If anyone is interested in grant writing workshops, do your homework before sending these folks any money--or before you conduct a workshop on their behalf.

Visit a website at www.the-grant-institute.com, which lists numerous complaints including links to a press release from the California Attorney General's office warning consumers and a report about consumers in Alaska who collectively lost some $30, 000 in registration fees for a workshop that never happened. The State of Texas has apparently banned them from doing workshops in their state. Another link is to the LA Better Business Bureau where the company has an 'F' rating.

Reports indicate that consumers who register and either never have a workshop or have a speaker who is either only there for part of the time or who is not an experience grant writer are not able to get refunds. At least some speakers (who were contacted at the last minute to 'fill-in' due to a family emergency of the scheduled speaker who apparently doesn't exist) were reportedly never paid for their services. Telephone numbers suddenly don't work or message boards are too full to leave messages; emails are returned as non-deliverable.

The site also has information on where and how to file complaints with authorities.

Beware.