Grants written.
Funding won.
Lives transformed.
Decades of writing & producing stories for air means I know how to attract audience interest
The biggest rule in television news is this: Cut through the noise and grab people's attention.
The biggest rule in advertising copywriting is this: Cut through the noise and grab people's attention.
Ask yourself what the biggest is when pitching for thousands of dollars for your mission.
After two decades working in news, news promotion and advertising I've learned you must open strong, follow through with facts, and bridge those facts to your request. Yet so many ads and so many news reports do not do this. So many grants don't, either.
Writing is an art. Like any other art it requires technique, or else the results are just a mass of words on paper. TV newswriting and ad agency copywriting taught me to write on deadline, lead with what matters, and hold audience attention. (There's a saying that you miss one deadline on TV but you'll never get a chance to miss a second.) This discipline drives every grant proposal I write—because funders respond to the same things viewers do: alignment, conviction, authentic self, and a story that makes them lean forward with interest. A great grant proposal makes saying "no" feel like a mistake, in the same way a great ad makes saying "no" to a purchase feel like you've squandered the opportunity of a lifetime.
My aim is to make grantors feel like partners, not funders. To achieve that I thoroughly apply my research skills and network of resources to ensure your grant lands in front of eyes most positioned to turn your goals and dreams into reality.
Somewhere out there, a funder is looking for exactly what you do. Let's make sure they find you.
John Grabowski | SF Freelance Writer - JGWS 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.
