As a non-profit animal rescue organization active in disaster, the need for Grant funding and Donations is the life-blood of our organization. Following Katrina our organization rescued and provided critical care to over 3,000 animals and established the only fully functioning animal triage facility within New Orleans city limits (despite having no running water or electricity). Www.muttshack.org
Mr. Joseph Hobbs of GrantSecure represented himself and his organization as extremely capable and accomplished in the area of Grant Research and Grant Writing, (claiming to have raised millions of dollars for other non-profits), yet to this date has not delivered a single page of research or a single grant proposal or letter even though he willingly accepted our $2,100 payment and executed a legal contract to do so.
At a time when relief money was readily available and our organization was in desperate need - having re-mortgaged our house to pay for our efforts in New Orleans and incurring many thousands of dollars in debt, Mr Hobbs stood behind empty promises and did nothing and ultimately delivered nothing. Constant pleas for help and for resolution were ignored.
A small claims action was filed, Joseph Hobbs was a no-show. Subsequently, a judgment was entered following an appeal, which Mr Hobbs filed in an attempt to delay the process. He then no-showed the appeal hearing as well. After following the necessary court procedure and filing an order for Debtors Exam Mr. Hobbs finally showed up in court in response to our Petition. Mr Hobbs resisted the exam to the best of his abilities displaying an abundance of hostility and a surprising lack of humility. At one point he attempted to flee the proceedings, but changed his mind on the advice of the court clerk and returned. We gathered as much information during the abbreviated proceedings as Judge (ProTem) Jeffrey W. Cowan would allow us time for - commenting along the way that Mr Hobbs was "very kind" to appear and take part in the proceedings and that we really should afford him some courtesy (without the slightest hint of sarcasm).
All attempts to collect this debt and the additional (several hundred dollars) in service and investigation fees have yielded nothing. At the Debtors Exam hearing Mr Hobbs claimed that he was no longer in the Grant Writing or Research business and receives no fees or compensation whatsoever from such services, yet the GrantSecure website remains operational and inquiries to the email address (at least until recently) yielded replies.
I am not saying that Mr. Hobbs has never delivered on his promise to provide Grant Writing or Research services to anyone prior to our contract or since, I am simply stating the facts of our involvement with him.
The man is well-groomed, seems knowledgeable in the subject of grants and grant funding, maintains a very professional demeanor and is quite charming. He even provides references. As a result, he can be quite disarming.
To a small non-profit with extremely limited resources this loss was both a financial and moral defeat. When $2,100 represents the difference between life and death to a helpless animal - to a dozen helpless animals, I'm sure you can see why we would feel so defeated.
Please take heed of this warning and feel free to contact me if you should need verification of any of the facts herein.
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