#Business Grant Writing

[ascendnbs]

Mastering Business Grant Writing: Tips for Success

Introduction

Business grant writing is a specialized skill that can significantly impact the success of a company in securing funding for its projects and initiatives. Whether you're a startup looking for seed capital or an established business seeking funding for expansion, mastering the art of grant writing is essential for maximizing your chances of success. In this guide, we'll explore valuable tips for mastering business grant writing and increasing your likelihood of securing funding.

Understand the Grant Landscape

Before diving into grant writing, it's crucial to understand the grant landscape and the types of grants available to businesses. Grants can come from various sources, including government agencies, private foundations, corporations, and non-profit organizations. Each type of grant may have different eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and application processes. Take the time to research available grant opportunities and identify those that align with your business goals and objectives.

Research Grant Opportunities

Once you have a clear understanding of the grant landscape, research specific grant opportunities that are relevant to your business. Explore grant databases, online portals, and funding directories to identify potential funding sources. Pay attention to eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and application deadlines to ensure that you focus your efforts on the most suitable grants for your business. Consider factors such as industry focus, geographic location, and project scope when evaluating grant opportunities.

Tailor Your Approach

When applying for grants, it's essential to tailor your approach to each grant opportunity. Customize your grant proposals to align with the priorities and requirements of the grantmaker. Research the grantmaker's mission, goals, and funding priorities to understand what they are looking for in a grant proposal. Tailor your proposal to demonstrate how your project or initiative aligns with their objectives and how it will make a positive impact in the community or industry.

Craft a Compelling Narrative

A compelling narrative is essential for capturing the attention of grantmakers and persuading them to fund your project. Start by clearly articulating the problem or need that your project addresses and why it's important. Outline your project goals, objectives, and the specific outcomes you aim to achieve. Use data, statistics, and evidence to support your arguments and demonstrate the feasibility and impact of your project. Tell a compelling story that highlights the value of your project and why it deserves funding.

Focus on Impact

Grantmakers are often interested in funding projects that have a measurable impact and can deliver tangible results. When writing your grant proposal, focus on the potential impact of your project and how it will benefit your target audience or community. Clearly define your project's goals and objectives and outline specific metrics and indicators to measure success. Demonstrate how your project will create positive change, address unmet needs, or solve pressing challenges in your industry or community.

Be Clear and Concise

Grantmakers receive numerous grant proposals, so it's essential to be clear, concise, and to the point in your writing. Avoid using jargon, technical language, or unnecessary details that may confuse or overwhelm the reader. Use clear and straightforward language to convey your ideas and arguments. Break up your text into short paragraphs and bullet points to make it easier to read and digest. Focus on communicating your key points effectively and persuasively.

Provide Evidence and Support

Back up your arguments and claims with evidence, data, and examples to strengthen your grant proposal. Use statistics, research findings, case studies, and testimonials to support your assertions and demonstrate the need for funding. Provide concrete examples of past successes or relevant experience to illustrate your organization's track record and credibility. The more evidence you can provide to support your proposal, the more compelling it will be to grantmakers.

Review and Revise

Before submitting your grant proposal, take the time to review and revise it carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, inconsistencies, and factual inaccuracies. Ensure that your proposal is well-organized, coherent, and flows logically from one section to the next. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues, mentors, or professional editors to get an outside perspective and identify areas for improvement. Revise your proposal based on feedback and make any necessary adjustments to strengthen your argument and increase your chances of success.

Follow Instructions

Finally, it's essential to follow the instructions provided by the grantmaker when preparing your grant proposal. Pay close attention to the application guidelines, formatting requirements, and submission instructions. Make sure you provide all the information requested and submit your proposal by the deadline. Failure to follow instructions can result in your proposal being disqualified or overlooked by the grantmaker, so it's crucial to adhere to the guidelines carefully.

Conclusion

Mastering business grant writing is a valuable skill for any organization seeking funding for its projects and initiatives. By understanding the grant landscape, researching grant opportunities, tailoring your approach, crafting a compelling narrative, focusing on impact, being clear and concise, providing evidence and support, reviewing and revising your proposal, and following instructions, you can increase your likelihood of success in securing grant funding. With dedication, persistence, and strategic planning, you can master the art of grant writing and unlock valuable funding opportunities for your business.

