesn't always mean new in the grant world.

...

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or what. As a grant professional for nearly 25 years, grants aren't meant to be a long term solution for program funding. That's why I asked what your sustainability plan is. Many grant funders, if not most, usually ask how you'll sustain the program beyond grant funding when you apply. Your rant is the reason they want to make sure programs are sustainable.

We try to educate funders on what really helps and works in the field. It can be a push/pull between how funders see the solution and how boots on the ground see the issue.

I do commiserate with you. The whole system is based on a never ending cycle. And they want to fund innovation but never at the level that actually does anything on a societal change level. So programs start, see success, then get canned because they aren't novel anymore and the problem isn't solved. It's exhausting.

I'm sure you've chatted with the program officers. But one solution may be to try and get multi year funding and frame it as the mainstay needed in the community and partner with some of the innovative programs they fund, so it's a holistic wraparound solution. Just brainstorming some ideas. Obviously you can take it or leave it.

Thanks for the good work you do.

Calling people names like that (and who knows where you got that from or what the f it's actually supposed to mean) only makes you look spiteful and unhinged. You're just a disgruntled freelancer who can't get a job. Based on the quality of this post, it's apparent why.

Go yell at someone else. You're only making yourself look like an unhinged, unreasonable client.

I don't even have to read your explanation to say yes you are doing the right thing. That letter had absolutely zero reference to your feelings. It was all about them and how you shouldn't judge them, no accountability for how anything they did made you feel. No one is perfect and all parents make mistakes, but the important thing is caring how your kid feels, and owning it when your short comings harm them. They are certainly not interested in doing that in this letter.

Don't let them gaslight you with flying monkeys.

It should never be a hands off experience, and if you were promised that then it was someone inexperienced. Clients must participate in the process - you have all the information and must make the decisions. Any grant writer making things up for you just to win a grant is unethical.

As I say to my clients: I cannot care more about this grant than you. It's a collaborative process.

It sounds to me like you hired someone inexperienced or who isn't really a professional grant writer.

Also, just adding that you should absolutely not feel more overwhelmed when hiring a grant consultant. It won't be hands off but you should feel supported and guided through the process. My clients get prompts and worksheets to make it super easy for them to tell me what I need. If they don't understand I hop on a call and record it and just get them to talk about their programs so I can put it together for them.

Nope, kid, you're just too stuck in MLM world where you think your 5 minutes of success means you're an expert. Dunning Krueger at its finest. But keep on spamming and scamming.

The blog, IIRC, was a machination of Fran, who got eviscerated in his introduction to the Community, then proceeded to destroy the community during his time leading it, then left after 18 months to 2 years. He brought on the airhead Stan, a dudebro who should never have been allowed to interact with customers (clients or freelancers). The two of them "revamped" aka destroyed what was a very functional community forum where actual expert freelancers answered loads of questions.

The community blog was one of Fran/Stan's additions. Aside from Wes' post on scams, it's been crap from the start. And I recall specifically the person who ran it also wrote a post early on, cherry picking comments from a feedback thread, misquoting freelancers, and completely misrepresenting the quotes. He didn't know how to write a blog (or anything and properly attribute quotes or ask permission, etc.) so I'm not really sure how he got to be running the blog. Not sure if this is the same person doing the AMA, because that was a while back, and it might be a new person running it.

No, I asked questions because you were unclear if you had actually read those resources or not. You then made accusations about me not reading your post and insulting me. You've been hostile in all of your responses to myself and the other person. I would not mentor someone responding like you because you believe you are entitled to dictate how other people respond to you and the time they give you.

You're projecting your arrogance. You are behaving arrogantly, hostilely, and entitled. I hope you'll learn this lesson before it's too late. You need to learn some professionalism. Have the day you deserve.

Then go ask ChatGPT.

You've posted this question in multiple ways on different subs. It doesn't look like it's for personal knowledge.