Sunflower Grant Writers
Sunflower Grant Writers is an Omaha-based, founder-led professional services firm founded in 2019 that delivers end-to-end grant writing, research, and compliance services to nonprofits, mission-driven businesses, and municipal governments across the United States, supported by a retainer model and a cohort training program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sunflower Grant Writers does
Sunflower Grant Writers is a professional services firm founded in 2019 by Katie LeDoux in Omaha, Nebraska, that delivers end-to-end grant writing, research, strategy, and post-award compliance support to nonprofit organizations, mission-driven for-profits, and local/municipal government entities across the United States. The firm operates on three revenue streams: project-based grant writing services priced via custom quotes, a monthly retainer model with discounted hourly bundles for ongoing engagements, and a productized educational offering called Sunflower Scholar School (a five-week cohort program priced at $2,500, pending GPCI certification). Its service catalog spans ten core offerings — including Grant Strategy & Readiness, Grant Research & Pipeline, Proposal Development, Post-Award Management & Compliance, Donor & Campaign Strategy, Capacity Building & Governance, Corporate/CSR & Funder Services, Training/Coaching/Workshops, Creative & Collateral, and Operational Support — supplemented by add-ons such as Nonprofit Startup Services, Strategic Planning, and a Board of Directors Activation Workshop.
The firm is founder-led and bootstrapped, with a team of approximately 10 grant writers, researchers, and operations staff. Katie LeDoux's 18-year tenure at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Kennedy Center provides institutional credibility, while team members bring backgrounds spanning USAID, UNDP, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and federal emergency management. Since founding, the firm has helped clients secure more than $20 million in grant funding across federal, state, foundation, and corporate sources, including anchor wins of $4M+ for Nebraska irrigation districts and $500K for the Montgomery County Police Department. The company has no proprietary software platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed funding — relying instead on standard business tools and human-delivered expertise. Its go-to-market is hybrid: sales-led with free 30-minute consultations, supported by community and nonprofit network referrals, content marketing (Grant Readiness Checklist, monthly newsletter), earned media, and event-driven outreach including podcast appearances and co-hosted workshops.
Sunflower Grant Writers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunflower Grant Writers
- Legal name
- Sunflower Grant Writers
- Website
- https://sunflowergw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sunflower Grant Writers is an Omaha-based, founder-led professional services firm founded in 2019 that delivers end-to-end grant writing, research, and compliance services to nonprofits, mission-driven businesses, and municipal governments across the United States, supported by a retainer model and a cohort training program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunflower Grant Writers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Grant Writing & Nonprofit Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Document Preparation Services (56141)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL)
Keywords
Where Sunflower Grant Writers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sunflower Grant Writers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Writing and Research Services: Core service offering comprehensive grant research, writing, strategy, compliance, and post-award management for nonprofit and for-profit clients. Services are tailored per project and may include proposal development, budget creation, funder research, and reporting. Pricing is quote-based depending on scope and services required.
- Monthly Retainer Model: Sunflower offers a retainer model where clients purchase a bundle of hours at a discounted rate, eliminating per-grant quotes and invoices for ongoing support.
- Sunflower Scholar School Training Program: A five-week cohort-based training program priced at $2,500 with a $500 deposit to secure a spot. This is a fixed-price, one-time program providing grant-writing education, coaching, templates, and a certificate of completion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 30-minute consultation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Sunflower Scholar School - $2,500 cohort program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly retainer - hourly bundle model |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based grant writing services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sunflower Grant Writers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunflower Grant Writers is a professional services firm providing end-to-end grant writing, research, strategy, and post-award compliance services to nonprofit organizations, mission-driven for-profits, and local/municipal governments. The firm also delivers donor strategy, capacity building, board development, and corporate/CSR advisory work, complemented by a cohort-based training program (Sunflower Scholar School) and a free Grant Readiness Checklist.