[feroluce]

For some weird reason, I've always been fascinated by how wildly different Sampo operates in the Underground vs the Overworld.

Sampo is present in both places and even in official sources, he's not really counted as one side or the other- now that the theory has been confirmed in-game, he's generally just lumped in with the Masked Fools.

But there really is a big difference!

Probably the most obvious and well known instance of Sampo's...business practices *cough burglary and fraud COUGH* in the Overworld is from the Belobog Museum event. In it, you don't find out Sampo is the main culprit until near the end, because Pela has to set up a sting just to catch him in the act. And that sting is necessary all because the initial suspect they arrested, Norbert, had pretty much no idea of his partner's identity. Sampo wouldn't even speak to him face-to-face.

And whereas Sampo is normally very pleasant and friendly with the trailblazer...when he thinks he's talking to Norbert here, he straight up says that they are NOT friends. Like he really shuts that shit DOWN.

There's also an Overworld NPC, Chavez, who heads the "Dark Blue Scam Support Group." And he. Really really really does not like Sampo fjkdasjklfdj

Chavez clearly wants Sampo caught, and has literally no positive feelings about him. So. Why call it the Dark Blue Scam? Why not just out him by name? Chavez obviously doesn't give a single shit about Sampo's dignity or privacy. But he never once refers to him as "Sampo," and even the pamphlets he passes out make no mention of it. No one in the entire support group seems to know how to identify him or how to refer to him except by his hair color. If the trailblazer says his name, Chavez reacts as though he's never heard it before.

(I've seen people say this means Sampo Koski is an alias and not his real name? But Ray pointed this out, and honestly I agree; even the Fools call him Sampo, after all. I think it's just that Chavez never knew Sampo's name in the first place, and given his immense distrust, immediately assumes it's an alias.)

And then there's his characters stories, where he proceeds to pull off a heist in the Overworld while in disguise as Brughel Poisson the entire time. Literally his own stories don't mention Sampo's name even once.

So anyway, all this shows that when he's up in the Overworld working cons, Sampo is incredibly slippery and secretive about his identity. The only people who seem to know him are Pela, Serval, and Gepard. He doesn't get close to anyone else, and is even surprisingly unfriendly. Nobody knows his name. No one knows his face. He has zero qualms about backstabbing or double-crossing, and even plans for it in some cases.

Meanwhile, down in the Underground, I'm pretty sure literally the worst thing we hear of him doing is scalping tickets in front of the Fight Club. Which isn't even illegal in a lot of places (although it's certainly a dick move).

In Hook's companion quest, a vagrant miner steals Fersman's equipment and tries to sell it to Sampo. Even before the trailblazer and Hook jump in and out the vagrant as a thief, Sampo hesitates to buy it because it sounds like stolen goods, which he doesn't want any part of.

Even knowing that a geomarrow detector is rare and incredibly valuable in the mines, Sampo makes no attempt to double-cross Hook or profit off of her loss, and even tells her who to go to to get it fixed.

And my favorite example of Sampo in the Underground is the Survival Wisdom adventure mission. In it, Sampo starts up a business with Peak, another miner. And like. In wild contrast to all the cons he pulls above ground, Sampo is actually super nice and helpful here.

Just the same as with Hook's quest, Sampo talks to Peak face-to-face, with no disguises or barriers. When the trailblazer finds them, they're just in the Great Mine, no secretive meeting places. Peak knows Sampo, is familiar with him, and calls him by name. It's not even a con! There's nothing illegal going on; it really is just a business partnership. Peak is more than happy with their deal, he's even pretty enthusiastic about it, because thanks to Sampo he can now make enough money to get by while also accommodating his chronic fatigue.

The only person Sampo lies to in this whole ordeal is the trailblazer, who he manipulates into getting Peak's mining equipment back from the vagrants that stole it in the first place. And when it's done, he rewards them with a legit treasure map.

So when he's working in the Underground, Sampo is MUCH more upright and lawful. Part of this is probably to do with his "business" model- Sampo only takes advantage of the wealthy, and poverty runs rampant in the Underground. When he charges Peak an extra 30% (the same percentage he charges Norbert as a consultation fee in the museum heists- Sampo seems to go by percentage instead of a flat rate, which means his prices are more fair for lower incomes) for carelessly losing their supply, Peak literally starts counting out pocket change.

