next-level funding

Dogwood Webinar Series

Next Session:

Standing Out from the Competition: Tips from a Federal Reviewer

June 18, 2025 at 12 p.m.

Want to strengthen your grant writing skills?

Our Next-Level Funding webinar series provides expert insights on seeking and securing grant funding beyond Dogwood.

The next session, “Standing Out from the Competition: Tips from a Federal Reviewer,” will be held on June 18, 2025 at noon.

Purpose: With current turbulence in federal grant availability, competition for both government and foundation funding is fierce. Applicants will need to not only put forth strong project designs but also proposals designed to stand out from the crowd. This session, led by Dr. Brian Kelley and Dr. Gregory Phipps, offers insiders’ perspectives into the proposal review process for federal and foundation grants. By providing insight into the objective and subjective aspects of the review process, this training will help attendees understand how to position themselves to be most competitive for federal and foundation opportunities. This session is designed to be useful for organizations with a wide range of experience, from just beginning to submit proposals to well-seasoned applicants. IFP will lead the presentation and provide ample time for Q&A.

Goal: Attendees will benefit from a close look into the review process for both federal and foundation grants, gaining new knowledge of scoring and awarding practices. Tips on making proposals distinctive will be offered for both federal and foundation grants, improving attendees’ competitive potential and equipping them with tools to level up their proposal development.

Learning Objectives

Develop familiarity with the federal grant review process
Develop familiarity with the foundation grant review process
Understand key considerations for developing a federal proposal to stand out competitively
Understand key considerations for developing a foundation proposal to stand out competitively

About IFP

Innovative Funding Partners (IFP) is a nationally recognized grants consulting firm highly regarded for an impressive overall grant success rate of 75%. Well known for their expertise in federal and other government grant writing, this success is based not only on technical expertise but also on a foundational relationship-building approach. IFP’s team of over 20 highly experienced consultants is passionate about helping organizations meet the unique needs of their local communities and better serve their constituents by seeking and securing grant funding.

For future seminars, join us live by registering, or view past session recordings.

Senior Partners

About the Presenters

Carrie Davis is an experienced grant writer and project manager with a consistent track record of success working with organizations across diverse sectors and geographies. She provides project oversight, facilitation, and coordination at all levels of grant development. Carrie has successful experience with foundation, corporate and government grants including DOL, HRSA, SAMHSA, CDC, DOE, USDA and more.

Susannah Williams is a grant writer with a proven track record of securing federal and foundation grants across multiple sectors, including health care, workforce development, and education. She has extensive experience in supporting clients’ project design and development to meet complex grant requirements. Susannah has written multiple successful proposals for CDC, HRSA, DOJ, and DOL, among others.