MEET US
We are a team of dedicated funding strategists, researchers, and grant experts committed to amplifying the impact of mission-driven nonprofits.
About usWe bring strategy, candor, and clarity to the fundraising process
Founded in 2023, we set out with a clear mission: to help more nonprofits secure and manage grants effectively.
Since then, we’ve raised over $5M in grant funding for our clients and expanded our services to include annual campaign strategy, major gift coaching, systems and operations for small shops, and comprehensive organizational fund development.
What sets us apart is our commitment to bridging the equity, knowledge, and resource gap between small, grassroots organizations and the massive billion-dollar nonprofits.
[Courtney] quickly proved herself as the best grant writer we had had during my tenure, and she remains one of the most outstanding staff members I have hired in my career.
-Llewellyn Crain, Director of Philanthropy
San Diego Opera
We are driven by a desire to simplify and streamline fundraising for nonprofits so they can maximize their impact
Our team
Courtney Oliphant
CEO/Co-Founder/PrincipalCourtney Oliphant, GPC brings over 12 years of experience in nonprofit grant consulting and management. Driven by a passion for supporting under-resourced communities and fostering impactful change, she is dedicated to helping organizations unlock their fundraising potential.
Juliana Choi
CO-Founder/PrincipalJuliana Choi received a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MA in Literature from UC San Diego. She is a San Diego-based grant writer supporting arts and cultural institutions and humanitarian nonprofits. Prior to her work as a grant writer, she taught writing and modern Japanese literature courses at UCSD and provided digital content for an educational non-profit. Her passion project is Special Education advocacy.
AJ Dinsmore
Grants Associate & Research SpecialistAJ Dinsmore brings 4 years experience in grantwriting and nonprofit strategy development. They are driven by a deep passion for supporting under-resourced communities and helping to build a more equitable and diverse world.
Doug Oliphant
COO/PrincipalDoug Oliphant brings 7 years of on-the-ground experience in development departments that raised between $2.5M and $11M annually, establishing expertise in major gift solicitation, prospect pipeline development, annual fund campaign strategy, and operations. He is driven by a deep belief in nonprofits' ability to unite communities and transform lives, and the philanthropic people who make it all possible.
Seth Combs
Grant WriterSeth Combs is the former Arts & Music Editor and Editor-in-Chief at the alt-weekly San Diego CityBeat. He also served as an Associate Editor at Riviera Magazine, covering nightlife, arts, and society. He has been a regular contributing writer and columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune, covering the city's visual art and literary scene.
Carrie Buchan
Office ManagerCarrie Buchan has over 30 years as a business professional in both the nonprofit and commercial sectors. With a wealth of experience in leadership development, strategic planning, and public relations, she has a passion for driving organizations toward their goals.
We bring a fresh perspective and a diversity of experience to the fundraising process.
We blend grant writing, fundraising and operations know-how with wide-ranging lived and professional experiences that bring depth and a unique lens to this work.
Our team’s passion for the arts extends beyond our work
You can find our team members:
Co-producing and writing podcasts
Serving on boards that promote arts, culture, and social justice
Supporting local theater through fundraising and advocacy
Writing grants for fun (true story: AJ was successfully accepted into a prestigious writer’s program from one of her submissions)
Outside of the arts, we’re a team that loves to get outside, explore and spend time with our families.
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