It’s all in the numbers.

  • 180+ grant funding request awards Rhonda has authored solo or written as a team leader.
  • 18.5 million dollars to date in successful grant awards, public and private.
  • 600,000 grant dollars awarded for public school music education.
  • 500,000 dollars funded to sustain a health center allowing much-needed screenings and health education.
  • 20,000 dollars granted to launch a community farm.
  • 250,000 dollars to see an olive oil farm family grow their business through a USDA value added matching grant.

It all started with a fountain pen.

For many years, Rhonda worked with more than 800 clients over a 12-year span, adding calligraphy to everything from delicate china to school walls to fine paper. These years taught her the importance of multi-tasking, meeting deadlines and reaching desired outcomes under strict requirements. Through current-day grant consulting in Northern California and beyond, she still turns to pen and paper for mapping out compelling proposals.

“You should write.”

She heard this advice twice… once from a literature teacher in college (who took one look at her many working-copy scribblings) and once from a non-profit executive in 2009. The last encounter introduced her to opportunities. Opportunities that come when those with giving hearts and/or fund announcements are matched with those meeting critical needs. She began writing grants and realized a truth: when you truly enjoy doing something, the likelihood of success is greater. This has been a longstanding mantra of her grant consulting approach.

AGWA to GPA to GPC – Professionalism Matters.

Successful grant writing is grounded in best practices. Rhonda realized this early on. She joined the American Grant Writers Association and has learned techniques and practices that appeal to potential funders. As part of this professional group, she has served as chairperson for Consulting as well as California State focus areas. Rhonda is a member of the Grant Professionals Association and has served for two years as the Bay Area Chapter VP. From this organization, she stays abreast of all things grants, has co-authored and published a professional journal article, and has exhibited field proficiency by achieving and maintaining the Grant Professional Certified [GPC] since 2020.

Service breeds service.

Her grant consulting in the San Francisco Bay Area has led to local service opportunities. Rhonda’s passions lie with the Rotary Club of San Francisco‘s service projects (where she served as the 2018-2019 club president) and Because Justice Matters (women’s support and anti-exploitation advocacy).

GRANTdog is located in Northern California but serves organizations across the US. And the inspiration? Rhonda’s original office mate, a Labrador/Great Dane mix named Bud (2009-2023). A smaller and equally as helpful member of the GRANTdog pack is Autumn, (2023- ) a Cavalier/Poodle mix. Rhonda and her husband Bill are parents to two adult children.

Contact to Explore Grants

We have enjoyed working with Rhonda to secure funding to support our programs. Her ability to organize Requests for Proposals and clearly describe our dedication to the Bay Area’s women of color has been a true asset to our fundraising efforts. We appreciate her energy for keeping us on task with deadlines during ongoing program activity.

Dr. Maxine Hickman

Leader

National Coalition of Black Women-San Francisco