Grant Strategy, Partnerships, and Program Expansion for a Non-Profit
Situation:
The nonprofit had recently experienced a significant reduction in corporate funding, which created an urgent need to diversify revenue sources and secure more stable funding channels. At the same time, the organization sought to strengthen its annual fundraising event, deepen partnerships with local businesses, and expand program reach across the county and beyond. The team collaborated to help the nonprofit build a comprehensive approach to grants, partnerships, and expansion strategies that would improve long term stability.
Challenge:
The organization relied heavily on a small number of sponsors and had limited infrastructure for managing grant cycles, partner outreach, and event logistics. Their annual auction lacked standardized sponsorship tiers, their outreach materials were inconsistent, and partner relationships were not formally tracked. Additionally, the nonprofit did not have a clear roadmap for expanding literacy programs into underserved areas, nor a system for coordinating outreach with schools, volunteers, and university organizations. The team’s challenge was to build operational clarity while strengthening external engagement and program growth.
Approach:
The team created a centralized grant pipeline to categorize funders by eligibility, alignment, and size. A standardized grant toolkit was developed, which included templates for Letters of Intent, reusable narrative components, and a collection of success stories and impact metrics. A grants calendar was designed to assign ownership and deadlines across staff and volunteers. The team also refined a partnership proposal to reengage a major former funder and leveraged university networks to identify new grant opportunities. A feedback system was proposed to evaluate each application and improve success rates over time.
The team reviewed existing sponsorship structures and redesigned them into clear bronze, silver, and gold tiers with defined benefits. A corporate engagement playbook was drafted to support outreach to businesses, including scripts, co branding options, and updated messaging. To elevate the annual auction, the team created an operations framework with item sourcing checklists, marketing integration plans, event day timelines, and post event retention steps. A sponsorship tracking system was recommended to improve organization and renewal potential. Additional opportunities for co hosted events with schools and local nonprofits were identified to broaden visibility and community participation.
To support program expansion, the team identified underserved areas and potential partner schools for English language and literacy initiatives. An implementation roadmap was created to help scale successful pilots across the county. The team also recommended enhanced communication strategies using social media, newsletters, and local media to highlight impact stories and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers and educators were equipped with storytelling tools, including visuals and testimonials, to strengthen community engagement. The team also identified opportunities to collaborate with local school districts and university organizations to expand programming and volunteer networks.
Across all areas, the team focused on sustainable systems, clearer processes, and stronger community alignment to help the nonprofit grow with confidence.
Impact:
The nonprofit received a complete suite of tools and systems designed to strengthen funding stability and community reach. The grant pipeline, toolkit, and calendar provided a repeatable structure for pursuing new funding opportunities. The redesigned sponsorship tiers and corporate engagement materials created a more professional foundation for building long term partnerships. The auction operations framework improved clarity for event planning, marketing, and donor retention. The program expansion roadmap and outreach recommendations equipped the nonprofit to engage new schools, volunteers, and partner organizations. Together, these resources positioned the organization to expand its literacy impact while improving operational consistency and financial resilience.
Team Breakdown
Team Lead: Adithya Karthikeyan
Strategist: Jackson Rehm
Strategist: Michael Hooley
Junior Strategist: Harrison Maute
Junior Strategist: Madeleine Gray
Junior Strategist: Adyanth Ganesh
Junior Strategist: Rizaa Fazal
Title: Read to Succeed
Relevant Background Information
Business Type: Non-Profit
Industry: Literacy, Child Development
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
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