One consistent issue for agencies performing digital investigations is maintaining labs and equipment within budgetary restrictions.
There’s where grants can come in.
Agencies can often benefit greatly from the grants available to them to help them in their pursuit of justice. But it can be hard to know where to start.
Magnet Forensics offers a Grant Assistance Program specifically to help in this area, and it’s assisted many agencies apply for—and receive—substantial grants that have made all the difference for digital forensics teams. In this Q&A, we talk to Joshua King, Grant Writer for Magnet Forensics, about his role in grant writing, how it can possibly help your agency, and how you can get started.
Hi Joshua, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Maybe start by telling us a bit about the Magnet Forensics Grant Assistance Program and your role in it.
I am the Grant Writing Assistant Specialist for Magnet Forensics. Magnet Forensics offers the Grant Assistance Program to law enforcement agencies for free. This program is designed to assist agencies locate, research, and complete grants to gain the grant awards that will give the agencies the ability to secure the funding needed to allow projects and equipment purchases that they may not otherwise be able to obtain. The agency will be paired with a grant writing professional that has extensive experience with grant writing.
Why are grants worth applying for?
Grants are essentially free money allocated by the government that typically does not have to be paid back. A lot of agencies do not have the experience, staffing, or time needed to successfully complete the grant application process. I have assisted numerous agencies across the country. I also teach grant writing for law enforcement. I have yet to find an agency that has the budget to purchase any and everything they want and need. Law enforcement agencies have stringent budgets that typically will not allow the agency to make all the necessary purchases needed to make investigations easier and more productive. There are several grants available that can assist with this struggle. That is where the Magnet Forensics Grant Assistance Program can be a major asset.
Who would you say is a prime candidate to get help getting grants?
I feel that every law enforcement agency should utilize grants and apply for as many as possible that they qualify for. There are some grants that are tailored for small, rural, or urban areas, and there are other grants that are designed for larger metropolitan areas. The grant opportunities can range for drug investigations, violent crime reduction, innovative technology implementation, and a variety of other topics. I think every law enforcement can be a prime candidate depending on the details of the grants available.
What should applicants keep in mind as they go through the process?
The grant application process can be very time consuming. Without the experience and knowledge of the grant process and what the grant administrators expect, the process can be very difficult and frustrating. Having a grant writing assistant can ease that burden and make the entire process less stressful. Grant writing requires careful planning, thorough research, persuasive writing skills, and a clear presentation of the project’s goals, objectives, and expected outcomes. After the application process is completed, it can take months to receive notification about the awards as well.
Anything else you want people to know?
Some difficulties that may arise when seeking grant funding are a lack of government funding, fierce competition, and poor grant-writing skills. We can’t do anything about the government funds. We can, however, do a lot about poor grant-writing skills, which in turn will make your application more competitive. That is just one of the benefits of using the Magnet Forensics Grant Assistance Program. We cannot guarantee a successful award from a grant, but we can assist you in being in the best position possible when applying, and we have been very successful with the agencies who have utilized the program.
How can people get started?
If you’re a Magnet Forensics customer, the best way to get started is to contact your account representative. If you’re not a Magnet Forensics customer, we can help you get started on the journey to applying for grants to obtain Magnet Forensics solutions. You can also utilize the Magnet Forensics Grant Assistance Program page to get in contact with a grant writing specialist to begin this process.
