A Grant Writing AI Built From a Nonprofit's Own Files

United Way of West Central Connecticut at a glance

Client

United Way of West Central Connecticut, Bristol, CT

Industry

Nonprofit

Problem

A small team reusing material from past applications, reports and decks for each new funder.

What TEG built

A custom AI assistant trained on the organization's own grant files and website.

How it was tested

Used on a real grant due within weeks.

Outcome

Used on a real grant within a month of the first draft. The team called it "a great help."

Short answer: United Way of West Central Connecticut used a custom AI, built by The Endurance Group (TEG) from its own grant files and website, on a real grant within a month of the first draft.

The Client

United Way of West Central Connecticut is a Bristol-based chapter serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville and Plymouth. Its small resource development team applies for grants while running events like the annual golf tournament and a back-to-school supply drive.

The Challenge

Grant writing at a small nonprofit is mostly reuse. The language already exists in past applications, reports and decks. The work is finding it, fitting it to each funder's form, and doing it again for the next deadline.

Board member Trish Tomlinson introduced TEG's Conor Sullivan to the team to explore how AI could help.

The Solution

TEG asked for the documents a new grant writer would want on day one: reports, one-pagers, decks and previous grant applications. The team shared them in a Google Drive folder, and a first draft of the AI reached them the same day. It draws on:

• The United Way's previous grant applications and supporting documents
• The organization's public website
• More files from the team as the project went on, so answers improve with more information

Conor asked the team to question it and flag anything that seemed off. They chose a small grant due in a few weeks as a real-life test.

The Result

Within a month, the team had used the AI on a real grant.

How can a nonprofit use AI for grant writing?

Start with the organization's own approved material, give the AI only that, and test it on a real deadline. That is what worked here:

• Ground it in your own files: past applications, reports, decks and your website
• Test it on a live grant, not a demo
• Keep adding material, so answers improve over time
• Keep a person responsible for everything that gets submitted

See more TEG client results.

Frequently asked questions

Can a nonprofit use AI for grant writing?

Yes. United Way of West Central Connecticut used a custom AI that The Endurance Group built, trained on the United Way's own grant applications, supporting documents and website. The team tested it on a real grant and reported that it was a great help.

What does a grant writing AI need to work well?

It needs the organization's own material. Here the United Way shared previous grant applications and supporting documents through Google Drive, and the AI also drew on the organization's website. The more of that material it has, the more it has to work from.

How quickly did the United Way get a working version?

The first draft reached the team the same day it shared its Google Drive folder. Within a month the team had used it on a real grant.

What results did the United Way report?

Sarah Mitchell, Resource Development Coordinator at United Way of West Central Connecticut, wrote: "We’ve used it for one grant already and it was a great help."