Strategic Funding & Grants

Too often, grants drive the work rather than support it. Programs are shaped to fit funding requirements, timelines are compressed, and sustainability is treated as an afterthought.

My approach starts elsewhere. I work with organizations to:

• Clarify the instructional or educational problem being addressed

• Design initiatives that align with real needs and system constraints

• Ensure programs are defensible to funders and practical for partners

• Build evaluation frameworks that inform improvement, not just reporting

Funding becomes a tool in service of the work — not the work itself.

My grant-related work most often includes:

• Designing education initiatives to be grant-ready

• Strengthening program logic, theory of action, and alignment

• Developing evaluation plans and impact frameworks

• Supporting reporting, reflection, and iteration during implementation

• Advising on sustainability beyond the initial funding period

This work is especially common in partnerships involving nonprofits, foundations, districts, and external partners.

I approach evaluation as a learning process rather than a compliance exercise.

Well-designed evaluation helps organizations:

• Understand what is working and why

• Surface implementation challenges early

• Make informed adjustments during a grant period

• Communicate impact with clarity and credibility

My role often involves helping organizations design evaluation approaches that are rigorous, practical, and aligned with the realities of educational settings.

While this work frequently involves collaboration with schools and districts, my grant support is typically situated within nonprofit or foundation-led initiatives rather than direct district grant writing.

This allows me to:

• Maintain a system-level perspective

• Support cross-organizational partnerships

• Act as a neutral thought partner focused on instructional integrity and impact