Woman creates free tool, new AI-powered grant-writing app
By Rachel Ripp
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A Kansas City woman with an extensive grant-writing background just created a new AI-powered app to help nonprofits.
Barbara Wright created an app called Grant Builder Pro Max.
“I wrote raps, rhymes, songs, plays, never knowing — and stories — never knowing that that would end up being a part of my destiny and something that I would do,” said Dr. Wright, president of Certified Dream Builder Inc.
She has experience writing grants for the Housing Authority and Kansas City Public Schools. She also taught at JCCC and UMKC for years.
“I started to develop some systems that expedited the grant process using PDFs and using Excel and using some of the technology that was already existing at the time. I didn’t even realize that I was developing a system that goes out and scrapes search engines and pulls the information in. I didn’t realize I was developing an AI myself, for the grant writing,” Wright said.
This tool, which makes the grant writing process easier, is available on the App Store for iPhones and the Google Play Store for Androids.
Important features within the app are completely free, including the questionnaire and readiness profile.
Depending on answers submitted in the questionnaire, the app will generate suggestions and advice on how a nonprofit can improve its readiness.
Wright and her team launched the first version of the app about two years ago, but they went back to the drawing board several months ago to build a new version with AI. The AI version has only been available for about two months.
“I want as many people as possible to have the things that they need,” Wright said. “Take your dreams and your ideas and turn them into reality. I say my slogan is, ‘I help manifest millions for missions who are providing miracles to many.'”
She hosts a free virtual class in conjunction with the app, covering topics of grant writing for child care, veterans programs, homelessness and housing.
In it, she asks the important questions:
Have you thought about how to sustain when the money is gone? Have you developed your goals and objectives? Have you considered how you want this to be successful and who you’re going to serve?
Wright is currently helping entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders from Kansas, Colorado and Florida.
“I can take my software and empower families in the Florida area and do what I need to do to serve them in a quicker motion,” said Evelyn Deterville, executive director of Extra Mile Club Str8 Up.
Some of these people taking her class tell KMBC the app has allowed them to be more responsive to vision and mission, converting solutions into income.
“I’m really appreciative of it, and as I said, Dr. Barbara is touching and serving as a catalyst for social entrepreneurs all over the country, and her app has given us a powerful tool to make that happen,” said Daniel Haupt, director of Destiny Community Development Center.
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