Product overview
Sunflower Grant Writers operates as a professional services firm offering a comprehensive suite of grant writing and fundraising services. Their core offerings include Grant Strategy & Readiness, Grant Research & Pipeline, Proposal Development (All Funders), Post-Award Management & Compliance, Donor & Campaign Strategy, Capacity Building & Governance, Corporate/CSR & Funder Services, Training/Coaching/Workshops, Creative & Collateral production, and Operational Support. The company also provides specialized programs including Sunflower Scholar School (a five-week educational program for nonprofits), a free Grant Readiness Checklist, monthly retainer pricing options, nonprofit startup services, strategic planning, Board of Directors Activation Workshops, and Fundraising Diagnostic & Assessment services. The portfolio ranges from per-project grant writing to ongoing retainer partnerships and self-service training programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Grant Writing & Research Services Comprehensive grant research, writing, strategy, compliance, and post-award management for nonprofit and for-profit clients. Includes proposal development, budget creation, funder research, and reporting. Quote-based pricing depending on scope and services required.
- Monthly Retainer Model A retainer-based service model offering discounted bundle pricing on hourly services, eliminating per-grant invoicing for ongoing partnership.
- Nonprofit Startup Services 501(c)3 filing, bylaws setup, board formation, strategic planning, articles of incorporation, and state-specific requirements assistance for new nonprofit organizations.
- Strategic Planning Comprehensive strategic planning including SWOT analysis, goal setting, internal scorecards, mission/vision statements, forecasting, action plans, and performance measures.
- Board of Directors Activation Workshop A 4-6 hour virtual workshop including BOD environment review, questionnaire development, custom materials, and best practices guidance for board engagement.
- Fundraising Diagnostic and Assessment Organizational review of 990s, budgets, databases, planning processes, and fundraising environment with SWOT analysis and actionable recommendations.
- Sunflower Scholar School A five-week training program priced at $2,500 (with $500 deposit) teaching nonprofit leaders grant writing fundamentals, funder research, budget alignment, outcomes evaluation, and sustainability planning, culminating in completion of one grant application. Pending certification by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).
- Grant Readiness Checklist A free 15-point checklist covering organizational basics, funding history, budget and financials, program and impact, and communications for newer nonprofits to assess grant preparedness.
Quantifiable outcome
- $20+ million in grant funding secured for clients across federal, state, foundation, and corporate sources
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sunflower Grant Writers
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Sunflower Grant Writers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sunflower Grant Writers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeNDR)coreSunflower has an ongoing partnership with NeNDR to aid irrigation districts in pursuing Bureau of Reclamation Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. Successfully procured $4,034,388 in federal funds affecting 157 farmers and ranchers over 19,730 acres. Partnership continued into fall with three additional irrigation infrastructure project proposals and compliance assistance.
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessesminorKatie LeDoux is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which supports entrepreneurs. The relationship provides networking, credibility, and educational resources. An advisor from the program publicly recognized Katie as 'the number one grant writer.'
- RISEminorSunflower Grant Writers pledged 1% of annual profits to RISE in 2024 through donated grant writing services, as part of the Pledge 1% initiative.
- Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM)minorNAM serves as a networking and referral platform. Katie LeDoux connected with client 'Our Light Inc.' through NAM when the nonprofit posted an email looking for a grant writer.
- Edge MagazineminorFeatured profile by Andy Williams in Edge Magazine covering Sunflower Grant Writers' beginnings and approach to helping clients secure grant funding.
- DreamMoney (Megan Hale)minorPartnership with Megan Hale's DreamMoney platform for fiscal planning training. Sunflower co-hosted the 'Fiscal Planning for Winning Grants' workshop with DreamMoney. DreamMoney subscribers who purchase annual access receive 15% off Sunflower's grant research fee.
- Nebraska Afghan Community CenterminorClient and community partner serving Afghan immigrants in Nebraska. Listed as a current and past client with ongoing grant support relationship.
