Grants Shouldn't Feel Like a Scramble.

I help small and mid-sized nonprofits build a real grant strategy and the organizational strength to back every ask — and become the kind of organization foundations want to fund.

You're writing proposals on top of everything else, or handing it off to someone who's already stretched thin. Meanwhile, funders are looking at a lot more than your proposal: your website, your financials, your storytelling, your donor base.

I bring 25+ years of nonprofit leadership experience to help you get it all working together.

Are you leaving grant money on the table?

Foundation funding is more competitive than ever — and program officers are doing their homework. Before recommending your grant for approval, they've visited your website, read your annual report, evaluated your donor base, and assessed whether your financials tell a credible story. A strong proposal gets you in the room. But if the rest of your organization doesn't hold up to scrutiny, the answer is likely a “no.”

Most grant writers hand you a proposal and move on. I help you close the gaps that are quietly costing you funding.

SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR NONPROFIT

Winning grants takes more than a great proposal.

Donor Communications

Appeals and newsletters that show funders you're trusted

Grant Strategy + Writing

Strategy for finding the right funders and winning their support

Web + Newsletter Copy

Clear, mission-driven content that reflects your work

Annual Reports

Impact narratives that build funder confidence

Here's what that looks like in practice:

The narrative that ties every grant ask together

Systems + Coaching

Infrastructure and guidance that builds lasting internal capacity

Storytelling

Built for nonprofits like yours.

Three people in front of a colorful puzzle

My clients are established nonprofits — typically with budgets between $500K and $3M — who are already winning some grants but know they're underperforming their potential. They're ready to stop reacting and start strategizing.

Great fit if you...

  • Win grants occasionally but lack a real strategy

  • Want to grow grant revenue over 1–3 years

  • Need senior expertise without a full-time hire

  • Want to build internal capacity, not dependency

Probably not the right fit if...

  • Your organization is brand new or pre-revenue

  • You need a single proposal with no broader engagement

  • You want quick turnaround without strategic input

MEET Renée Johansson, FOUNDER + PRINCIPAL

I’ve been in your shoes.

With over 25 years of hands-on nonprofit leadership, I know what it's like to chase grants without a strategy, write appeals with no time, and try to build systems while running a full organization.

I didn't start my career here — early stops at a bank and a major record label taught me a lot about strategy, systems, and accountability. But I kept coming back to mission-driven work. I made a deliberate choice to bring everything I'd learned into a sector I actually believed in.

I've raised more than $18M, written successful six-figure grant proposals, and guided organizations through transitions, mergers, and growth as an executive director, interim director, development and communications director, capital campaign leader, and board member.

Winning grants consistently isn't just about good writing — it's about having an organization that funders trust. My work helps you build that.

What nonprofit leaders say.