Plumb Line Grant Partners, LLC
Competitive Grant Proposals Built on Full Context and Federal-Grade Quality

About Plumb Line Grant Partners
Plumb Line Grant Partners was founded on a simple premise: competitive grant proposals require an organization to be rendered in full context — the work, the population served, the community need being filled — not summarized into a flat compliance narrative. Led by Starr M. Hayes, MS/Ed.S., a higher education professional and federally funded TRIO Student Support Services program director, our practice exists to deliver federal-grade quality grant writing for nonprofits that lack the internal capacity to compete on their own.
Every proposal we write is measured against the funder’s published criteria, against the lived reality of the population served, and against the standard of full and honest representation. With credentials earned through successful federal proposals—including a TRIO SSS award and a FIPSE proposal that scored 91 of 100 in federal peer review—we bring proven expertise to mission-driven organizations pursuing federal, state, and major philanthropic funding. Based in Beaufort, South Carolina, we serve nonprofits ready to elevate their grant competitiveness.
Our Services

Funding Research, Budget Development & Compliance
Strategic funding prospect analysis, logic model and evaluation framework design, detailed budget development with narratives, and post-award readiness setup. We ensure your proposals are competitive and compliant.

Grant Proposal Development & Writing
Comprehensive federal, state, and foundation grant proposal development. We craft compelling narratives that present your organization in full context, meeting funder criteria and federal-grade quality standards.
Capacity Building & Strategic Coaching
Capacity-building coaching for nonprofit development staff, multi-partner coalition proposal development, proposal peer-review-style scoring, and strategic retainer engagements to strengthen your organization’s grant competitiveness.