Dude's working for pennies and good will down there dknsmdmd

And you can twist this into a Robin Hood thing if you want- Sampo IS technically working to feed orphans and heal the sick. He says himself he's more than happy to make up the shortfall between the greedy and the marginalized- I mean he says it in the shadiest way possible, but I doubt the people benefiting from his work really care that he's a slimeball if it means they can survive another day. Even the two heists he pulls in his character stories are literally just him stealing absurd amounts of food.

Personally though I think it is solely because of Natasha, and Sampo is hilariously well-behaved specifically for her, because she keeps him on a short leash JSKZJMSMSKS

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

I've recently come across a couple of season 4 fanfics that dealt with the Chat Noir feeling left out and quitting thing and every time I read one I can't help but think "man did they chose the wrong side of the masks AND the wrong characters for this conflict. Chat Noir comes across terribly here". It's weird to see people try and justify his behavior and act like Ladybug was in the wrong.

Was Ladybug being the best friend ever? No, but friendship is secondary when they're wearing the masks. Paris comes first. Chat Noir quitting because he doesn't feel special enough is literally him endangering everyone he loves because his crush isn't paying enough attention to him and I truly can't tell if the show wanted us to feel like he was in the right or the wrong here. In Kuro Neko, Catwalker actually does acknowledge the lesson he needed to learn

There's nothing wrong with you. Maybe the boy who was Cat Noir was more sensitive than it seemed. But his feelings for you shouldn't force you to pay more attention to him than to others. You take care of everybody equally, Ladybug. 

And Chat Noir apologizes at the end of the episode for causing Ladybug trouble, but the whole thing is incredibly lackluster. They don't actually have a meaningful conversation about why he was feeling that way and the rest of the season seems to present Ladybug as being in the wrong, especially the final! Trusting Alya leads to nothing meaningful and not trusting Chat Noir loses her the miraculous. Basically, I still have no idea what season 4 was trying to do with this conflict and it's been dropped forever now that Adrien is fully reduced to nothing more than arm candy.

HOWEVER, this basic setup could have been a fantastic b plot if the "Adrien doesn't feel needed" conflict wasn't a Ladynoir conflict, but was instead a conflict between Adrien and Nino. Move Rocketear up to earlier in the season and have the fallout from that be that Adrien's relationship with Nino is strained. He can still feel leftout because Ladybug has a bigger team now, but instead of him pouting about it and skipping fights, focus on how that need for connection has transferred to his civilian life, but he doesn't have Kagami or Nino now and he's lost. Then you can either have an Adrien and Nino b plot because that relationship needs more screen time OR you use this to make Adrien and Marinette start to grow closer because Rocketear's fallout is also Alya paying more attention to Nino. Then, when season 5 does the whole crush switch, it actually feels earned.

[4ngel-inc]

i feel like dazai has a couple of really cute freckles on his chest and back :) ᰔ

[riemmetric]

I used to have blonde hair | Fanfiction

Fandom: 9-1-1

Characters: Orginal female characters, Athena Grant, Bobby Nash

Synopsis: AU where Marcy has an older sister and a niece. She's hated Bobby for ten years. She comes to LA to get closure. A few snippets of scenes about anger, sadness, family and grief.

Authors note: A week ago, @spacey-iris made a post wondering if Marcy Nash had any siblings. The question stuck with me. I love writing, I haven't done it in a while, this silly show has been on my mind a lot lately, I had a free weekend. I wrote this sketch of fanfic, focusing on an economy of words. This half original fiction, half fanfic, because a lot of it is focused on two original characters I created. Assumptions I made for this story: Brook is the older child (I don't remember if they say this in the episode or not, but this is an AU), Marcy is naturally blonde (it is in the episode and I don't care if it's supposed to be dyed or not, this is an AU).

Full story under the cut.

Anna at the stove, watching the coffee pot while it brews. Her little sister Marcy died ten years ago in a fire. Anna carries her everywhere she goes. Marcy shadows her every movement. Birth brought them together and death took them apart. The cycle of life.

Anna’s daughter Kirsten sits at the kitchen table. It’s just the two of them in the house. It has been like this since the beginning. Women become mothers when they get pregnant. Men become fathers when they see the child. Anna’s boyfriend became something else, a different human entirely. Suddenly he didn’t want children. Suddenly he didn’t want a wife. Letting him go has been easy, because he was an asshole.

