Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC

What Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC does

Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC (CPIN) is a privately held, woman-led and veteran-owned professional services firm founded in 2020 by Dr. Angela J. Silva and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. The company provides grant writing, grant search, bid and proposal writing, grant management and compliance (including federal Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 200), and capacity-building services to nonprofits, BIPOC-led community-based organizations, small businesses, courts of limited jurisdiction, and academic research institutions across the United States and Canada. Since inception, CPIN states it has facilitated more than $75 million in funding for clients across federal, foundation, state, local, and private/philanthropic sources, reporting an overall 30-50% win rate.

CPIN generates revenue through a mix of project-based professional services, subscription memberships, and partner-delivered add-ons. Discrete service offerings include Grant Editing/Review (from $100), Bids & Proposal Search ($750/month subscription or $1,250 one-time), Marketing retainers ($750/month annual or $1,250/month month-to-month), CPA/financial services delivered in partnership with Sheriff CPA Services (audits from $16,749, Form 990 at $1,120, bookkeeping at $125/hour), and a Capacity Building Membership at $299 or $575 per month. The company also runs community-facing programs including the Tacoma Capacity Building Project (with the City of Tacoma), Working Families Tax Credit outreach (with Washington State DOR across eight counties), The Purpose Fund microgrant program (established 2025 via Greater Tacoma Community Foundation), and the From Neighbors to Community peer-led initiative.

The operating model is distributed and partner-led rather than technology-driven. CPIN relies on a core staff of approximately 8 employees supplemented by roughly 20 named consulting partners across the United States and Canada (coaches, accountants, marketing agencies, legal counsel, statisticians, and IT specialists), enabling full-stack nonprofit infrastructure support without owning all delivery in-house. Technology usage is limited to Mailchimp for email marketing and Make for workflow automation; there is no proprietary software, public API, or AI/ML capability. The firm is bootstrapped with no disclosed equity funding rounds or parent company.

Name

Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC

Legal name

Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC

Website

https://thecpin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Collaborative Partners Initiative (CPIN) is a woman-led, veteran-owned consulting firm that provides grant writing, compliance, and capacity-building services to nonprofits, BIPOC-led community organizations, small businesses, and government entities across the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Writing Services: Strategic grant writing support for organizations to secure funding from federal, state, foundation, and private sources. Team with 50+ years combined experience has secured over $75 million in funding.
2. Grant Editing, Review & Consultation: Review and consultation services for grant drafts starting at $100.
3. Grant Search Services: Identification of 7-10 funding options using paid grant databases tailored to organization type and specific needs.
4. Bids & Proposal Services: Bid search and proposal writing services including writing support to increase bid winning potential by 30-50%.
5. Marketing Services: Social media management, newsletter creation, posters/flyers. Monthly packages at $750 (annual) or $1,250 (month-to-month).
6. Grant Management and Compliance: Post-award support including project tracking, reporting, invoicing, compliance with federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
7. CPA/Financial Support: Partnership with Sheriff CPA Services offering financial statement reviews, audits, IRS Form 990 preparation, and bookkeeping services.
8. Customizable Group Trainings: Interactive workshops on grant writing, fundraising, and compliance topics tailored to organizational needs.
9. Capacity Building Membership: Subscription-based membership offering monthly technical assistance hours, access to learning library, and newsletter with grant updates. $575/month (4 hours) or $299/month (2 hours).
10. Customizable Capacity Building: Tailored support in planning, systems, leadership, and organizational development including board development, strategic planning, HR, marketing, and IT.
11. Technical Assistance Services: Free technical assistance for Best Starts for Kids (King County) applicants; paid consultations for other organizations on grant applications and project questions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Collaborative Partners Initiative (CPIN) is a woman-led, veteran-owned professional services firm that provides grant writing, grant search, bid and proposal writing, grant management and compliance, capacity building, marketing, and CPA/financial support services to nonprofits, BIPOC-led community organizations, small businesses, academic institutions, and local government agencies. Since 2020, the team has secured over $75 million in funding for clients with a 30-50% win rate across federal, foundation, state, local, and private/philanthropic sources.

