We generally partner with nonprofit organizations in the arts, culture, youth services, and education sectors. This includes performing arts groups, museums, educational organizations, libraries, schools, and arts education programs that are looking to strengthen their fundraising through professional grant writing and research. We’re open to organizations in other industries, too, so please reach out.

Yes. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit arts administration—including roles with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—we understand the complexities of federal funding and government grant applications. We help translate your vision into the specific technical narratives these agencies require.

We have two standard packages but often customize packages to align with client goals and needs. These can include grant readiness assessments, prospect research, grant writing and editing, grant narratives, reporting, management,  and development communications such as newsletters and articles.

We are highly organized and deadline-driven. The process begins with listening to understand your mission and funding priorities, followed by developing narratives and collecting or creating supplemental materials that meet specific funder guidelines. While turnaround times vary, we recommend starting the process well in advance of deadlines to ensure a seamless, professional submission.

Yes. A core part of our service is grant research and prospect strategy. We help lean teams identify foundation and government prospects that align with their specific artistic or educational goals.

Many of our clients are lean teams with limited staff capacity. Hiring Perfect Fifth adds 25+ years of grant writing and communications experience to your fundraising team without incurring overhead costs or burdening your staff. Engaging a professional grant writer is typically cheaper than hiring an entry-level staff member.

We offer a free 30-minute consultation to learn more about your organization’s mission and how we can best support your development efforts.

A retainer provides consistent, strategic support—rather than one-off, reactive help. It allows Perfect Fifth to plan ahead, deeply understand your organization, and deliver stronger, more competitive proposals over time. You’ll also benefit from priority access, faster turnaround, and predictable monthly costs. While hourly work can suit single projects, a retainer is designed to maximize long-term funding success.