- Sherwood FoundationcoreSunflower Grant Writers holds Preferred Partner status with the Sherwood Foundation, indicating an established, preferred relationship for grant writing services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sunflower Grant Writers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BoardSource: BoardSource is a national nonprofit organization focused on nonprofit governance, board development, and leadership capacity building. Overlaps with Sunflower's Capacity Building & Governance and Board of Directors Activation Workshop services at a broader, more established scale.
- Network for Good: Network for Good provides fundraising software, donation processing, and grant research tools to nonprofits. Broad incumbent offering an integrated platform that overlaps with multiple Sunflower services (grant research, donor strategy, fundraising tools).
- Candid: Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar) is the largest nonprofit data, research, and education organization serving the philanthropic sector. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Sunflower's grant research function but operates at much larger scale across the entire funder/grantee ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Bloomerang: Bloomerang is a donor management and fundraising CRM platform designed for small and mid-sized nonprofits. Emerging player in the nonprofit technology stack that complements (and partially substitutes for) the operational support elements of Sunflower's service offering.
- Grantable: Grantable is an AI-powered grant writing assistant that helps nonprofits draft proposals using their organization's documents. Emerging technology-enabled competitor that could compress the time/value of human grant writing services like Sunflower's.
- Instrumentl: Instrumentl is a grant research and discovery platform that helps nonprofits find and track relevant funding opportunities. Adjacent/competing technology that automates the grant research portion of Sunflower's service offering, representing a partial substitute.
Direct peers
- J.M. Hyde Consulting: J.M. Hyde Consulting provides grant writing, prospect research, and capacity building services to nonprofits. Directly comparable to Sunflower's services with similar mission-driven client focus and project-based delivery.
- Funding for Good: Funding for Good is a grant writing and fundraising consulting firm that helps nonprofits secure funding through grant research, proposal writing, and capacity building. Directly comparable to Sunflower's core service model with similar client base (mission-driven nonprofits) and consulting approach.
- The Foundation Group: The Foundation Group provides nonprofit startup services, 501(c)(3) filing, and grant writing support to small and emerging nonprofits nationally. Directly comparable to Sunflower's nonprofit startup, board formation, and grant readiness services for new and growing organizations.
- Nonprofit Allies: Nonprofit Allies is a grant writing and nonprofit consulting firm offering grant research, proposal development, and fundraising strategy to nonprofits. Directly comparable to Sunflower's project-based grant writing model and nonprofit client base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sunflower Grant Writers social profiles
Digital presenceSunflower Grant Writers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunflower Grant Writers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Sunflower Grant Writers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunflower Grant Writers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Grant Writers
What does Sunflower Grant Writers do?
Sunflower Grant Writers is a professional services firm providing end-to-end grant writing, research, strategy, and post-award compliance services to nonprofit organizations, mission-driven for-profits, and local/municipal governments. The firm also delivers donor strategy, capacity building, board development, and corporate/CSR advisory work, complemented by a cohort-based training program (Sunflower Scholar School) and a free Grant Readiness Checklist.
Is Sunflower Grant Writers a public or private company?
Sunflower Grant Writers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sunflower Grant Writers founded?
Sunflower Grant Writers was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sunflower Grant Writers based?
Sunflower Grant Writers is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sunflower Grant Writers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Writing and Research Services are the primary driver. The others are monthly Retainer Model and sunflower Scholar School Training Program.
Who are Sunflower Grant Writers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BoardSource, Network for Good and Candid. Emerging players are Bloomerang, Grantable and Instrumentl. Direct peers are J.M. Hyde Consulting, Funding for Good, The Foundation Group and Nonprofit Allies.
Does Sunflower Grant Writers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunflower Grant Writers.
What industry is Sunflower Grant Writers in?
Sunflower Grant Writers's product category is Grant Writing & Nonprofit Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEALAO, Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance), with a secondary code of BPADAOAL, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs. Its NAICS code is 56141 and its SIC code is 8742.