Product overview

Collaborative Partners Initiative (CPIN) is a woman-led and veteran-owned consulting services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of grant writing, capacity building, and community support services. The core offerings include Grant Search Services, Grant Writing Services, Bids and Proposal Services, and Grant Management and Compliance. These are complemented by add-on services such as Marketing Services, CPA Support, Customizable Group Trainings, and Technical Assistance. The company also offers subscription-based Capacity Building Memberships and provides several community programs including the Tacoma Capacity Building Project, Working Families Tax Credit Assistance, The Purpose Fund microgrant program, and the From Neighbors to Community initiative. The portfolio is structured around helping nonprofits, BIPOC-led organizations, small businesses, and community organizations secure funding, build organizational capacity, and serve under-resourced communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Purpose Fund: A fund established in 2025 through the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation to support local communities and organizations directly, fostering lasting change in areas such as housing, food, youth & education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and arts & culture.
• From Neighbors to Community

Products and services

• Grant Writing Services Strategic, culturally responsive grant writing support that helps nonprofits, BIPOC-led organizations, small businesses, and academic institutions secure funding from federal, state, foundation, and private sources. CPIN's team has collectively secured over $75 million in funding with a 30-50% win rate.
• Grant Search Services Research service that uses dedicated paid grant databases to identify 7-10 funding options tailored to the client's organization type and specific needs, delivered with a grant search overview report.
• Bids and Proposal Services Bid and proposal search and writing support, including identifying 7-10 solicitations for small businesses and helping shape project scope, staffing, and timeline to increase win probability by 30-50%. Available via monthly subscription ($750/month), one-time search ($1,250), or hourly/retainer writing.
• Marketing Services Marketing and development design support including social media posts, monthly newsletters, posters/flyers, and branded content with monthly planning sessions and recurring content scheduling. Priced at $750/month on an annual contract or $1,250/month month-to-month.
• Grant Management and Compliance Post-award support including project tracking, reporting, invoicing, compliance with federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), and audit preparedness for grant-funded programs.
• CPA Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $75 million secured through grants, bids, contracts, and competitive opportunities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Greater Tacoma Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Established The Purpose Fund through Greater Tacoma Community Foundation in 2025 to support local communities and organizations directly, helping nonprofits and small businesses in the South Sound thrive.
• Accel 180 (Drew Ebersole and Sherry Hammond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccel 180 is a small business with International Coaching Federation certified coaches/professional trainers, 50% woman-owned, based in Pierce County, Washington. They help entrepreneurs and leaders accelerate their vision through interactive workshops and entrepreneur coaching.
• The Briggs Group (Linda Kaye Briggs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinda Kaye Briggs has led The Briggs Group since 2015 with over 27 years supporting development and fundraising initiatives in healthcare/social services and retail banking sectors. Provides inspirational fund development training to individuals and volunteer boards.
• Chaleur Creative (Chris Brown)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ owned business advising and marketing agency based in Tacoma, WA. Specializes in business development, branding, and organizational growth for startups to established non-profits with community-focused solutions.
• Pocket Payroll & HR AdvisingsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner15 years serving U.S. Army, Private Sector, and Non-Profit Organizations. Specializes in inclusion and equity through designing and implementing HCM's, Payroll and Human Resources Policies.
• Liz Cruz Coaching & ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership coach, facilitator, and organizational effectiveness consultant with 15+ years experience. ICF-certified coach and certified EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence practitioner. Co-founder of Queer Leadership Lab.
• Julie C. DavidsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreates integrated coaching and leadership development programs for corporations, foundations, small businesses, and nonprofits with social justice missions. Experience includes work with Obama Foundation, UCSF, and PwC.
• Clark NubersecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm with Non-Profit Services Group providing expertise to Not For Profit sector for decades. Offers education to NFP leadership and Boards of Directors.
• Tall Town DesignsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDigital marketing agency experienced in WA State ADA website compliance, nonprofit website building, and digital marketing. Built over 60 websites and reached 15+ million total website users for clients.
• Elevate Plus Consulting Group (Jermaine Ogden)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLeadership firm dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations through project-based principles. Founded 2021, with 17 years healthcare management experience and 23 years Army Reserve leadership.
• Rational Unicorn Legal ServicessecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity-driven law firm providing business and nonprofit legal support across Oregon, Washington, and California. Certified Oregon Benefit Company emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Vital Roots Consulting (Scott Schubert)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultant supporting community-based organizations and public agencies in improving service delivery through technology and systems design. Deep experience in homeless response systems and housing programs.
• Sheriff CPA ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCPA firm partnership providing financial statement reviews, audits, IRS Form 990 preparation, and bookkeeping services to CPIN clients.
• Queer StabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Neighbors to Community initiative providing implementation and coaching support for women-focused community programs.
• Nelson SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Neighbors to Community initiative providing family and early learning support services.
• Mi CentrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic and community support partner in Neighbors to Community initiative. Offers small business program with business licensing assistance, planning guidance, and Spanish language interpretation services.
• Department of Ecology (Washington State)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Lost Lake Septic System Improvement Project providing grant funding and regulatory oversight through Thurston County.
• Thurston CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner for Lost Lake Septic System Improvement Project. County team includes Jean Frost, Season Long, Kathy Xayavongsa, and Rick Thomas.
• House Brothers ConstructionsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction contractor awarded Phase 3 contract for Lost Lake Septic System Improvement Project repairs and replacements.
• RUSS ConstructionsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction contractor that completed previous phases of Lost Lake Septic System Improvement Project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Instrumentl: A SaaS grant discovery and management platform serving nonprofits seeking federal, state, and foundation funding — competes with CPIN's Grant Search Services by automating parts of the workflow that CPIN performs manually.

