We recently connected with Shavonn Richardson and have shared our conversation below.

Shavonn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

As a nonprofit leader, I saw how difficult it was to get grants. I co-founded a prostate cancer nonprofit. I have walked the journey so many nonprofit leaders walk. Then, I saw grant-seeking through the eyes of a funder. I worked for a corporate foundation office that distributed over $1.3 million in grants and sponsorship to Atlanta nonprofits. It was a privilege to read multiple applications, learn what stood out in some applications, and see opportunities for improvement in others.

Seeing both ends of the grant “giving” and “seeking” equation, I saw a crystal clear vision of what resources are available and what funders expect from nonprofits. From my vantage point, I realized nonprofit organizations were in dire need of help. The gap between the availability of professional help and the ability of nonprofits to meet funders’ expectations was miles apart.

I thought, “How can we help level the playing field for nonprofit organizations?”

This is how Think and Ink Grants was born.

Shavonn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The Nonprofit Dilemma:

Nonprofit leaders need grant writers and nonprofit consultants who understand your needs, can work within your team, understand your quirks, and tell your story in your voice. It is hard enough to run a nonprofit organization. It’s even harder to find the right partner to help find and win grants. The frustration of not being able to find this support is mind-boggling.

Funders don’t want to see nonprofits rush to submit applications without much time, energy, or strategy invested. Having someone in your corner with specific knowledge to help design a big-picture strategy improves your organizational effectiveness and increases your grant funding.

Nonprofits need a trusted partner to provide end-to-end support without hiring multiple firms to get the job done. Currently, after someone researches and writes the grant, nonprofit organizations have to figure out how to manage it, complete funder required reports, implement the evaluation plan, and write an evaluation report. This can be a lot for any nonprofit, expensive to outsource, and many people to engage.

Having grant writers and nonprofit consultants with specialized knowledge helps nonprofits concentrate on activities that will move the needle to get results in the least amount of time. The outcome is the submission of competitive proposals generating a consistent flow of grant wins month after month.

Many organizations across the country are unknowingly making the same mistakes over and over again, wasting valuable time and precious resources.

The Solution:

Founded in 2016 in Atlanta, GA, Think and Ink Grant Consulting® (Think and Ink Grants®) provides customized solutions to help nonprofits “think” through strategy and “ink” competitive proposals to transform how organizations find grants, connect with funders, solve problems, and deepen community impact. During my time as a nonprofit leader and grantmaker, I saw many nonprofits skip the strategic “thinking” step and rush right into writing grants. We help nonprofits be more strategic in their grant-seeking so that they can submit competitive applications. Our firm specializes in grants supporting women, children, health, and education- the most vulnerable areas of our society.

​We take a comprehensive approach to helping nonprofits increase their grant funding, offering an array of outsourced, end-to-end grant-seeking services, which includes (1) grant-seeking strategic planning, (2) grant research, (3) grant writing, (4) grant reporting, and (5) evaluation support.

​Our team at Think and Ink Grants® provides grant writing and consulting services to a variety of organizations, including large 501(c)(3) nonprofits with budgets of $ 3 million or more, colleges, universities, and institutions of higher education, city and county municipalities, mental health and behavioral health organizations, and more. Our team has a successful track record of helping organizations nationwide deepen community impact.

Our newest initiative, Get.Grants.Better.® provides training, education, and discounted services to underserved and emerging 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

We are proud to be a Black-owned, women-owned, and DBE and MBE-certified firm.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Delivering outstanding service client after client.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started my career in Finance. Then, I gravitated toward nonprofit work. After realizing I am the fourth generation of my family to do so, it all made sense.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thinkandinkgrants.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkandinkgrants/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shavonnrichardson/