Grant Research, Grant Writing, Grant Management
Grant solutions that strengthen communities and improve lives.
We become an extension of your staff — researching, writing, and managing grants so your municipal team can focus on the work that matters most.
TRUSTED BY
Performance Record
$1.8 Billion
In grant funding secured for municipal government clients
2,300+
Grant applications written across all active service areas
46%
Average client funding rate — well above the industry average of 5-20%
$125:1
Return on investment — up to $125 secured per $1 in fees
Our Approach
Three disciplines.
One integrated practice.
Every engagement is managed by a senior director with deep experience in municipal funding environments. We don't hand off work across departments or rely on junior staff.
Grant Research
We continuously monitor state, federal, and foundation funding landscapes, identifying opportunities matched precisely to your municipality's priorities and readiness.
Active opportunity monitoring
Eligibility pre-screening
Strategic match analysis
Funding calendar management
Grant Writing
Proposals authored by writers who understand the language of program officers. Our applications are structured to meet requirements and positioned to stand out in competitive pools.
Narrative development
Budget preparation & justification
Compliance review
Submission management
Grant Management
Once awarded, we stay engaged, coordinating reporting, compliance tracking, and funder relationships so your team can implement programs without administrative burden.
Post-award compliance
Progress reporting
Funder relationship management
Closeout documentation
Leadership
Executive Management Team
Our management team bring decades of combined municipal funding expertise to every engagement.
Natale Lessey
chief executive Officer
A visionary leader who has spent over a decade defining how municipalities access and leverage grant funding. Natale shapes the firm's strategic direction, anticipates the evolving needs of public agencies, and ensures B&A remains at the forefront of municipal funding solutions.
13+ years grant services experience
Infrastructure, RAISE / BUILD, California
Whitten Guajardo
chief operating officer
A seasoned operations executive who oversees all company divisions, driving efficiency, team performance, and scalable growth. Whitten leads strategy and innovation alongside day-to-day operations, ensuring B&A is built to deliver excellence for every client. Whitten also serves as B&A's in-house AI expert, driving forward-thinking initiatives to keep the team ahead of the curve.
10 years of client facing experience
Operations, Service Delivery
Susan Worley
managing director of grant development
Expert grant writer and team leader with 100+ applications authored and $72M secured across transportation, water infrastructure, parks, and hazard mitigation. Deep expertise in federal, state, and local funding landscapes for municipalities and councils of government.
10+ years grant services experience
Grant Writing, Narratives
Ursula Drake
managing director of grant management
Over two decades of grant management experience spanning federal, state, and regional programs. Former U.S. Department of Energy Contracting Officer with specialized expertise in compliance, multi-million-dollar portfolio oversight, and full lifecycle management from application through closeout.
25+ years grant services experience
Compliance, Post-Award
Recent Grant Wins
Case Study — Grant Services
B&A secured a highly competitive federal RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the City of Anaheim, unlocking funding for five transformative infrastructure connections in Anaheim, California.
Securing $5,066,500 for Active Transportation
problem
Anaheim’s major job centers and entertainment destinations lacked safe, connected active transportation routes to the regional rail and bus transit center, creating a critical gap in multimodal mobility that left residents and commuters without viable car-free options.
solution
B&A authored and submitted a turnkey Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Planning Grant application, securing over $5M to develop shovel-ready construction documents for five high-impact active transportation connections across Anaheim, California.
$5.1M
grant award
343,509
city population
5
infrastructure connections
$238M
total funding secured
to date
to date
Capabilities
Our Services
Our service model is built around the realities of municipal operations — lean teams, competing priorities, and limited bandwidth for pursuit of grant funding. Our services were built to remove the burden from your staff.
What grants are best fit my City's priority projects?
Continuous landscape monitoring matched to your municipality's Capital Improvement Plan and strategic priorities. No generic lists — curated, qualified opportunities only.
How can we make our grant application stronger and more competitive?
Full-service narrative writing, budget development, and compliance review. We write for program officers — technically sound and narratively compelling.
How can we keep submissions, attachments, and approvals organized from start to finish?
End-to-end coordination of submission portals, required attachments, and interdepartmental sign-offs. Deadlines managed without exception.
How can I ensure we comply with all requirements of the grant after winning?
Progress reporting, financial compliance, and funder communication so your team can implement programs without administrative friction.
How can we clearly communicate grant updates to council and staff?
Clear, concise grant status reporting structured for council presentations, City Manager updates, and budget planning cycles.
How do we plan ahead so funding opportunities align with our city’s long-term priorities?
Multi-year grant roadmaps aligned to your CIP and departmental needs, giving your leadership a clear picture of where funding opportunities exist and when to pursue them.
Grant Opportunity Assessment
Continuous landscape monitoring matched to your municipality's Capital Improvement Plan and strategic priorities. No generic lists — curated, qualified opportunities only.
Proposal Development
Full-service narrative writing, budget development, and compliance review. We write for program officers — technically sound and narratively compelling.
Application Management
End-to-end coordination of submission portals, required attachments, and interdepartmental sign-offs. Deadlines managed without exception.
Post-Award Compliance
Progress reporting, financial compliance, and funder communication so your team can implement programs without administrative friction.
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Council & Staff Briefings
Clear, concise grant status reporting structured for council presentations, City Manager updates, and budget planning cycles.
Strategic Funding Plans
Multi-year grant roadmaps aligned to your CIP and departmental needs, giving your leadership a clear picture of where funding opportunities exist and when to pursue them.
GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT
Where We Operate.
Our primary practice is concentrated in California and Texas — two of the most complex and competitive grant environments in the country.
CA
California
TX
Texas
OK
Oklahoma
CO
Colorado
AK
Alaska
FL
Florida
We are selectively expanding our footprint across the Mountain West, Southeast, and Pacific Northwest, and welcome new partnerships across the country.