$150M+
GRANTS SECURED
50+
ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED
13+
YEARS OF PRECISION
GPC
GRANT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED
Services
Strategic Grant Development
Competitive proposals for foundation, corporate and government funding.
Federal Grant Management & Compliance
Post-award administration, HUD DRGR system support, financial and performance reporting, reimbursement tracking and regulatory compliance.
Advisory & Leadership Support
Interim strategy, pipeline development and executive-level guidance.
Training & Speaking
Workshops, coaching and presentations for nonprofit teams and grant professionals.
Grant Readiness & Systems
Strengthening infrastructure, compliance and positioning to improve funding outcomes.
Selected Funding Achievements
Secured and supported multi-million-dollar awards across federal, state and private funding streams, including:
- $6M federal investment expanding reentry and supportive service systems
- $5M national foundation award addressing family homelessness through coordinated systems-level response
- $3M federal housing investment supporting youth experiencing homelessness
- $2.1M in state economic development grants advancing green infrastructure and circular economy capacity
- $966K state investment launching a 24-hour behavioral health crisis response program
- $250K national innovation award developing AI-enabled tools to scale youth mental health programming
Plus numerous additional grant awards ranging from $5K to more than $1M across housing, behavioral health, education, workforce development, disability services, environmental sustainability and other nonprofit sectors.
Beyond securing competitive funding, Keyword Grant Consulting, LLC supports the administration and oversight of complex government grants, including federal compliance, financial and programmatic reporting, reimbursement processes and grant management systems. This experience helps organizations navigate requirements throughout the grant lifecycle, from initial application through award closeout.
Client Feedback
"Erica has been instrumental in securing the funding that launched and scaled our work globally. Her ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives helped us achieve 501(c)(3) status and expand our impact to communities worldwide. Her work has directly contributed to breaking cycles of poverty for the people we serve."
NANCY ECONOMOU, WATTS OF LOVE
"Erica brings strategic insight across every level of funding—from federal to private—and has been critical in advancing our work. Most recently, she helped lead a strategic pivot of a $3M+ project to better serve youth experiencing homelessness. Her ability to solve complex challenges and move work forward is unmatched."
BREA HAYES, 360 YOUTH SERVICES
"Erica is an integral part of our development team. She consistently identifies strong funding opportunities, manages complex timelines with precision, and elevates the quality of our grant work. Her strategic thinking and reliability make her an invaluable partner."
CHERYL WENDT, LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS
"Erica is a highly responsive and effective partner who brings strong insight into the funding landscape. She has helped us develop compelling proposals and navigate complex reporting and federal processes with ease. She makes the entire grants process more strategic and manageable."
JASON FELDMAN, GREEN ERA EDUCATIONAL NFP
Trusted By
Integrity and precision drive every funding strategy I build.
About
Erica Whelan, GPC, GME, is a grant strategist and federal grants management professional with more than 13 years of experience helping nonprofit organizations secure funding, navigate complex grant requirements and strengthen long-term sustainability.
As President of Keyword Grant Consulting, LLC, she has secured more than $150 million in competitive funding for 50+ organizations through federal, state, local, foundation and corporate grant programs. Her expertise extends across the full grant lifecycle, including strategic planning, proposal development, budgeting, post-award administration, regulatory compliance and financial and performance reporting.
Erica has extensive experience with federal funding programs administered by HUD, HRSA and DOJ, including specialized experience with HUD's Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting (DRGR) system and Neighborly Software for government grant applications. Her work spans homelessness and supportive housing, behavioral health, substance use treatment, healthcare, disability services, education, workforce development and community development.
She holds a Master of Arts in Grant Writing, Management and Evaluation and the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential. She serves as Vice President of the Grant Professionals Association Chicago Area Chapter and is also a frequent presenter and advocate for excellence in the grants profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While deeply rooted in the Chicago region, I work with nonprofit clients nationwide.
Do you work with organizations outside Illinois?
Foundation, corporate and government funding, including complex public funding opportunities.
What types of grants do you specialize in?
Do you offer consulting or strategy sessions?
Yes. In addition to full grant development, I offer focused strategy sessions and advisory support for organizations seeking guidance on funding approach, readiness and positioning.
Do you offer flat-fee or hourly pricing?
Engagements are structured based on scope and complexity. Work is offered on a project or retainer basis rather than hourly.
How far in advance should we reach out?
Ideally, organizations should reach out as early as possible—particularly for larger or more complex opportunities. However, I can occasionally accommodate shorter timelines depending on availability.
What do you need from us to get started?
This depends on the project, but typically includes program details, organizational information, financials and any existing materials relevant to the opportunity.
I work collaboratively with your team, incorporating feedback and ensuring alignment throughout the process while maintaining efficiency and meeting deadlines.
How does the process work during proposal development?
Do you provide post-award grant management and compliance support?
Yes. In addition to grant development, Keyword Grant Consulting provides post-award support for government and private grants, including compliance guidance, grant reporting, budget monitoring, reimbursement documentation and performance tracking.
What types of organizations are the best fit for your services?
Organizations with clearly defined programs, leadership engagement and a commitment to pursuing funding strategically tend to see the strongest results.
My work is focused exclusively on nonprofit organizations. This allows me to bring deep expertise in nonprofit funding, grant strategy and the unique requirements of foundation and government funding.
Do you work with for-profit organizations?
Ready to Secure Your Funding?
Connect with Keyword Grant Consulting, LLC for clear and effective solutions.
Email: erica@keywordgrants.com
Phone: (630) 999-7937
GRANT DEVELOPMENT • FUNDING STRATEGY • PROVEN RESULTS