Yes and yes—a solid grant writing process often includes both copy editing and mock review, but from separate reviewers and at different milestones in the timeline.

Each one ensures high quality, but they result in different types of feedback.

Copy Editing

The purpose. All types of grant documents that you create should go through a copy edit. DH Leonard Consulting has a dedicated copy editor with extensive development experience on our staff. This process ensures that the storytelling and supporting files in your grant application are easily understood, grammatically correct, and more.

The outcome. Copy editing results in non-permanent suggestions and queries throughout a document that optimize sentences, paragraphs, and storytelling. Copy editors do not know the subject matter as well as the writer; many of their comments are recommendations. Grant writers review the copy editor’s queries and decide whether to use each suggestion or edit.

The timing. The most helpful time in the grant writing process for the task of copy editing is after our client reviews the first drafts and we have updated them accordingly.

Mock Review

The purpose. Mock review ensures alignment with the funder’s guidelines and requirements. We always build mock review into our process for government grant applications in particular. Foundation grants certainly benefit as well. At DH Leonard Consulting, we contract with mock reviewers with deep grants experience. We use three reviewers for each government application.

The outcome. Mock reviewers enter numerical scores into a rubric of evaluative questions that we create based on the funder’s requirements. The scores gauge how well the application accomplishes what the funder expects in a successful application. Their feedback is contained in the rubric document for the most part, although they might comment in one of the drafts as well. After considering the mock review results, the grant writer responsively modifies the documents as needed.

The timing. The optimal time for this review is after the draft and all required attachments are “finished” but before the application is submitted. The mock reviewers must receive the grantmakers’ requirements and guidelines, as well as all documents and attachments that make up the complete grant application, so that they can evaluate the application in its entirety.

Now you can see the benefits to and differences between copy editing and mock review. Imagine a Ven diagram with each type of review on either side. The center of the diagram would be this: Both engage knowledgeable reviewers to offer specific insights for optimizing your grant application.

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Did you know: DH Leonard Consulting and Grant Writing Services provides experienced professionals to fill both needs for you, as well as a Mock Review toolkit download to guide you in that particular critique.