“So you don’t think it’s silly?” Kirsten says.

Anna turns off the stove and pours two cups of coffee. For herself, a small porcelain teacup with floral design – she likes her coffee black and unsweetened. For her sixteen years old daughter, a big mug – plenty of space for milk and whipped cream.

“I do think it’s silly,” she says, sitting down at their small kitchen table, “but silly in a good way. I think it’s good to be a little unserious sometimes. She’s a cop, right?”

“Yeah,” Kirsten says. “She only live-tweets when she’s off-duty. She’s very funny. I guess she sees a lot of bullshit out there and needs an outlet.”

“Have you talked to her personally?”

“Yeah, I asked her what college she went to.”

Anna laughs behind her coffee cup. “Doing research early, are you?”

“Well, never too early to start, that’s what everybody says. She went to USC. Do you know their campus is right in the middle of LA? That’s pretty cool.”

****

Kirsten in her bed after midnight. She is nosy and loves social media. She loves watching people yell at each other in the form of text. She likes searching for people, putting together every bit of information that slips through their curated internet personas. She doesn’t talk about it. She doesn’t post about it. This is not about harming people, it’s not about cautionary tales. It’s for her own personal amusement.

Finding Sergeant Athen Grant of the LAPD wasn’t hard. She’s told Kirsten very little about herself, but she’s only told the truth. There is only one LAPD and they are not shy about posting on social media. There aren’t many women named Athena in the world. Not that many black women police officers in LA either. She reads blog posts and Facebook posts and watches Instagram reels and, little by little, Athena Grant materializes in her room, takes shape in her mind. A strong, reckless woman, who’s trying to do some good in the world, from within the confines of the system. Kirsten doesn’t know how to feel about it yet, so she scrolls further. It’s addictive. And then she scrolls to close to the sun.

****

“Mom.”

Anna wakes with a start. She has been a light sleeper for years. She doesn’t want to be a second late for anything.

“Mom, don’t be scared, there’s no emergency.”

Anna sits up and checks her phone. Almost two in the morning. No missed calls, no messages. Just her daughter in her room, with her own phone in her hand.

“I’m so sorry,” Kirsten says, “but I saw something on the internet and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I have to talk to you. I’ll spend the whole night thinking about it otherwise.”

Anna turns on the lamp and swings her legs down, making room for her daughter.

“What is it, honey? Some horror story on reddit?”

Kirsten opens her mouth, closes it again, swallows whatever it was she wanted to say. Instead of words, she shares her phone with her mother.

Anna takes it and is faced with the Los Angeles Police Department Facebook page. She is startled by this fact alone. It has never occurred to her that the authorities might have social media, but it all makes sense in the following seconds. Of course it’s a good idea to pay someone to highlight the good work they do. It’s all marketing, everything in life, nothing but marketing and public relations and advertising. Social media managers are among the pillars of our society. She scrolls through the page.

“What am I looking at?”

“Wait, I opened it for you. You probably scrolled past it when I gave you the phone.” Kirsten takes it from her, taps it a few times, hands it back. There’s a photo in front of her eyes now and her heart stops.

“That’s Sergeant Athena Grant, the woman I told you about, from twitter. Next to her, they say that’s her husband. Mom. Isn’t that… isn’t that the uncle Bobby you never talk about? Ghost uncle Bobby?”

A post about the mudslides that hit LA earlier that year. “LAPD worked closely with fire and rescue departments to ensure the safety of the inhabitants of the Hollywood Hills.” Sergeant Athena Grant had saved a woman from her ruined house, all by herself. The post was praising both her efforts and the exemplary command of fire captain Robert Nash of Station 118, who cleared the area and rescued the people trapped in their homes. “Husband and wife, they dedicate their lives to helping others.” A picture of them holding hands. The dark background of a night in the mountains, the harsh light of a camera flash, dirt and grime all over their tired smiles. Anna can’t speak.

Why did you show this to me Kirsten why did you show me this why why what reason does he have to smile why is he so happy who marries this man what’s he doing in LA why did you show me this why did you wake me up why why why

“I guess it is him, isn’t it?” Kirsten says. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shown it to you.”

Anna turns off the phone screen and stares at the floor.

