Grant and Development Support for Emerging Nonprofits

Grassroots @NPO is an accessible grant and development support program created specifically for newly forming and recently established nonprofit organizations.

Grassroots@NPO is designed for organizations that are:

• Newly forming or recently established
• Beginning to explore grant funding
• Developing their first formal funding strategy
• Preparing foundational grant materials
• Seeking guidance on grant readiness
• Operating with limited development staff or resources
• Looking for affordable, professional support without a long-term commitment

Organizations do not need to have an extensive grant history to participate. The program is intended to help emerging nonprofits better understand the funding landscape, strengthen their positioning, and begin pursuing opportunities that align with their mission, programs, geographic reach, and current stage of development.

What Is Included

Aligned Grant Opportunity Research

NPO Grant Consulting will help identify grant opportunities that align with the organization’s mission, programs, service area, population served, and current eligibility.

Research may include private foundations, corporate giving programs, community foundations, local opportunities, and other potential funding sources appropriate for an early-stage nonprofit.

The goal is not simply to locate open applications. It is to help the organization begin developing a realistic and focused funding pipeline.

Early-Stage Funding Strategy

Grassroots@NPO helps organizations consider how different funding sources may support their immediate and long-term goals.

This may include guidance related to:

• Program funding priorities
• General operating support
• Capacity-building needs
• Local and regional funders
• Foundation prospect development
• Application timing
• Grant readiness
• Funding diversification

The strategy is developed around the organization’s actual stage of growth rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Grant Writing and Development Support

Participating organizations receive professional assistance with grant-related writing and development activities.

Support may include:

• Grant application narratives
• Letters of inquiry
• Funder outreach letters
• Organizational descriptions
• Statements of need
• Program descriptions
• Goals and objectives
• Evaluation language
• Sustainability narratives
• Supporting grant materials

The specific work completed each month will depend on the organization’s priorities, readiness, available opportunities, and current funding goals.

Organizational Messaging and Grant Readiness

Newer nonprofits often have compelling missions but may need assistance translating their work into clear, funder-ready language.

Grassroots@NPO can help strengthen how the organization communicates:

• The community need being addressed
• The population or geographic area served
• The organization’s programs and services
• Expected outcomes and community impact
• Leadership experience
• Organizational capacity
• Future goals
• Use of requested funding

This process helps create stronger, more consistent messaging that may be used across applications, outreach materials, funder communications, and future development efforts.

Family Foundations Program

Participation in NPO’s Family Foundations Program is included as part of Grassroots@NPO.

Many small and family-managed foundations do not operate public application portals or widely advertise their funding opportunities. NPO helps identify potentially aligned family foundation prospects and prepares customized outreach letters for the organization to review and send.

This provides emerging nonprofits with an additional pathway for introducing their work to prospective funders and beginning to build relationships beyond traditional open grant cycles.