ComplaintsforHere-4-You Consulting

• Initial Complaint

  07/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Cost: $5,000 To begin with there was not a lot of direction as to how we were to proceed from the start.We worked with Here-4-You on a funding request to the ***************** Foundation. When we started, we would submit things to them and it would take several days, sometimes a week for them to get back to us. The only thing that they helped us with was to condense the description of the project. After that, all he seemed to want to do was to plug in the information we gave him into the form, with no evaluation as to whether there was a better way to present the information that the organization was looking for. They had no suggestions as to what other material could be submitted, saying that the **** foundation didnt specify what they wanted. They also did not assist us to look at what the foundation said that they were looking for. We realize that perhaps we needed a little more guidance, but as this was our first request, we expected a little more guidance and mentoring, so we could work more independently in the future.During the summer, we did not receive any guidance from Here-4-You as to where we should be going and what we should be doing. We did send an email out with my concerns about this and have never received any feedback. Here-4-You said that we should get something ready for the ********** Foundation. After looking at the application we decided it was best to find someone to assist us.They state they Provide:-A full year of coaching and mentoring, ending up with a fully developed grant writing strategy for your ministry.NO ONE HAS EVER DISCUSSED OR ASSISTED US TO DEVELOP A GRANT WRITING STRATEGY.-10 collaboratively developed funding inquiries (tailored to the interests and requirements of the funders your ministry has identified and submitted)DIFFICULT TO SUBMIT 10 IF THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY HELP IN FINDING 10.We reached out regarding these concerns multiple times and heard little back. After requesting some of our funds back, we heard nothing.

  Business response

  07/22/2022

  Work on the ***************** grant request began August 6, 2021.
  Contracted services began March 1, 2021, as agreed to by Here-4-You Consulting and Client’s Executive Director. Client designated the Board President as the Contact Person for Here-4-You Consulting to communicate with. Neither the Executive Director nor the Board President is ***********************.Here-4-You Consulting had no direct contact at any time with ******************.
  
  Here-4-You Consulting provided the following services (#1-3)in the spring and summer of 2021, prior to assisting with the ***************** grant request:
  Organizational readiness resources
  Client accessed Here-4-You Consulting's proprietary resources to assist in identifying red flags prior to submitting grant requests. This is an important step in the grant development process. Here-4-You Consulting made it itself available to answer questions and provide guidance on policies, including a Conflict of Interest policy.
  
  Grant development activities for ‘Block Parties’ project (3/10/2021 - 5/27/2021)
  On March 10, Client proposed Block Parties as its top priority for grant funding. Concept and key points were drafted by Client, to which Here-4-You Consulting provided feedback and guidance. Here-4-You Consulting commented at the time on the quality of writing provided by Client in the original project description. Many clients require significant assistance to frame their projects within a funder’s priorities using grant-focused phrasing and jargon. Client did not need those services.
  “I think the project is well-presented in language that most foundations speak. Excellent. The process promotes and welcomes significant involvement of the local community, and several outcomes focus on measurable change in the targeted community. In addition, it is good to begin compiling community assessments, news articles, state/municipal data, and survey results as additional support for the ******* projects.” (Email to Client, 3/22/2021)
  
  In developing this first project, the process was delayed a few times due to Contact Person’s surgeries in April and May, as well as subsequent physical therapy sessions and doctor visits, “out-of-town” travels, and “family responsibilities and people out with covid.”
  
  On May 27, Client’s email stated the Executive Director felt the ***** ***** project was not ready to present in a grant request, so the project development process had to start over.  
  
  Assistance and coaching on funding source research
  Client began research on 4/8/2021 with direct assistance and coaching from Here-4-You Consulting. In the Grant Ready Package, Client carries primary responsibility for funding source research as described in the contract and reiterated by Here-4-You Consulting to the Client via email:
  “We offer two levels of grant writing service. The Grant Ready package at $5,000 is a coaching-advisement level of service. We evaluate identified funding opportunities, help set a timeline for submissions, and assist with the requests and other funding development tasks. Most clients identify 10 or more viable opportunities the first year. Many times, the client is able to manage the grant development process after that first year.
  The other level at $13,000 is our Full Service package for those who want to out-source the process and activities. The cost difference is due primarily to the amount of research required to dig into a local or regional funding environment and uncover the best opportunities for our clients.” (Email to Client, 11/30/2021)
  
  Here-4-You Consulting advised Client to attend a virtual seminar in May 2021 hosted by the *** ****** Community Foundation (****) to form a relationship with one of the most important funders in Client’s region. **CF awards grants directly and advises many of the local private foundations on which nonprofits to support. Client did not attend the seminar nor make any other attempts to connect with **CF that Here-4-You Consulting is aware of.
  “Also, the *** ****** Community Foundation may be a good connecting place for grant support. They have an open application process to seek support, and they offer seminars. The value of attending local seminars is in the information they offer and in the relationships one can develop. The *****’s support is going to come from the local community, by and large. Getting introduced to people connected to local foundations is a good move. They’re offering an Online Workshop on May 13.” (Email to Client, 4/14/2021)
  
  Here-4-You Consulting did conduct some research to identify potential funders as a good-faith effort to supplement Client’s research results Client obtained from resources at the local library and from Here-4-You Consulting’s proprietary database (the ********* Funding Directory or *FD). Client sent at least 2 emails asking Here-4-You Consulting to identify additional funding sources, activities which are outside the scope of the GRP contract. Here-4-You Consulting is not aware that Client contacted **CF or other local organizations (e.g., church partners or other arts-related organizations) to identify local funding sources for its projects.  
  