Direct peers

• La Piana Consulting: A national nonprofit consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, executive transition, mergers, and capacity building for nonprofits — directly comparable to CPIN's capacity building and organizational development offerings.
• Tecker International: A nonprofit strategy consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, partnership development, and organizational effectiveness — directly comparable to CPIN's strategic planning and capacity building engagements.
• BoardSource: A national nonprofit organization focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership and governance through consulting, training, and publications — directly comparable to CPIN's board development and capacity building services.
• Propel Nonprofits: A regional capacity building organization serving nonprofits in the Upper Midwest with consulting, lending, and training — comparable in mission and service mix to CPIN's capacity building and organizational development practice.

Others

• Grant Professionals Association: The professional association for grant writers and grant managers — not a direct competitor but represents the broader industry CPIN operates in, and an indicator of the fragmented, services-based nature of the field.

Regional players

• The Forbes Funds: A Pittsburgh-based capacity building intermediary providing consulting, training, and research to nonprofits in southwestern Pennsylvania — comparable in mission to CPIN's Capacity Building Project, but serving a different regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Bridgespan Group: A larger, well-established nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm advising nonprofits, foundations, and funders on strategy and capacity — comparable to CPIN's grant writing and capacity building work but operating at much greater scale and across broader topics.
• BDO USA Nonprofit Advisory: The nonprofit advisory practice of a major accounting firm offering audit, tax, and consulting services to nonprofits — overlaps with CPIN's CPA/financial support partnership offering but as part of a much larger portfolio.
• Candid (Foundation Directory Online): The leading source of information on U.S. foundations and grants, providing research tools and learning resources for the nonprofit sector — overlaps with CPIN's grant prospecting and training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TeamCPIN
• Facebookfacebook.com/teamcpin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collaborative-partners-initiative-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamcpin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Collaborative Partners Initiative, LLC