Case Study #1: Nonprofit Impact & Funding Strategy
Client: Steppin Stone Organization
Kansas City, MO
Consultant: Keonna Farmer
Raising $50,000+ in Funding Opportunities in 12 Months
or Less
6-Week Strategic Buildout

 

This nonprofit came to me seeking grant support — but they weren’t ready to win grants yet.

They had passion, a strong mission, and community need, but lacked the funding
infrastructure, positioning, and systems required to secure sustainable support.

Rather than rushing them into applications they were not positioned to win, I designed a
multi-tier funding strategy that created immediate revenue opportunities and long-term
readiness.

Within six weeks, I delivered a complete $50,000+ funding roadmap, tailored funding
proposals, KPIs, role clarity, outreach strategy, website copy, and a curated corporate
prospect list — positioning the organization to confidently request funding from corporate
partners, city officials, and community stakeholders.

​

Client Snapshot (Before Engagement)

• Organization Type: Early-stage nonprofit

• Primary Focus: Community-based services

• Funding Status: Minimal and inconsistent

• Grant Readiness: Not yet grant-ready

• Key Challenges:

  • No structured funding or fundraising strategy

  • No diversified revenue pathways

  • No clear funding request frameworks

  • No targeted corporate or city outreach plan

  • Messaging not aligned to funder priorities

​​

The Challenge
The organization initially requested grant writing support, but assessment revealed several
critical gaps:

• No funding roadmap tied to clear revenue goals

• No understanding of how corporate, municipal, and grant funding differ

• No tailored proposals aligned to corporate CSR priorities or city impact goals

• No system for identifying or prioritizing potential funding partners

• Website messaging focused on passion, not outcomes or investment impact

​​

Submitting grants at this stage would have resulted in low success rates and wasted effort.
The real need was funding strategy, infrastructure, and targeted outreach before
applications.

​

My Role
I served as the strategic funding advisor and nonprofit readiness lead, responsible for:

• Designing a diversified funding strategy

• Building tailored funding proposal frameworks

• Identifying aligned corporate funding prospects

• Establishing KPIs and accountability

• Aligning messaging for corporate, city, and community stakeholders

• Preparing the organization for long-term grant and foundation success

 

The Strategy
I designed a 12-month, $50,000+ funding roadmap built on multiple funding pathways,
ensuring the organization could pursue funding immediately without relying on a single source.

All strategy and execution materials were delivered within six weeks.

Funding Strategy Pillars

• Immediate funding access

• Diversified revenue streams

• Targeted outreach to aligned funders

• Scalable systems that support long-term growth

​​

Deliverables Executed (6 Weeks)
1. $50,000+ Funding & Fundraising Roadmap

• Clear revenue goal with monthly and quarterly benchmarks

• Multiple funding streams including:

  • Individual donations

  • Community campaigns

  • Corporate sponsorships

  • City and municipal funding requests
     

2. Tiered Funding Proposal System ($500–$15,000)
I created custom funding proposal templates designed for distinct funding audiences:

Corporate Funding Proposals

• Aligned to corporate CSR, workforce, and community investment priorities

• Structured sponsorship levels and program-based asks
   

City & Municipal Funding Proposals

• Aligned to city priorities such as:

  • Community development

  • Youth and family services

  • Public wellness and neighborhood impact

​​

Each proposal allowed flexible funding requests ranging from $500 to $15,000, enabling
realistic and repeatable outreach.

​

3. Curated Corporate Prospect List (High-Value Addition)
To ensure execution—not just planning—I provided a targeted list of corporate companies:

• Specifically aligned with the nonprofit’s mission and services

• Known to support causes related to community impact, families, youth, and wellness

• Matched to the appropriate funding proposal type

• Prioritized by likelihood of engagement and funding alignment
   

This eliminated guesswork and gave the organization a clear, actionable outreach list instead
of generic suggestions.
 

4. KPI & Performance Framework

• Funding request conversion targets

• Corporate and city outreach benchmarks

• Campaign performance metrics

• Board and volunteer participation goals
   

5. Roles & Responsibility Mapping
Defined clear expectations for:

• Board members

• Executive leadership

• Volunteers

• Fundraising and outreach leads

Funding responsibility became distributed and accountable, not centralized or unclear.

​

6. Fundraising Campaign & Outreach Strategy

• Campaign themes and timelines

• Corporate and city outreach sequencing

• Follow-up and relationship-building workflows

• Community engagement activation plan
   

7. Website Copy & Messaging Alignment

• Website copy rewritten to speak directly to:

  • Donors

  • Corporate partners

  • City officials

• Clear articulation of:

  • Community impact

  • Use of funds

  • Outcomes and accountability
     

Execution Timeline

• Weeks 1–2: Funding readiness assessment and strategic alignment

• Weeks 3–4: Roadmap development, proposal creation, corporate prospect research

​​

KPI design

• Weeks 5–6: Website copy, outreach strategy, execution guidance
   

The Outcome
By the end of six weeks, the organization had:

• A diversified $50,000+ funding plan

• Funding proposals ready for corporate and city-level requests

• A vetted list of mission-aligned corporate funding prospects

• Clear KPIs to track progress

• Defined accountability across leadership and board

• Messaging aligned to funder priorities

• A clear path to long-term grant readiness

Instead of wondering where to ask for money, the organization knew who to ask, how to ask,
and what to ask for.

​

Why This Worked
This engagement succeeded because:

• Funding strategy came before grant writing

• Outreach was targeted, not random

• Proposals were tailored to funder priorities

• Execution clarity replaced confusion

• Systems were built for sustainability, not one-time wins
   

The Takeaway
Funding success is not about chasing every opportunity.
It’s about building the right systems, targeting the right partners, and making aligned,
confident asks.

When nonprofits stop guessing and start operating strategically, funding becomes predictable.

 

This case study reflects how I help nonprofits:

• Build funding systems, not just proposals

• Identify who to ask — not just how to ask

• Raise money before grants

• Position themselves for corporate, municipal, and foundation support
   

www.keonnafarmer.com
www.cleargrantconsulting.com

www.farmersportsmanagement.com