  Here-4-You Consulting evaluated with Client the viability of the identified funding sources and then sent a Year 1 plan on May 27 for Client’s review. At this point, Client stated they wanted to focus on a different project. The six funders in the Year 1 plan were still viable, but the project development process was back to square one.
  
  In response to a prompt from Here-4-You Consulting on July 16, Client’s Board of Directors identified the Guest Musician Workshop project as the top priority. Here-4-You Consulting and Client collaborated on developing this new project, and on July 20, Here-4-You Consulting drafted a Master Letter of Inquiry (a template document) for Client’s review. The template pulled details from the Client’s project description statements. Client’s response:
  “Everything is good except he wants to increase the amount to $8000. He forgot to include something. So we should be good to move forward. Your letter is very well written.” (Email sent by Board President, 7/26/2021)
  “I think they did a nice job tying everything in and spinning it in the best light.  While there are some technicalities I would have worded a little different, it accomplishes the purpose, and stays true to the mission. The only thing I would edit would be the request for $8000, as I didn't account for the booking person.” (Email sent by Executive Director, 7/26/2021)
  
  Finally implementing the Year 1 grant writing strategy, Here-4-You Consulting began advising and assisting Client to submit grant requests. On August 6, Here-4-You Consulting assisted Client via email and becoming directly involved in the application process to register the organization with **** **** on the funder’s web-based application portal. Here-4-You Consulting’s other emails in early August assisted development of Client Introduction statements to area funders, in accordance with each funder’s guidelines.
  
  Regarding the **** **** application process, the funder uses a two-phase process for grant requests. This process was explained to the Client. The first step is to register the organization and complete a series of character-limited text fields briefly describing the project. If invited to do so, applicants proceed to the second phase which is submission of a full grant proposal. Here-4-You Consulting assisted in condensing substantive responses, as required by the text fields. Here-4-You Consulting was not confused or indecisive regarding the **** **** guidelines or request requirements.
  
  Prior to December 2021, Here-4-You Consulting did not receive any concerns to which it did not respond. As noted above, Here-4-You Consulting provided guidance and mentoring in the spring and summer of 2021, primarily via email. Email responses were professional and timely.
  
  Per the Year 1 grant writing strategy proposed by Here-4-You Consulting and agreed to by Client, the next three funders after **** **** required initial contact and an invitation from the funder prior to submitting a grant request. As mentioned above, Here-4-You Consulting assisted Client in development of these introductory statements in early August.
  
  The final two funders (**CF and ** ******** ****** Foundation) have open application processes with annual deadlines in January. On 11/17/2021, Here-4-You Consulting sent an email to initiate action on a grant request for **CF and to inquire as to positive or negative responses from the **** **** submission and from the introduction statements. Less than 8 hours after receiving Here-4-You Consulting’s email, Client responded that it was dissatisfied with delivery of services and in communication with a different grant writer.
  
  From the start, Client’s expectations were not in line with the described services for the *** package, specifically requesting that Here-4-You Consulting conduct funding source research. It was clear from the start that we do not provide funding source research with the *** but provide resources such as the ***, Jump-Start Package, and ongoing advisement on the sources identified by the client.  Here-4-You Consulting’s program descriptions on its website and in the contract make the distinction between the Grant Ready Package and Full Service Package. Client saved 60% by paying for *** services but continually requested Full Service services.  A Grant Writing Strategy was developed and agreed to by the client but when it came to implementing the plan through research, writing, and grant submission the client felt they did not have the skills to follow through and sought support from a local grant writer.  Again, it was always clear that it was the responsibility of the client to seek funding sources to which they will apply.
  
  The client did express some dissatisfaction but never requested a refund.  We do provide a guarantee of results for clients who follow the agreed upon program and make good faith efforts to research funding sources and submit ten proposals for funding but the client did not follow through with the requirements and appeared to decide to hire a local full service grant writer instead.

  Business response

  08/12/2022

  While I am very sorry this client had a negative experience, I want to point out that we have never had a complaint in the past 22 years of serving ministries, churches, and other nonprofit organizations. 

  We estimate 30 hours devoted to this client at a rate of $150 hours.  Most of the hours invested were from March to September 2021. After the **** **** inquiry was submitted in Sept, we had planned 2 submissions in Jan 2022. When we made contact in November to get those started, our contact person (Sharon) said they were making plans to use a local grant writer. 

  Note that our contract specifies: "Guarantee of results applies to organizations that follow our method and recommendations exactly and implement an organized, consistent, and persistent grant writing strategy. If the organization submits all 10 proposals within the next 12 months and does not secure at least $5,000 in grant funding, we will continue to work with your ministry until they do."

  This client did not follow our recommendations and did not identify or submit the proposals noted.  They did not follow through with our process and instead decided to go with another option to find a local grant writer.

  At an hourly rate our services would be valued at $4,500 so we will make a good faith offer to refund $500 accounting for the difference.
  

  Customer response

  08/30/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  On behalf of our board of directors at the ********** *****, I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Our address for the refund is:

  ********** *****
  P.O. Box ****
  Eau Claire WI *****

  
  Regards,
  **** *******

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