A compelling narrative.
That’s what it takes to get your story noticed by funders and customers. Hook them with a narrative that neatly unites their goals and interests with your projects, services, and products. Together, let’s find the compelling narrative to grow your organization.
For nonprofits and municipalities, Pen Name can help you secure grant funding through proposals that demonstrate your ability to solve problems. For small businesses, Pen Name can help you build credibility and engage your target audience through creative storytelling, ecommerce features, and newsworthy announcements that generate positive press for your business.
Pen Name, a Maine grant-writing and lifestyle PR consultancy, shapes your story into a compelling narrative that gets results.
Words to Grow Your Organization
Earned Media
Scale your organization by getting your story, expertise, and/or lifestyle products featured in local, state, and national publications.
Grant Writing
Secure grant funding from the philanthropic and public agency funders best aligned with your mission to achieve your orgaonizational goals.
Copywriting
Connect with your customers through helpful, engaging content – like email campaigns and blog posts – that aligns with your brand.
About Elaine, Founder of Pen Name
With the nickname “Elaine from Maine”, I’ve built a reputation for championing Maine’s businesses, nonprofits, and small town lifestyle. My strength is writing – I arrange your story and accomplishments in clear, concise, compelling language that attracts grant funding, garners media attention, and translates into greater engagement with your beneficiaries.
In ten years of grant writing and earned media, I’ve helped organizations reach growth milestones: from installing equipment to double production capacity, to funding a major tourism campaign, to revitalizing riverside greenspaces for their community.
Testimonials
“Elaine is a top notch PR expert but is also one of the most effective grant writers I have met in my career. I feel like we were given a gift in having someone can get outstanding national and regional PR but also lead the charge in helping us get the state and federal funding to help grow our business. Elaine is super organized and what she says she is going to do she does and does well. I highly recommend her!“
– Lewis Goldstein, CEO of Maine Crisp Company
“We hired Elaine to work with our small company on grant writing and public relations because we had heard through the grapevine that “she’s great.” Well…the grapevine was right.
Elaine is one of those rare people who go above and beyond, is three steps ahead of us, strives for self-improvement, and isn’t afraid of hard work. For example, we had dismissed applying for a certain federal grant. But against her own self-interest (as she would largely be doing the writing), Elaine explained how it could work for us. She proceeded to draft large portions of the proposal, and she served as an invaluable sounding board. That grant proposal was successful, and we have Elaine to thank for it.
Elaine also worked her magic in the PR realm, successfully pitching our story and preparing us behind the scenes. This was a new area for us, and Elaine’s guidance was invaluable.
Smart, a great writer, and an all-round good person. What a delightful person to work with!”
– Krista Rosen, Co-Founder of Cold Current Kelp
“Elaine was a true partner in our last grant writing project. Each meeting was super productive as Elaine anticipated our every need, asking all the right questions. Her precise writing packs a punch – she nailed our proposal!”
– Cara Romano, executive director of Heart of Ellsworth