Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Nonprofit Funding Strategist & Consultant?
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A Nonprofit Funding Strategist & Consultant helps organizations secure sustainable resources by aligning their mission with the right funding opportunities. I provide grant writing, program development, and strategic support to strengthen capacity, avoid mission drift, and build long-term impact.
Why not just hire an employee?
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That is always an option! Let's unpack that... shall we? An employee will need or should receive : Healthcare (medical and dental), Taxes, Worker’s compensation, Paid vacation leaves, Paid sick leaves, Overtime pay, Holiday pay, Payroll costs, Life insurance, Office expenses, Office equipment... to name a few.
A contractor and can offer: a diverse set of specific skills, a flexible work schedule, no overhead, you will not exceed your budget, and no need to pay for training.
Is a consultant an employee?
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No, we provide services as contractors. Which means you only pay the agreed upon amount and the contractor takes care of their own insurance, taxes, and expenses.
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For more information please visit: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/2021-independent-contractor
Can't I just pay you a percentage of the award?
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Unfortunately, this goes against industry best practices. A grant writer’s or strategist’s fee should not depend on whether a grant is awarded because the amount of work involved remains the same regardless of the outcome. In fact, this model can lead to overpaying for the same scope of work.
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The goal is to secure funding for your mission and vision, right? Now consider this: would it be fair for someone to invest 40 hours of work without compensation?
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Let’s break it down. If the “commission” is 10% on a $100,000 award, that’s $10,000. However, the actual work might have cost only $4,000 under a standard fee structure.
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While some grant writers or strategists may operate on a commission basis, Catalysta Consulting does not. This practice is considered unethical, as grant funds are awarded for specific projects and must be spent according to the approved budget—which typically does not include retroactive payment for work completed before funding is secured. However, compensation for a freelance grant writer can be written into a grant proposal’s budget for future awards or allocated from indirect costs, if permitted by the funder.
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At Catalysta Consulting, we prioritize transparency and integrity. That’s why we charge based on the work performed, regardless of the outcome. It’s important to understand that no one can guarantee an award. However, our goal is to position nonprofits for success through well-prepared submissions and effective funding strategies that help bring their missions and visions to life.
What will happen during our "Let's Connect" call/meeting?
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This FREE session is your opportunity to share your story, your needs, and your vision. Together, we’ll explore ways to partner for lasting impact. This is not a time to make any agreements or decisions unless you are ready to do so.
​Once the consultation is over, you will receive an email with recommendations based on your budget designed to best serve you and the needs of your organization.
The conversation does not mean you have agreed to proceed, it's just a conversation.
Where is Catalysta Consulting located?
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Catalysta Consulting, LLC is located nowhere and everywhere. Base camp is in Alabama- for now, however, the beauty of this work is the flexibility to travel and work from anywhere. All work is done remotely from our home offices.
I noticed "we" throughout the website. Who will be doing the work?
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Right now, Catalysta Consulting is a one woman show. However, the goal is to expand in the future and build a team of professional grant writers and support staff.
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Don't worry. You will know if anything changes BEFORE it does- we believe in complete transparency.
I'm not sure what I need, can we just talk about it?
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Absolutely! That is the reason for the FREE "Let's Connect" call/meeting. However, in the interest of making the most out of our time together, it would be helpful to have an idea of what your needs are.
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How does the payment work and when would we start?
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Excellent question! You should know, services are paid for in advance. Catalysta Consulting will provide a contract for both parties to sign, and an invoice will then be issued
Once the contract is finalized and payment is received, we’ll schedule a Kick-Off Call to go over your services, communication preferences, and the next steps in our work together.
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What if I don't need grant writing support?
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That's great! In addition to grant services, Catalysta Consulting offers a range of funding strategy and operations support solutions, which can be found under "Services". If you don’t see exactly what you need, we’re always happy to discuss your goals and explore how we can support your organization.
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If a service is requested that we do not offer or are unfamiliar with, we will offer resources if they are available.
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I need post-award grant management support in addition to grant writing, can you help?
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Post award grant management and grant writing can easily be confused one for the other and some tasks overlap. To better understand the needs of the organization, it is best to discuss this before offering a definitive response.
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I have a for-profit and would like to apply for grants, can you help?
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Catalysta Consulting is committed to supporting organizations, and businesses, with a mission to support or provide programs and services for underserved communities. We would be happy to go into more detail during your consultation call.​​
What are CC's business hours?
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That's a tricky question... let me explain why. Catalysta Consulting is ALWAYS working but is not "on call". To that end, Catalysta Consulting has "business hours" set for contact purposes; specific times of the day you can reach out to make requests, schedule appointments, etc.
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Do the hours or packages roll over?
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No. Your package fee covers the agreed-upon deliverables during the set time frame. Packages do not roll over, and any unused portions expire at the end of that period.
Can I change my contract?
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Yes, according to the terms outlined in the contract.