Voice Up Publishing Inc.

Grant Writing Division

Formally established under the Founding Charter — securing funding that serves the mission, not reshapes it.

Purpose of the Division

The Grant Writing Division of Voice Up Publishing Inc. is formally established as a functioning operational division of the Applied Purpose Science ecosystem. Its purpose is to secure external funding that advances the Lab's research, recognition infrastructure, and workforce development mission — while ensuring that every proposal produced under its authority is grounded in the same principles of developmental integrity, ethical alignment, and evidence-based practice that govern the Lab itself.

The Division exists at the intersection of science and strategy. It does not produce proposals for their own sake. It translates the Lab's frameworks, findings, and values into the language of funders — without distorting what the work actually is.

"The Division exists to ensure that the Lab's work is resourced without being compromised — that funding serves the mission, rather than reshaping it."

Scope of Authority

The Grant Writing Division holds operational authority over:

Identification and pursuit of funding opportunities aligned with the Lab's mission

Authorship of Letters of Interest (LOIs), grant applications, and proposal narratives

Needs assessment and organizational alignment analysis prior to each submission

Logic model development where appropriate to the grant focus and funding audience

Management of graduate and doctoral research support integrated into the writing process

Compliance review, submission, and post-submission tracking

Contracted external grant writing services on behalf of aligned organizations

Scope limitation: The Division does not hold authority over Lab governance, ethical determinations, or research design. Those functions remain with the Stewardship Council and Research & Learning Circle.

Operational Model — Eight Phases

The Division operates under a structured collaborative model led by the founding director, who serves as the primary author and lead writer on all submissions. Doctoral and graduate students are embedded within the workflow in an ongoing research support capacity.

Needs Assessment

Structured analysis comparing identified need against demonstrated strengths and existing organizational capacity.

Funding Identification

Monitoring funder portals, attending webinars, and reviewing RFPs for mission alignment.

Graduate Research Support

Ongoing literature review, data confirmation, citation verification, and field-relevant evidence synthesis.

Program Officer Engagement

Written inquiries and funder relationship cultivation prior to submission where permissible.

Strategic Narrative Development

Independent authorship of need statements, program descriptions, outcomes frameworks, and evaluation plans.

Logic Model Development

Where appropriate and consistent with funder requirements.

Compliance Review

Systematic verification of all submission requirements, budget parameters, and formatting guidelines.

Submission and Tracking

On-time delivery and post-submission status monitoring.

Non-Negotiable Principles

Each proposal produced under the Division's authority must reflect these commitments in practice:

Proposals do not assign purpose to communities — they recognize and resource it

Need statements are accurate, not deficit-amplifying

Organizational capacity is presented honestly, not inflated for funder optics

Lived experience and nonclinical labor are named, credited, and valued in every relevant narrative

No community is described in extractive or instrumentalized terms to satisfy a funder's preferred framing

Funding is pursued as a means of advancing developmental work — not as an end that distorts it

Misalignment between a funding opportunity and these principles constitutes grounds for declining the opportunity.

Performance Standards

Minimum two LOIs and/or grant applications submitted per month

LOIs completed based on the timeline agreed upon with the collaborating party or partner

Full proposals under $100,000 completed within two to three weeks

High-quality writing requiring minimal revision following initial organizational review

Timely, proactive communication throughout each engagement

Brief monthly summary of submissions, deadlines met, and upcoming opportunities

Performance is reviewed monthly. Contract continuation or expansion is determined by demonstrated quality, submission success, and alignment with funder priorities and Lab values.

Compensation Structure

$50–$100/hr

Contracted external services are provided at a rate of $50 to $100 per hour, depending on the scope and complexity of the engagement. Compensation applies to all billable hours within a scope of work negotiated per project, not to exceed the agreed-upon ceiling. All compensation arrangements are documented in a signed written agreement prior to the commencement of work.

Project-specific scoping and per-proposal ceiling amounts are negotiated in advance.

Grant Funds Management

Restricted funds held in separate designated accounts — no commingling

Expenditure limited to purposes authorized in the executed grant agreement

All grant records retained minimum 7 years from grant period end

No funds used for lobbying (31 U.S.C. §1352 / Byrd Amendment)

Governance Alignment

Stewardship Council

Reports to for values alignment

Research & Learning Circle

Reports to for methodological coherence

Ethics & Integrity Review retains authority to flag, pause, or redirect any proposal that misrepresents the Lab's work, misaligns with its principles, or poses extraction risk to the communities it serves.

Founding Commitment

"Every proposal produced under this Division is,
in its own form, an act of recognition."