Research Grant Applications

My track record:

I began editing research grant applications in 2016, and now regularly edit dozens each year. I wish I were the kind of person who tracked the number of grants I’ve supported, my success rate, and the total dollar value of successful projects on which I’ve worked, but I’m not that kind of person (sorry).

The single largest successful grant that I have edited was a SSHRC Partnership Grant valued at $2.5M. The single smallest successful grant that I’ve edited was a BC Campus Fellowship valued at $6,000. All grants of all sizes are important to the people who write them and the organizations that fund them.

My grant-writing advice:

I’ve written about my approach to research grant applications in my column, Ask Dr. Editor; see for example:

My areas of expertise:

I focus on grant applications for faculty, not grants for grad students or postdocs, at Canadian institutions. I edit:

  • SSHRC grants of any type (IG, IDG, Connection, PEG, PDG, PG, and special calls)
  • CIHR grants of any type (Project, Catalyst, and special calls), focusing on research in the health professions, health sciences, sociology of health, medical anthropology, and health humanities
  • NSERC Alliance, CCSIF, and CREATE grants
  • NFRF Exploration and Transformation grants
  • CFI IFs
  • CRCs and CERCs
  • SoTL, OER, and teaching and learning grants for any funder
  • Provincial and charitable or philanthropic research grants aligned with the above-listed federal grants

If you are interested in applying for research grant funding that does not fit with the above funders or competitions, please contact me to determine if I’d be a good fit for your project.

When I’m not the best editor for your project:

If you are applying for NIH funding, I suggest contacting Sarah Dobson, who specializes in NIH grants. If you are applying for CIHR funding for work outside of my areas of expertise, I suggest contacting Cath Ennis, whose PhD is in molecular cell biology. If you are applying for an NSERC Discovery grant, I suggest contacting Stan Backs, whose graduate research was in analytical chemistry and metallurgical engineering. And finally, if you are applying for funding for an Indigenous studies project, or to fund Indigenous-related research, I suggest contacting Rhonda Kronyk, who is a grants editor and co-founder of the Indigenous Editors Association. You can also read my advice on How to Hire an Editor.

What my clients say:

“Your editorial support made a significant difference at a critical moment in the process. The clarity and cohesion you helped bring to the narrative strengthened the application considerably, and I am very grateful for the time and attention you invested in the work.” – Professor, Indigenous Studies, SSHRC PG (Stage 1)

“You’ve done way more than I ever imagined a great editor would or could provide. I’m deeply thankful for your all your help.” – Professor, Business Studies, SSHRC PDG & IDG

“Once again, Letitia, thank you so much for all the amazing help. Had I been on my own, I would be panicking and scrambling at this stage and, instead, I am all smiles.” – Associate Professor, Political Science, SSHRC IDG

“Working with Letitia Henville on my SSHRC Insight application was an outstanding experience. Her deep understanding of the tri-council funding landscape, her meticulous attention to detail, and her creative approach made a huge difference in the strength and clarity of my proposal. She brought expertise, care, and a fresh perspective to every stage of the process. I can’t recommend her highly enough.” – Associate Professor, Fine Arts, SSHRC IG

“As a Black tenured female professor who, despite being established in my field, had not previously navigated the SSHRC application process, working with Letitia has been an empowering experience. From the outset, she offered step-by-step guidance and practical tools that made the grant-writing process more manageable and transparent. Our regular meetings, shaped by her constructive feedback, were invaluable. Drawing on her expertise, I was able to craft a competitive proposal that highlighted my intellectual contributions in ways that would strongly resonate with reviewers. I am deeply grateful for Letitia’s commitment to ensuring scholars such as myself are equipped to participate fully and confidently in the grant-writing landscape.” – Associate Professor, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, SSHRC IG

Services Tailored to Your Needs & Budget:

Editing Support Spectrum
Standard Editing Editing and Coaching
10–15 hours 20–45 hours
Standard Editing
10–15 hours
You write; Letitia edits — in two rounds. You send your completed draft materials, and Letitia returns them with edits and suggestions, typically within five business days. You review her feedback, rewrite where needed, and return the materials for the second round. The second round is usually lighter: closer to the deadline, it focuses on polishing rather than restructuring, and you will often simply be accepting or rejecting suggestions rather than undertaking substantial rewrites.
Editing and Coaching
20–45 hours, depending on grant size
You write with Letitia alongside you. Over a period of months, you meet every three weeks over Zoom to workshop each module of your application before you complete your first draft. This option is well suited to researchers who want support as they are doing the writing, or who benefit from accountability and structured internal deadlines. Larger grants — such as a SSHRC Partnership Grant or an NFRF Transformation grant — should budget toward the higher end of this range.
Not sure which is right for you? Need something between a standard edit and coaching? We can chat about these options as we plan our work together.

Our Process:

Working with Letitia — Grant Journey
01
You reach out
You contact Letitia and receive an intake form. Completing it thoroughly helps her understand your application, your funding body, and your timeline.
If you are reapplying for funding, the intake form will ask you to share the PDFs you received in response to your previous submission. Letitia will review this feedback, help you to interpret it, and draw on it as she edits your Response to Previous Reviews section.
02
Letitia reviews your form responses
Letitia reads your responses and assesses whether she has the capacity to take on your project before your deadline. If she has the capacity to take on your project, she will ask you to schedule a time to meet — though for some projects, you may move directly to agreeing on a plan.
03
You connect (optional)
You meet with Letitia to discuss your application, your grantwriting experience and needs, and how the editing process will work. Not everyone wants another synchronous meeting in their calendar, so for some researchers, we can do this step via email.
04
You agree on a plan
Letitia prepares a contract and a customized schedule that sets out the rounds of editing and the deadlines for each section of your application, tailored to your timeline — and to whichever level of support is right for you.
05
Letitia edits; you revise
Letitia works with you through the editing process, at whatever level of engagement you have agreed on — from standard editing in two rounds to a months-long coaching and editing partnership.
06
We wrap up
You submit your application and receive an invoice, which can be paid by your institution, by email money transfer (for clients in Canada), or by PayPal (for clients outside Canada).

Pricing:

The cost to hire me as a grants editor is $125/hr. My rush rate for grants editing is $140/hr; I charge my rush rate if I’ll need to work on your grant on the weekend or in the evening. My per-hour rate applies to all of my work, including all kinds of editing and all coaching meetings.

Contact me to book this service.