How Leyton’s Client-Centric Grant Consulting Maximizes Funding Success

  • By Erica Harrison
    • Dec 08, 2025
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grant consulting

Every organization has unique goals, challenges, and growth ambitions, and effective grant consulting means taking the time to understand these needs in depth.

From the very first conversation, placing clients at the forefront requires not only listening but also aligning their objectives with the right funding opportunities. This ensures that the grant-seeking process is not transactional, but rather a strategic partnership designed to maximize outcomes and create lasting value.

Grant success increases when the process is collaborative and transparent. Developing strong applications is not simply about filling out forms, it is about co-creating compelling project narratives that highlight innovation, impact, and alignment with program priorities.

By keeping clients informed through progress tracking and milestone updates, we reduce the stress often associated with competitive funding processes. Equally important is that our engagement does not end at submission.

Supporting clients with revisions, compliance reporting, and even co-branding success stories strengthens long-term trust and reinforces the partnership.

In today’s competitive business environment, grants are far more than a source of funding; they serve as catalysts for innovation, market expansion, and long-term growth.

Whether a company is scaling into new export markets or integrating advanced technologies, grants are most effective when positioned as part of a larger roadmap for success rather than an isolated case.

How client-centric grant consulting maximizes growth, using CanExport SMe and RAII as examples.

CanExport SME

  • Designed for small- and medium-sized businesses entering new international markets
  • Offers up to $50,000 (covers 50% of eligible costs)

Supports activities like:

  • Attending trade shows
  • Conducting market research
  • IP protection in target markets

Why it matters for businesses:

  • Builds global visibility
  • Unlocks new export opportunities
  • Diversifies revenue streams
  • Strengthens competitiveness abroad

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

  • Part of Canada’s strategy to advance AI adoption and commercialization
  • Provides repayable and non-repayable funding: Amounts can range from $200,000 – $5,000,000 depending on the project
  • Supports: Commercializing advanced AI technologies, and Commercializing advanced AI technologies

Why it matters for businesses:

  • Accelerates digital transformation
  • Boosts productivity and efficiency
  • Promotes ethical and responsible AI use
  • Positions companies as leaders in technology and innovation

To succeed in programs like CanExport SME and RAII, clients must approach applications with a strategic mindset. They must present clear and comprehensive project descriptions, realistic budgets and implementation strategies, while showing measurable economic or social impact to increase competitiveness.

The benefits of these grants extend well beyond immediate financial relief and applications must showcase the larger impact.  

Both programs help businesses by:

  • Acting as a catalyst for innovation
  • Creating new jobs
  • Attracting further investment

Nevertheless, many companies face hurdles with CanExport SME due to strict eligibility rules, limits on repeat markets, the need to co-fund 50% of costs, and heavy documentation. With RAII, challenges include highly competitive funding, complex technical and governance requirements, regional variations, and significant time and resource demands.

At Leyton, we place clients at the center of the process and transform the grant-seeking process from a stressful, hit-or-miss process into a strategic tool for growth. We use our expertise to help companies maximize their chances of success by:

  • Aligning goals with the right grants and shaping projects to meet eligibility
  • Crafting stronger applications with clear, compelling narratives that highlight impact
  • Saving time and ensuring compliance through expertise, templates, and deadline management
  • Providing post-submission support, including reporting, revisions, and showcasing wins
  • Building a long-term funding roadmap that helps companies scale, innovate, and expand

Do you have an upcoming project? Please do not hesitate to contact us.

This end-to-end grant consulting support helps companies secure funding while staying focused on their core operations. With at track record of success, we will help you navigate the funding landscape and help you offset project costs.

Author

Erica
Erica Harrison

Manager, Government Grants

Contact us to discuss your upcoming project

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