“It’s ok. I understand you can’t keep something like this to yourself.” A pause, a beat. “I honestly didn’t expect him to live this long.”

“You thought he would kill himself?”

“Drunks don’t have to jump off bridges. All they have to do is get behind the wheel.”

They sit in silence for a while. Then Anna gets up and goes to the kitchen. Kirsten follows and neither of them sleeps that night.

****

Kirsten found Athena through LAPD’s social media accounts. Anna asks her to focus now on the fire department. Their posts are more numerous, more cheerful. They have always been the good guys, without a shadow of a doubt. They don’t have to be conservative in their internet posts. They don’t have to close their comments. They are unquestionably heroes. Anna looks at pictures of her brother-in-law living his life and wants to scream. For years she has kept him buried in closets, in boxes, in deep corners of her mind. For her, he died with the fire. For others, he’s been the hand pulling them out of fires, out of mangled cars, out of tsunamis and buildings broken by earthquakes, and houses flooded with silt and mud. Photos of him at the scene, after the emergency has been dealt with. Comments from people he’s saved. A wedding band always on his finger. These are the wrong people! These are the wrong people! That’s the wrong ring! Where were you when she burned?

****

It's July and there is a man crying in Anna’s dreams. She goes to sleep curled on her side and he falls next to her, drunk and exhausted, and weeps himself to unconsciousness, until she snaps out of the nightmare and turns her phone on for safety. He breaks from the closets and the boxes and the deep corners of her mind. He follows her to work, at home, in her dreams. She thinks about him every day.

Her sister is gone. Her parents, too. One after the other, the same illness, a few years ago. It’s her and her daughter and the loneliness tugs at her heart often these days.

For years she has thought about Bobby’s weaknesses, about his faults. Nowadays she thinks about his loneliness and her loneliness, about his pain and her pain, about his family and her family.

A question buries itself into her mind, deeper and deeper each day, extraction impossible. What if…?

****

“What do you think of LA for this year’s summer vacation?” Anna asks her daughter one morning. “We could look at colleges while we’re there.”

Kirsten understands. She takes a deep breath and she says: “Yes, I’d love to check USC out.”

****

Anna kneels in front of a gravestone with three names. Fresh flowers in a small pot. Kirsten at home, packing.

“Marcy, honey, I hope you’ll forgive me for this. I think I’m about to traumatize the hell out of your husband.”

****

They leave without a plan. Anna fears that waiting for a plan to hatch would extinguish her courage. She has a single thought in her mind and latches onto it. Talk to Athena. She’ll know what to do.

****

The LA sun, hot on her skin. The police station at the end of shift. The pulse drumming in her ears. The backpack she carries everywhere, carrying a bottle of water and a whole past life. A policewoman walking out the door. A hesitation of a single second.

Anna walks forward knowing she is about to change this woman’s life forever.

“Sergeant Athena Grant?”

“Who’s asking?”

She must be straightforward and firm. There is no messing around with this woman. Anna decides this makes it easier.

“My name is Anna Russell. I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes, if you have time.”

“What about?”

Anna takes a deep breath. Reality is brittle and harsh all around her. Was this all a terrible mistake? There is always a choice. She can always flee.

“Your husband. I am—” she hesitates for a second, wondering how much this woman knows about the past. Surely she could have read the records herself if she wanted, surely she could pull those strings. But did she want it? If Anna would drop a name now, would this woman know who she’s talking about? She decides to keep the discussion focused on things she’s sure of. Things that exist in this world. “I am his sister-in-law.”

Athena Grant stares at her for a long time. There is something in her face, an emotion caged in her features.

“You got proof of that?”

“I do,” Anna says and pulls out a folder of documents out of her backpack. “I’ve got our birth certificates, a copy of her wedding certificate, her death certificate. I also have photos. If you want to see them.”

The policewoman is taken aback. She takes the file with trembling hands, looks through the names and dates.

“I don’t know how much he told you—” Anna starts.

“He’s told me all I needed to know. How did you find me?”

“Twitter. You and my daughter are in the same fandom.”

Athena Grant laughs. “Well, would you look at that.” She hands Anna back the file and adds: “I’ve got time tonight. He’s on call all night. Let’s have dinner. I know a place where we won’t be bothered.”

****

The warm lights of the restaurant, the dishes cleared, only drinks left. The table covered in photos. Anna tries a bold move.

