The Microplastics Institute is a program of Seaside Sustainability, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing together environmental research, education, workforce development, community science, and public engagement through six interconnected divisions.
At the Institute’s core is research. Through standardized sampling protocols, environmental monitoring, laboratory analysis, quality assurance, academic collaboration, and a growing global network of community scientists, we are building the infrastructure to dramatically expand the collection of credible microplastics data.
We are at an important point of growth. Expanding this research, scientific capacity, data collection, and participation requires significant funding, and federal and state grants represent an important opportunity.
For this project, the Institute will identify one high-priority federal or state funding opportunity that strongly aligns with our work. Our challenge is developing that opportunity into a compelling, competitive grant application.
Government applications can require extensive technical writing, project design, measurable outcomes, evaluation plans, budgets, partnerships, supporting documentation, and careful alignment with agency requirements and review criteria.
We are seeking an experienced federal and/or state grant writer who can work directly with our team on one selected opportunity. We will provide the consultant with information about the Institute, our programs, research, partnerships, existing materials, and proposed project. We need their expertise to help shape that information into a strong application that clearly demonstrates the need, approach, outcomes, capacity, and potential impact of the proposed work.
The primary deliverable for this project will be one substantially developed, submission-ready federal or state grant application for a funding opportunity selected by the Microplastics Institute.
The pro bono consultant will work closely with our team to review and interpret the funding opportunity, understand the agency’s priorities and evaluation criteria, and help shape the proposed project to align with those requirements.
The consultant will provide hands-on grant development and writing support. Depending on the specific application, this may include drafting and editing the project narrative, defining goals and measurable outcomes, strengthening the project design, developing an evaluation approach, identifying partnership needs, assisting with budget narratives and supporting materials, and ensuring that the application clearly responds to the funder’s requirements and review criteria.
The consultant will also help identify missing information or documentation, organize application components, review materials for consistency and compliance, and work with our team to move the application toward submission within the project period.
As part of this process, the consultant will help create strong language describing the Institute’s research, scientific infrastructure, programs, partnerships, community engagement, and impact. These materials can also provide a foundation for future applications.
Success will mean having one competitive federal or state grant application substantially completed and positioned for submission, with a strong narrative, clearly defined project and outcomes, appropriate supporting materials, and alignment with the funding agency’s priorities.
