How Grant Writing Stipends Are Fueling Community Impact
/Better Health Together launched the Grant Writing Stipend initiative to support small and emerging nonprofits in our region. Recognizing that the time and expertise required to write successful grants can be a barrier, BHT created a low-barrier program to help organizations hire professional grant writers—strengthening their ability to access state, federal, and private funding.
Where We’re At
$175,000 awarded to 33 organizations across Spokane and neighboring counties
$100,000 still available in 2025
The initiative is now in its second year and gaining momentum. Participating organizations simply identify the grant opportunity they plan to pursue and select a grant writer. If they meet at least three of BHT’s four criteria—such as lacking a full-time development staff, having an operating budget under $2M, or demonstrating strong community representation—they’re eligible.
What Success Looks Like
Some big wins have already emerged:
If You Could Save Just One, a youth organization in Northeast Spokane, secured $75,000 from the Empire Health Foundation’s Community Reinvestment Fund.
Manzanita House received $70,000 through a Spokane County grant.
Rural impact matters too—The Nest Family Resource Center in Colville and Friends of the Republic Library in Ferry County are just a few examples of out-of-Spokane recipients actively benefiting from the program.
Building Capacity, One Grant at a Time
Beyond the dollar amounts, the program is changing how local organizations think about sustainability. In many cases, grant writers report directly to BHT on wins and progress, giving us a growing picture of the stipend’s return on investment.
Looking Ahead
This blog is just a snapshot. As more invoices and stories roll in, we’ll continue to update our partners and the broader community on this initiative’s progress. Stay tuned!
For more information or to apply, visit our Grant Writing Stipend page.