“Does he talk about her?”

“No. Never. I only know her name because I read the file. I pulled some strings and got a copy of it mailed to the station. I had to know.”

“Of course. I would have done the same thing.”

Athena stares at her husband’s old wedding portrait. Younger, more hair around his temples, the same smile, the same hands. She picks up a group photo, the bride and the groom in the middle of family, everybody looking straight ahead at the photographer. Everybody except for the bride, whose head is turned towards her bridesmaid in the back. They’re laughing at a personal joke, oblivious of the world around them. Athena looks up.

“That’s me,” Anna confirms.

Athena picks up another photo. The bride wrapped in her bridesmaid arms, her feet off the floor, their smiles brighter than the sun.

“My hair now, this is not my natural hair color,” Anna confesses. “I used to have blonder hair, like her. We’re not twins, I’m older, yet every time I looked in the mirror… Anyway, I dyed it ten years ago and never went back.”

More pictures from the wedding. Bride and groom dancing. Then bride and bridesmaid, lost in their own world always, all smiles. Athena puts them in a neat pile. A photo of two young girls, sleeping in the same bed. The quality suggests it’s a digital photo. It’s not Anna and Marcy. Athena sighs.

“You said you only had one daughter?”

“Yes.”

“So this is…?”

“Yes.”

“My God.” She turns the photo in her hands and the back confirms it: Kirsten and Brook after Thanksgiving dinner.

There are other pictures with the kids. A small boy always surrounded by two girls. The cousins, as close as their mothers. A pregnant woman in a long dress, two girls with their ears pressed to her belly. A sister waiting for her baby brother. A cousin whose family will get bigger. Athens holds it for a moment, adds it to a separate pile.

“You can’t show these to him.” This will break him. It will be over. I don’t want it to be over. I don’t want him to die.

“I won’t show him anything. You choose. You don’t have to choose any of them.”

“Why are you here?”

“I hated him for so long. I know it wasn’t technically his fault, but I can’t stop thinking that maybe it was. There are so many things that he—if he did them differently, none of this would have happened.”

“I would have never met him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why did you come to me with these?”

“I— I didn’t want to traumatize him. I wanted you to vet them first.”

Athena laughs. It’s a beautiful sound. “So much for you hating him.”

“He’s family. It’s been ten years. We’re getting older. I thought maybe… I don’t know. Is he sober?”

“He is.”

“Is he… is he ok? Is he happy?”

“As much as he can be.”

I want him dead he shouldn’t be happy he shouldn’t be happy he shouldn’t be here.

“I was angry for so long,” Anna says, eventually. “I didn’t go to her funeral, because I didn’t want to see him. I wanted him dead. I tried to heal, and then I saw the pictures of him, on the LAFD social media… I was angry again. But the more I think about it, I realize that nowadays I’m just sad. It’s all so, so sad. Everything that happened. Even his drinking. I thought he might be sad too. It sucks, being alone and sad. It’s the worst thing in the world.”

“He’s not alone,” Athena says, a reflex. Then Anna looks at her and she understands. “I see. You’re the only one who knows what it was like. How long are you staying here?”

“We’re here on vacation. Ten days.”

“All right. Give me your phone number. I’ll talk to him and if it goes well, you should come over for dinner sometime.”

“Thank you.” A pause, a beat. “You and I are not really, family, aren’t we?”

Sergeant Athena Grant sighs. She has learned that there are many hidden depths to that word.

“Not really. But there’s no reason we can’t be friends.”

****

Bobby Nash opens his front door and the past rushes in. For a moment, he can’t breathe. Then he can and he decides he doesn’t want to anymore. Then there is a warm hand on the small of his back and he takes a deep breath.

“Anna.”

“Bobby. How are you?”

He doesn’t answer. There is a teenage girl next to Anna and the passage of time frightens him more than the ghosts of the past.

“Kirsten?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Hi, Bobby.”

Athena Grant, off-duty, on another duty. She squeezes her husband’s hand.

“I’m glad you could make it. Kirsten, come meet my kids. I know we’re not blood relatives, but cousin is a very versatile word.”

“I’d like that,” Kirsten says.

“Good! We’re making dinner for our loved ones.” An emphasis on the last two words. Then Athena kisses her husband’s shoulder and takes her new niece inside.

