SimpleGrants

03/11/2026

The federal government shutdown and continuing resolutions created a backlog of federal programs that have not yet been released. Agencies are preparing to release these delayed funds alongside newly increased appropriations creating a compressed and highly competitive spring grant cycle.

Communities with projects scoped, approved, and ready to submit will have a clear advantage. Join us Thursday, March 19th at 1pm CT for a 30-minute webinar where we’ll break down what’s coming, how agencies are approaching obligation deadlines, and the practical steps your team can take now to position priority projects for funding this spring.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2117732624702/WN_c6ar-3kiRW6UQYL7_Ewefg

09/30/2025

Great news for Anniston! 🎉 The city has been awarded $750,000 through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program to help restore historic downtown buildings.

We’re proud that Simple Grants supported this effort, and we want to give a special shout-out to Andrew Finzen, who authored the successful application. His work helped bring critical funding to preserve Anniston’s history and fuel its future.

Congratulations to the City of Anniston and all who are investing in a vibrant downtown! 💙 https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/grant-money-to-help-historic-downtown-anniston-buildings-be-restored/

The city of Anniston has been awarded $750,000 through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program to go toward the Main Street Anniston business district.

05/15/2025

Thank you for having us Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies

04/21/2025

Jessica Whaley, Founder and CRO of SimpleGrants, will present "Writing Winning Grants" at the Cary Center/Etowah Chamber/United Way of Etowah County's in person "Nonprofit Training Series" in Gadsden at the Etowah Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, May 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Register today at linktr.ee/carycenterau

Jessica Whaley is the founder and CRO of Simple Grants, a full-service grant consulting firm. Since 2010, Simple Grants has secured and helped manage more than $240M in grant funding for its clients who include nonprofit organizations, school systems, universities, state agencies, local governments, and businesses across the globe.

Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Jacksonville State University. She also has a juris doctorate from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the state of Alabama. Her volunteer work includes having served on the boards of Mentor Alabama, Alabama Transit Coalition, River Region Pregnancy Center (2016 President), The Samaritan Counseling Center (2018-20219 President), and the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery (2018-2021 Board Member). She has been a Big Sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama since 2005 and is a member of Church of the Highlands.

Contact Brittany Spillman at [email protected] or 334-844-3557 for additional information.

11/01/2024

DOT RAISE for FY2025 is officially open! $1.8B is available for infrastructure projects. Call us today for help creating your application.

INVESTING IN AMERICA: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1.8 Billion in Infrastructure Grants Across the Country, Putting More Projects into

10/16/2024

We love winning for our clients!!

"The City of Gadsden is now able to launch the planning and construction of a game-changing urban development project with a $3 million Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant thanks to the outstanding team at Simple Grants. They were able to work closely with our state agency to secure their support for our community's vision to develop an urban nature trail through the city's urban core. This award is one of the largest federal grants our city has ever received in its nearly 180-year history." - Brett Johnson, Chief of Staff, City of Gadsden

10/09/2024

With Hurricane Helene’s aftermath still being felt and Hurricane Milton now making landfall in Florida, local governments face pressing challenges in preparing for and managing disaster recovery. To support these efforts, we’ve compiled a guide titled "Navigating Disaster Recovery for Local Governments."

This guide offers practical information on accessing FEMA’s financial assistance programs, including funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and long-term infrastructure repair. It also details key steps for applying and provides state-specific resources to help communities rebuild.

If you know someone who could benefit from this resource, we strongly encourage you to share it with them. In the meantime, stay safe, and take care of your communities.

https://www.simplegrants.com/Simple-Grants-Navigating-Disaster-Recovery-for-Local-Governments.pdf

09/17/2024

Great job April Shaffner! 👏🏻 👏🏻

Did you miss our virtual session last week? You're in luck! Writing Winning Grants with April Shaffner, Grant Consultant at Simple Grants, is now available on our YouTube channel: https://aub.ie/ccvideos

08/22/2024

Thank you to the City of Graysville, Alabama for letting us join them yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony of their pivotal Department of Transportation PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program project. This $5M project will replace 10,000 feet of old cast-iron pipelines, improving safety and livability for Graysville residents. We are honored to be part of this impactful project!