They are stuck in the door frame. One step in any direction and the world changes forever. The world has already changed. It changed ten years ago.

“Let’s go on the back porch,” he says and Anna follows him inside.

****

“I don’t know what to say to you,” Bobby says.

“It’s ok. I don’t know either. I thought maybe… maybe we could just sit in silence for a while.”

“Just sit with each other.”

“Yeah. This was always the hardest part. The image of you here, under this sky, when she’s there, under ground. The sound of you breathing, when she can’t anymore. The sight of your chest rising and falling, when hers sits still.”

They watch the garden, the setting sun. The LA air, hot and humid, the ocean so close. They listen to the indistinct chatter inside, dishes clinking together, the kitchen sink running and stopping, running and stopping, running and stopping. The mundane soundtrack of life on Earth.

“Do you smoke?” Anna asks.

“No.” His voice, a little scandalized. “Do you?”

“No. But scenes like these always look better with cigarettes. I’ve seen too many movies, I guess.”

A burst of laughter from inside. Young girls at the dining table, chatting.

“I wanted to die,” Bobby says. “For a very long time. There are moments when I still do.”

“Me too. While you were at the funeral, I was at home drinking wine. I didn’t want to remember a single second of that day. It didn’t work.”

“You need something stronger than wine for that.”

“I figured. But by the time I did, I was at that stage of grief when you can’t move. So I just sat on the bathroom floor. Easier to clean. I just sat on the bathroom floor and stared at the door, waiting for her walk through. For so long, I couldn’t move.”

A door opening and closing. The sound of his labored breathing, caught on so many swallowed words.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he says.

Anna looks at him. The face she knew, but with more wrinkles, more gray hair. Alive all these years. Alive and sober. The anger, suddenly like an explosion in her chest. The hate she has harbored for so long. It was your fault! It was your fault! If you weren’t high. If you didn’t argue with her. If you stayed in the house. It was all your fault!

Bobby looks at her and something breaks inside him. She has a different hair color, but they were sisters. He sees her and Marcy at the same time. What she would have looked like, had she lived. Except he built a life without her. If she walked through the door today, there would be no room for her at this table. There would be no room for her in his life.

His eyes well up and he knows he can’t stop crying now. He keeps his back straight, shoulders shaking slightly, only the head bent, all the tension concentrated in his closed fists.

Anna doesn’t understand at first. Then there’s laughter coming from inside the house and she does. He doesn’t want his wife to see. Something breaks inside her too.

She could kill every person in the world and it would not bring her sister back. She digs her fingernails into her ankle. Here. Right now. This is real life. These are the people you have. These are your puzzle pieces. Make something with them. Make something nice.

She reaches for his hand. There is nothing to say and she finds comfort in this thought. Everything is both ok and not ok. And it will be both ok and not ok. Everything is the just the way it is. She holds onto his hand the tides of time carry them forward.

[majikz]

🫠

[raineandsky]

For the WIP ask game:

(i)ce cream

And why is the i in brackets?

its a game concept! you know the lil thing of 'i scream you scream we all scream for ice cream'?

basically you are a budding entrepreneur thats seen a market in the ice cream van sector! cool! but turns out all the other ice cream trucks are pretty territorial, and you have to try and sell your ice cream on their turf without getting your tires slashed :(

i got the idea from the glasgow ice cream wars, but i thought 'what if there was less crime and people were just this insane over the ice cream business'

i wrote something based on this a very long time ago if the idea interests you!

[brandycranby]

kinda melacholy today... 🥺👉🏼👈🏼 dash is a lil quiet. giving a squish and a hug if u pass by and feel the same 🫶🏻

[shinymoonforest]

Hi, I'm only doing this cause I can't send you a message-

But I noticed you seemed to like part 1 of my fic A Touch of Darkness and just wanted to say there's part 2

I know it's like super late but I was looking through the reblogs as a little nostalgia and I don't think you've read the second part yet?

Either way you said you hoped part 2 would be up and it (finally) is! So yeah, just wanted to say that :D

oh goodness it is?? thank you for notifying me!! tbh i have been fairly busy so the thought slipped my mind but! i will be sure to check it out :D do take care, yes?

[batemanofficial]

[ascendnbs]

Navigating the Grant Landscape: Essential Tips for Business Grant Writing

Introduction

Securing business grants can be a crucial source of funding for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to start or expand their ventures. However, navigating the grant landscape and crafting successful grant proposals requires strategic planning and attention to detail. This guide provides essential tips and insights to help businesses effectively navigate the grant writing process and maximize their chances of securing funding.

Understanding Grant Opportunities

Before diving into grant writing, it's important to understand the types of grants available and which ones align with your business goals. Grants can come from government agencies, private foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, each with its own eligibility criteria and funding priorities. Research and identify grants that specifically support businesses in your industry or geographic location.

Consider the purpose of the grant—whether it's for research and development, innovation, job creation, or community impact. Tailor your grant search to focus on opportunities that directly support your business objectives and growth plans.

Researching Grant Criteria and Requirements

Once you've identified potential grant opportunities, thoroughly research the criteria and requirements for each grant program. Pay attention to eligibility criteria, application deadlines, required documents, and evaluation criteria. Some grants may have specific preferences for certain types of businesses or projects.

Create a checklist or spreadsheet to keep track of important details for each grant, including key dates, application instructions, and contact information. This organized approach will help you stay on top of deadlines and ensure that you submit complete and accurate grant applications.

Crafting a Compelling Grant Proposal

Writing a compelling grant proposal is essential for capturing the attention of grant reviewers and securing funding. Start by clearly outlining your business concept, goals, and the specific need for funding. Describe how the grant will be used and the expected outcomes or impact on your business.

Tailor your proposal to address the evaluation criteria outlined in the grant guidelines. Provide detailed information about your business model, target market, competitive landscape, and revenue projections. Use data, market research, and testimonials to support your claims and demonstrate the viability and potential success of your business.

Highlighting Innovation and Impact

Grant reviewers are often looking for innovative ideas and projects that have the potential to make a significant impact. Highlight what sets your business apart from competitors and how your project or initiative will contribute to economic growth, job creation, or community development.

Emphasize the scalability and sustainability of your business model. Outline your long-term vision and how the grant funding will help you achieve key milestones and strategic objectives. Articulate the potential for growth and expansion, demonstrating that your business is well-positioned for success with the support of the grant.

Seeking Feedback and Refining Your Proposal

Before submitting your grant proposal, seek feedback from mentors, industry experts, or fellow entrepreneurs. Reviewers can provide valuable insights and identify areas for improvement in your proposal. Be open to constructive criticism and willing to revise your proposal based on feedback received.

Take the time to refine your writing, ensuring clarity, conciseness, and professionalism in your grant proposal. Proofread carefully for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure that all required documents are included and formatted correctly.

Following Up and Building Relationships

After submitting your grant proposal, follow up with the funding organization if possible. Express gratitude for the opportunity to apply and inquire about the timeline for grant announcements or decisions. Building relationships with grantmakers and program officers can increase your visibility and future funding opportunities.

Regardless of the outcome, maintain professionalism and persistence in your grant-seeking efforts. Use feedback from unsuccessful applications to inform and strengthen future grant proposals. Keep exploring new grant opportunities and refining your approach to maximize your chances of securing funding for your business.

Conclusion

Navigating the business grant writing landscape requires diligence, preparation, and effective communication. By understanding grant opportunities, researching criteria, crafting compelling proposals, and seeking feedback, businesses can enhance their grant writing skills and increase their chances of securing valuable funding. Remember to stay focused on your business goals, demonstrate innovation and impact, and maintain professionalism throughout the grant-seeking process. With perseverance and strategic planning, businesses can successfully leverage grants to support growth, innovation, and success in today's competitive marketplace.

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[take-ya-to-the-ghey-bar]

No thoughts, head empty--

[amerasdreams]

I hate that sort of missed-step feeling where for a split second you think things are like they were in the past, then you remember

It's gone forever.

[devonellington]

Wed. July 19, 2023: Why, Yes I am Ranting Because I. Am. Done

image courtesy of Gerd Altmann via pixabay.com Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Waxing Moon Pluto, Saturn, Neptune Retrograde Foggy, a little cooler, wildfire haze, sun trying to burn through This is a ranty, burn-it-all down post, so you might want to skip it. I keep thinking we’re much closer to August than we actually are. And hey, I’m out of ink again, because of course I am. And I’m having…

[daydreamerdrew]

Blonde Phantom (1946) #12